Experiences on the trail

Things from my first visit to the Pumpkinvine Trail that I need to share

Amish school along the Pumpkinvine Trail near Shipshewana

Recently my family headed to Shipshewana, Indiana for a multi-day horse event. Shipse is in Indiana’s Amish County. It is home to the Pumpkinvine Trail, an 18-mile rail trail connecting Shipshewana to Goshen through Middlebury.

I had a free morning to cycle the trail. I enjoy visiting trails as a trail advocate, volunteer, and leader. Every trail has a vibe that makes it stand out from others; something that can inspire my trail work. Here are the things on the Pumpkinvine added to my trail inspiration board.

A clean, easy-to-navigate website is a must for trails

Informative website

The Pumpkinvine website anticipates answers to visitors' and residents’ questions. The format is clean and graphical. It is delivered in a responsible manner for laptop, tablet, or mobile phone use. It is easy to find maps, directions to trailheads, news, trail closures, and much more.

Community engagement

The primary work of trail organizations is building and maintaining the trail. Keeping the trail clean and free of vegetation with a smooth and level surface is a year-round job. Trails often fall short in reaching out to visitors to engage them in the trail. The Pumpkinlike reaches out in ways seldom seen elsewhere.

Make it effortless to show your financial support and volunteer

Donations

Trail users appreciate trails as being part of their lives. Trails need a way for visitors to show their appreciation. A Pumpkinvine trailhead sign raises awareness of how donations help fund trail maintenance. It provides a means to donate via text, QR code, or website. Check out the pumpkin-shaped QR code.

Volunteers

Trails need volunteers. Trail visitors are a prime source of volunteers. A Pumpkinvine sign directs want-to-be volunteers to their website. The volunteer webpage highlights the many ways that people and businesses can help and partner with the trail. Each opportunity provides a sign-up form. 

Dog-speak on the station makes it more visible and memorable

Pet waste stations

Trail rules ask visitors to pick up and dispose of dog waste. I have seen an increasing number of pet waste stations on trails in my travels.  They are common at  Pumpkinvine trailheads. I like the Goshen trailhead pet waste station sign that shares the message in dog-speak.   

Nice way to mark the trail midpoint that is impossible to miss

Trail art

The Pumpkinvine logo attractively painted on the trail surface in Middlebury at about the midpoint of the trail caught my eye and made me stop. I am sure it is on countless Instagram and Facebook posts. A little bit of paint and some imagination get the visitor to stop, take a pic, grab a bite to eat, or visit downtown.

I especially like this grassroots solution to pet waste that recycles plastic

Bonus: Tom’s favorite pet waste station

I came across this pet waste station in Safety Harbor, Florida. It is a homegrown approach to a pet waste station that encourages pet parents to pick up their four-pawed friends' waste while encouraging the recycling of plastic bags. The community manages the waste station while helping the environment.

Share your memorable trail experiences!
Tom on the Trails