St. Joseph River Trails: Riverside, E-Bank, Northside, Mishawaka RiverWalk

One can run almost continuously for ~9 miles on paved paths along St. Joseph River from Darden Rd. to Central Park in Mishawaka. We’ve divided this into three distinct routes, from north to south,. which can be mix & matched.

North Section: Riverside Trail. 3.6 miles. The Riverside Trail runs from Darden Rd. @Wheelock Park south to Angela Ave., following Riverside Dr. Crossing the scenic pedestrian bridge at Wheelock Park, the first 1.4 miles to Pinhook Park are away from the water and aren’t as scenic. The next 2.2 miles are lovely, with nice water views, passing through three riverside parks: Pinhook Park, Woodlawn Park, & Keller Park.

• Gap: run east for 0.6 miles along Angela Blvd. or south on W North Shore Dr. for 1 mile to connect to the E-bank trail.

Central Section: E-Bank/Northside Trail. 4 miles. This paved trail runs along the east bank of the river, linking the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University South Bend.  From Angela Blvd., the first 0.5 miles is away from the water, passing the South Bend Welcome Sign. Then, follow the paved path right alongside the river, enjoying nice views of the water and the South Bend skyline, as you pass through Howard Park and Governor Joseph Kernan Park. At 3 miles, connect to the Northside Trail, which runs for another 1 mile south to W 27th St.

• Side Trips: Enjoy the crafstman style homes of Harter Heights, just north of Howard Rd. At Indiana University South Bend off the Northside Trail, explore the campus & pedestrian bridge on the ISSB Bike Trail.

South Section: Mishawaka RiverWalk. 1.5 miles along rive,r or 3.1 mile loop. Among the more scenic sections! Just 0.6 miles south of the Northside Trail, the RiverWalk adds another 1.5 miles along the St. Joseph River in Mishawaka. Run this as part of a longer route along the river, or enjoy the 5k loop. It’s a scenic route, with water views and several parks. From Logan St., run along the north bank through Battell Park & Central Park (additional trails), crossing to the south bank on a pedestrian bridge, passing through Kamm Island Park. Bonus: Lit at night!