The 10^th annual bike ride will benefit development of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.

Ride our Country-life Loop and experience our local culture.

Eight hundred twenty-five bicyclists enjoyed the Pumpkinvine Bike Ride in 2008.

Ride through gently rolling Amish farm country.

See teams of horses working in fields and newborn colts in pastures.

Enjoy generous SAGs with snacks and drinks.

Stop at Amish country stores and ride past one-room schools.

Enjoy homemade pie with ice cream at the end of the ride.

Comments from a 2005 Pumpkinvine Bike Ride participant:

“We love your ride ... this is our 3^rd year and we have brought many friends.
                                               Tony, PBR rider.

The Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, Inc. was organized in 1993 to build a 17-mile rails-to-trails on the Pumpkinvine Railroad corridor between Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana. A two-mile section of the trail at Abshire Park in Goshen was opened for public use in 2000. Trail construction to be completed in spring 2009 will extend this section to 5.2 miles.

Engineering is underway to build seven miles of trail from Middlebury to Shipshewana. We expect to use that section for the ride in 2010. Preliminary engineering is in progress to build 1.2 miles of trail in Middlebury.

The 10^th Annual Pumpkinvine Bike Ride will celebrate the continuing progress of the rails-to-trails project.

The Pumpkinvine Bike Ride will begin at the trailhead in Abshire Park and the first 5.2 miles will be on the newly-built trail. Then the ride will proceed on county roads roughly paralleling the undeveloped portion of the Pumpkinvine corridor. Depending on the route you choose, the ride will pass through future trail towns of Middlebury and Shipshewana. The gently rolling terrain and Amish countryside will make a very enjoyable ride.

Note: If you choose to ride the 15-mile Country-life Loop you should go to the Shipshewana soccer field. See When & Where for details.