MUNCIE, Ind. Within the first mile, it’s easy to see why so many bikers, joggers or stroller-pushing power walkers frequent the Cardinal Greenway, a multiuse paved trail that stretches more than 25 miles in Delaware, Henry and Randolph counties.

There’s beautiful scenery and wildlife at every turn. More than 100 types of wild flowers and lush vegetation grow under a canopy of trees that line both sides of the trail. Hawks and eagles watch from above. Deer scamper in the distance, and cyclists can zoom past horse farms. There are several places to stop and, well, smell the flowers. And plenty of people do. From serious cyclists to mothers pushing baby strollers, they trek up and down daily.

“You never know who you’re going to meet on the Greenway and that’s what makes it so enjoyable for me,” said one of the regulars, 80-year-old Bob McGinnis, who enjoys in-line skating using poles the way a cross country skier would.

“With the poles, I have to put up with a lot of wise cracks but I give it back to them, too,” the retired Presbyterian minister said with a chuckle.

“But I’ll skate with the poles sometimes, and I’ll jog with them at other times, too. I have a bad back and it just helps ease the pain.

From Gaston to Muncie and further down the trail to Losantville, cyclists of varied skill levels, runners, skaters and families out for a walk get plenty of use from the Greenway. The first 10-mile section was created in 1997 and the Greenway has expanded to a 27-mile route. It’s the longest contiguous rail-trail in Indiana, more than twice the length of the Monon Trail.

There’s also a 10-mile stretch of the Greenway that runs through Marion, and a 4-mile offshoot called the White River Greenway that follows the White River into other parts of Muncie. And the Greenway continues to grow. There’s a plan to link the Cardinal Greenway to a rail-trail in Richmond, extending it to 52 miles.

“The Cardinal Greenway is just a safe haven for cyclists, athletes and anybody who wants to come out and take a nice, casual walk and enjoy the outdoors,” said Mark Lohmar, president of the Delaware Cycling Club.

“The great thing about the Greenway is that it has something for everybody. You may find people using it to rehab (an injury), or others just trying to get some exercise.”

The Delaware Cycling Club has more than 70 registered members. Lohmar said 20 to 50 show up for the club’s regular Saturday events that include rides of varied distances. The club encourages members to bring a friend, which increases the trail’s popularity.

He said one of the nice aspects of the trail is that there’s rarely heavy traffic, despite the fact that it is well-used. The length (27 miles) and width (more than 15 feet in most places) make it user friendly.

“Congestion is rarely an issue,” Lohmar said.

“Sometimes on a Saturday morning when there’s 40 bicyclists heading out and we run into a handful of people in a short space, I can see where that could be a little intimidating for them. But we try to be mindful of that. And there’s so many places to park and hook into the trail that you just don’t see bunches of people in one location.”

Cheryl LeBlanc and her husband David log 60-80 miles per week on the trail, either cycling or on in-line skates. Cheryl is a botanist and a research technician in the department of biology at Ball State University. She said she enjoys watching the seasons change along the Greenway.

“The Greenway has just been a great addition to our community,” LeBlanc said. "It just seems like the trail has really increased people’s activity levels. To me, it seems like people are more willing to do things as a group outside.

“I think the Cardinal Greenway is a gem for our community.’’

McGinnis said he enjoys the peace of mind the pavement provides. “It’s just relaxing. When you’re riding on any road, and there’s cars coming up from behind you, you just can’t relax. You’re always looking behind you. You don’t have that on the Greenway. It’s more relaxing and overall, it’s just more enjoyable.”