Wildcat Creek Walk of Excellence

Walk of Excellence Information

Located in Kokomo, Indiana

The Wildcat Creek Walk of Excellence is ideal for walking, hiking, running, bicycling or even roller blading.  It consists of miles of trail in four different sections:  Markland and Park Roads to Miller-Highland Park, Miller-Highland Park to Foster Park, Foster Park to Future Park and Future Park winding through Crown Point Cemetery to Waterworks Park.  Overall it is comfortably wide, smoother and maintains an almost unnoticeable grade.  Paved in some areas, there is a good mixture of open areas and tree canopied areas. 

The trail located in several parks, runs alongside and in places crossing over, the Wildcat Creek.  The landscape surrounding the trail not only looks beautiful, but has the unmistakable fresh smell of the Indiana countryside.  No matter how many times you visit the trail, there is always something new for you to find. 

Features include the Wildcat River, a bridge and trail spur to Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic Center, World War II military tank in Foster Park, Miller-Highland Park, Kokomo Senior Citizens Center, the downtown district, Waterworks Park, and several tree-identifying markers.

The trail in Foster Park hugs the scenic Wildcat Creek.  As you explore the woodlands and wetlands along Wildcat Creek in Foster Park you can see a variety of plant and animal life.  Visitors to Wildcat Creek can expect to observe a variety of wildlife.  Great blue herons, green herons, wood ducks, mallards, barred and great horned owls, redheaded woodpeckers, Baltimore orioles, red-tailed hawks, kestrels and turkey vultures can be seen in the area. 

Mammals found along Wildcat Creek include fox, badger, beaver, mink, deer, woodchuck, muskrat, raccoon and numerous smaller species.  Several varieties of bass, catfish, panfish and other game and "rough" fish are found in the Wildcat waters.

Other points of interest is Chief Kokomo, which our town derived its name from.  The burial place of Chief Kokomo is located in Pioneer Cemetery on the 400 block of Purdum Street.  The cenotaph was built by the Grand Army Republican in 1911. 

Walking Trail Jackson Morrow Park

A beautiful walking trail winds through Jackson Morrow Park located at 4200 S. Park Rd., in Kokomo, Indiana.  This trail is paved and goes part of the way through the wooded areas in the park.  The trail is approximately 1.3 miles long. 

    Click BELOW for a map of the trail at Jackson Morrow Park

    Ariel Photo of Jackson Morrow Trail




Reservoir 500 E. Walking Trail

Located in eastern Howard County, Kokomo's Reservoir Park has a 1.3 mile hiking trail. The park which was built in the 1970's is located off of 500 East and 100 North and offers the tranquility of the great outdoors.

Spanning 30 acres, the park has two open-air shelters, a playground, bank fishing access and a 1.3-mile hiking path that stretches from the park to the Kokomo Reservoir Park Dam on 400 East.

The park features a natural wetland on the south side of the property. From there, you can see all types of birds and other wildlife.

There is also a handicap accessible fishing pier.  A few restrictions apply when it comes to visiting the area.  There is no hunting and no camping, and fires are only allowed in grills in designated areas.  Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the nature trails.

There is no public launch ramp for boats, but there is a public ramp at 400 East near the dam.

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Indian Trails Highland Park

Little is known about the Indian Trails in Highland Park except that they have been around since the early days of Highland Park. 

Each one of us can remember walking them as a child.  People remember that the trails used to be more covered in brush.  The trails have since eroded making the trail steeper towards the top on the west side near the fence that surrounds the Kokomo Country Club.  The best way to maneuver the trails nowadays is to follow the creek.

The trail begins where the Country Club Hills Lane meets Old Ben Drive and ends at the dam in Highland Park. 

This trail is still a historic icon of Highland Park and worth the walk to make those memories for your children.