South Loop Trail
Photo: ken ratcliff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 2.9 mi
- one way
- 368 ft
- climb
- 894 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Jun, Aug–Oct
- best months
South Loop Trail is a 2.9-mile point-to-point hike in Indiana, about 0.8 miles from the town of Mount Liberty. It rises from a low of 739 feet to a high of 894 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 1.7 miles in, where the grade reaches 14%. The trail is rated easy, and the climb totals 368 feet one way. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Columbus show May highs around 75°F and September highs around 80°F, with September also seeing the fewest wet days of the year. Bikes and horses are not allowed on this trail. The North Loop Trail and Old Road Trail both start about 0.1 mile away, and the Cut-Thru Trail is about half a mile off. Paddlers can reach White Creek, about 7.8 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Rusted Moon Outfitters48 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun, Aug–Oct
Best time to visit South Loop Trail
Best months: June and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
39° / 21°
11 wet · 4 snow
Feb
43° / 24°
10 wet · 3 snow
Mar
53° / 32°
12 wet · 1 snow
Apr
66° / 42°
13 wet
May
75° / 53°
13 wet
Jun
83° / 62°
11 wet
Jul
86° / 65°
10 wet
Aug
85° / 63°
8 wet
Sep
80° / 55°
7 wet
Oct
68° / 44°
8 wet
Nov
54° / 34°
9 wet
Dec
43° / 26°
11 wet · 2 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Columbus, IN, 11.3 mi away at 609 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: ken ratcliff, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Cut-Thru Trail
Next door
0.51-mile point-to-point trail in Indiana with 104 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Serge Melki from Indianapolis, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Hhc Trail
~11 min drive
A 3.88-mile point-to-point trail through Indiana's countryside.
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Columbus People Trails
~19 min drive
A 19.49-mile point-to-point trail connecting Columbus parks and green spaces.
Photo: Elizabeth Nicodemus, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Fire Tower Trail
~8 min drive
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Photo: aspidoscelis, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Crooked Creek Loop
~16 min drive
5.24-mile loop in Indiana with 1,167 ft elevation gain.
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Nebo Ridge Trail 1
~21 min drive
Challenging 16.46-mile out-and-back ridge hike in Indiana.
Photo: Elizabeth Nicodemus, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Strahl Lake Trail
~9 min drive
Easy point-to-point lakeside trail in Indiana with scenic water views.
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Ogala Trail
~15 min drive
6.92-mile out-and-back hike in Indiana with 1,199 ft elevation gain
Photo: b_nicodemus, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Discovery Trail
~9 min drive
0.51-mile loop trail in Indiana with 82 ft elevation gain.
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Brown Co. "D"
~16 min drive
Accessible 4.21-mile out-and-back woodland trail in Brown County, Indiana.
Route details
- Distance
- 2.9 mi
- Climbing
- About 368 ft
- Summit
- 892 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 1.5 hours
Other routes up Downey Hill
Questions about this route
How long is the South Loop Trail on Downey Hill?
About 2.9 mi.
How much elevation gain is on the South Loop Trail?
About 368 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the South Loop Trail?
It is rated easy.
How long does the South Loop Trail take?
About 1.5 hours round trip.
How many routes go up Downey Hill?
3: South Loop Trail, Old Road Trail and North Loop Trail.
Conditions and forecast on Downey Hill
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
