Porter Brickyard Bike Trail

Porter Brickyard Bike Trail is a 4.02-mile one-way, point-to-point paved connector from the Cowles Bog Trail System north lot to South Jackson Boulevard, where the Prairie Duneland Bike Trail begins. It also links to the Calumet Bike Trail at the north end. Published park mileage calls the trip 7 miles round trip, while the mapped north-to-south line is 4.02 miles; the figures do not reconcile exactly. Use the mapped line for the end-to-end distance, and allow roughly another four miles if you retrace it.

From the north lot, the trail crosses U.S. 12 on a pedestrian overpass and winds through the Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm area. It then follows Howe Road to a second pedestrian overpass over U.S. 20. Farther south, the route mixes dedicated paths, sidewalks, and town streets on its way to Jackson Boulevard. The park section is the wooded part; the street connections are a real part of the trip, so this is most useful when you want to link the regional trails rather than spend the day on a quiet woodland walk.

The grade is easy with some elevation changes, and the route is listed as wheelchair accessible. Allow about 1¾ hours one way on foot. The Cowles Bog north lot is at 1184 North Mineral Springs Road; the south lot is at 198 South Jackson Boulevard. Both have paved parking. The north lot has a year-round porta potty; the south lot has no restroom, and neither end has potable water. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. Ticks are present year-round. The route is point-to-point, so plan a return from the far end or add the walk back.