Parks, trails and outdoor places in Fort Wayne, from the riverfront to the preserves

Fort Wayne was built where three rivers meet, and most of its outdoor life still follows the water. The St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers join downtown to form the Maumee, and the city's best-loved paths trace their banks. Add 89 city parks covering about 2,840 acres, a state nature preserve inside a county park on the southwest side and a trail network that keeps growing, and there is somewhere to walk, run, ride or paddle in every part of town.

Here is a guide to the places residents use most, the rules the city itself publishes for using them safely, and where to check conditions before heading out in November and beyond.

The big parks and the quiet preserves

Franke Park, on the north side, is the city's largest park at about 339 acres. It holds about ten miles of single-track dirt trail, popular with mountain bikers and trail runners who want something more rugged than pavement. The city publishes a map of the Franke Park mountain bike and hiking trails and says an updated bike map is on the way.

Foster Park, on Old Mill Road, is one of three city parks with a municipal golf course, alongside McMillen and Shoaff parks; its 18-hole course shares the park with seasonal floral gardens and a stretch of the Rivergreenway, and Foster West on Winchester Road has a dog park.

For a slower pace, Lindenwood Nature Preserve on Lindenwood Avenue, just north of West Jefferson Boulevard, protects 110 wooded acres with four short hiking trails, from the quarter-mile Maple Spur to the mile-long Trail of Reflection, which leads to a pond. The Trillium Trail is known for spring wildflowers. Admission is free and the preserve is open year-round, but there is no running water, and pets and bicycles aren't allowed. The land became an official city park in 1987 and a state-dedicated nature preserve after the park board applied for that status in 1994.

In southwest Allen County, just past the city's edge though it carries a Fort Wayne address, Fox Island County Park on Yohne Road is run by Allen County Parks rather than the city. It covers 605 acres, 270 of them a State Nature Preserve, with seven miles of marked trails and a nature center. Dogs must stay leashed except at the park's Doggie Beach, and the park takes cash or check only.

Riverfront and the trails network

Downtown, Promenade Park on West Superior Street opened in 2019 as the first phase of Riverfront Fort Wayne. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and its Parkview Tree Canopy Trail lifts walkers up among the branches for a view of the river and skyline. Bring your own canoe or kayak to launch here, or rent one in season: Fort Wayne Outfitters & Bike Depot, on Cass Street next to the park, rents kayaks, canoes and bikes and repairs bikes year-round. Ask before planning a cold-weather paddle.

The Rivergreenway is the backbone of the city's trails: a 25-mile linear park through Fort Wayne and New Haven that follows all three rivers and links 15 city parks. As of June 2026, the city counts 166 miles of multi-use trail in the greater Fort Wayne area, 111 of them inside city limits, and says summer brings more than 115,000 trail users a month.

A few routes worth knowing:

• The Pufferbelly Trail runs more than 13 miles from Fitch Road south to Fourth Street, where it meets the Rivergreenway downtown. It is one piece of a planned 82-mile state trail between Pokagon and Ouabache state parks.
• The Salomon Farm Loop, a 1.65-mile circuit around Salomon Farm Park on West Dupont Road, is one of the busiest trails in the network and connects to the Pufferbelly.
• The Towpath Trail follows the route of the Wabash and Erie Canal for 5.5 miles from Rockhill Park toward the southwest side, through neighborhoods and marshland.
• The Hanna Street Trail, finished this year, runs 4.5 miles on the southeast side. Its south end meets the Rivergreenway and the 6-Mile Creek Trail, and a short sidewalk link along Berry and Clay streets connects its north end toward downtown. The city cut the ribbon on May 28, 2026.

What changed this year

In February 2026, the city updated its trail and sidewalk ordinance for e-bikes and other small electric vehicles. They are now allowed on city trails and sidewalks if they are under 32 inches wide, under 150 pounds and powered by 750 watts or less, which keeps out motorcycles, electric dirt bikes and golf carts. The ordinance also writes trail manners into law: give an audible warning before passing, leave at least three feet when you pass, and keep your speed reasonable for the conditions.

Riverfront construction is also reshaping the downtown trail. The Riverfront Phase IIB work closes some downtown stretches of the Rivergreenway from time to time, with signed detours on nearby streets; the city's trail closures page lists each one and how long it is expected to last.

Staying safe through the seasons

The city's trail conditions page is the place to start, and it is updated often. Its standing advice is practical. After rain, paths can be muddy and slippery, so slow down, especially on boardwalks. After strong wind, watch for fallen branches and trees, and report them to the Greenways department. In winter, expect ice, and know that the city clears trails once three or more inches of snow have fallen. In spring, flooding can close low sections near the rivers, so anyone planning a run or walk event should check first. The city's River Watch dashboard shows current river levels.

Winter brings its own outdoor season. When there are four or more inches of snow on the ground, Fox Island opens more than six miles of its trails to cross-country skiing. Downtown, the Headwaters Park ice rink, set under the park's big pavilion, reopens each November for the cold months.

Maps and conditions

The City of Fort Wayne's Trails page has the current regional trail map as a PDF, plus pages on each trail, and its Park Trail Maps page has the Franke Park map and a distance chart for park loops. Allen County Parks posts details for Fox Island. For a trail question, the Greenways and Trails department takes calls and email, and the closures page lists every detour. Check it before you lace up; on a river city's paths, conditions change with the water.