New Trail Opens Connecting Clifty Falls State Park to Madison’s Riverwalk

Friday, June 19, 2026 at 7:52 AM

By Indiana DNR, news release @eagle993

Trail expansion aligns with Governor Mike Braun’s commitment to health and the outdoors.

Photo provided.

(Madison, Ind.) - The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the City of Madison celebrated the opening of the Clifty Connector Trail with a ribbon cutting, which aligns with Governor Mike Braun’s focus on making Indiana healthy and supporting time outdoors.

“Connecting Madison with Clifty Falls State Park through this trail creates an exciting new way for people to experience the area’s natural beauty and stay active,” said Governor Braun. “Thanks to this partnership with the City of Madison, we’re looking forward to seeing both local residents and visitors enjoying the trail.”

The 1.5-mile asphalt, multi-use trail was constructed by the City of Madison with help from a $2,160,160 grant administered by the DNR.

The Clifty Connector Trail adds 1.5 miles of paved trail connecting Clifty Falls State Park to Madison’s riverwalk along the Ohio River in the heart of the city. In addition, a new trailhead has been added along Vernon Street, providing parking, bike racks, a water fountain, and other trail amenities.

“The Connector Trail is another example of how Madison continues moving forward through strategic investments that improve quality of life and strengthen connections throughout our community. This project has been a priority identified in our Parks Master Plan and creates a safe, accessible link between our historic downtown riverfront and Clifty Falls State Park. We are grateful to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and our regional partners for their investment and support in helping bring this vision to life. This trail will serve residents and visitors for generations while further advancing Madison as a destination for outdoor recreation and community connectivity,” said Madison’s Mayor Bob Courtney.

DNR has led the largest infusion of trails funding in state history, with $180 million in dedicated trail funding administered through DNR that facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. A total of 63 of the 89 projects are complete, with another 16 under construction. With this opening, more than 174 miles of trail have been built since the program’s inception.