Marion County High Point Trip Report

Four small areas near the county line (915+ ft)

Date: June 7, 2001
Author: Bob Schwab

It isn't easy getting off Interstate 65 at a good spot to access these high points, which are in the extreme northwest corner of Indianapolis. I recommend that you exit Interstate 65 at the Zionsville exit (130). Turn west and cross the interstate bridge to a stop sign. Turn left (south) on an old highway that goes through the small hamlet of Royalton. Continue on this highway until you go under the interstate. Now, watch carefully for a road that goes off to your right up a hill. The road is not well signed, but is only about 0.2 mile east of the interstate bridge. Drive up the hill, and you will find that the road parallels the interstate, and then turns abruptly to the left into an area of very large homes. Three of the county high points are in this exclusive neighborhood. Once the road turns left, it is Thoroughbred Blvd and you need to follow it a short distance to where Paddock Court breaks off to the right.

Area one is immediately east of this intersection, right along the county line. I think the area to the left (north) is slightly higher than the area on the right, but the ground has been altered here.

Area two can be reached by turning right (south) and driving down Paddock Court until it makes an abrupt turn to the left (east). There is a large brick house being constructed along the right side of the road. I asked one of the contractors for permission to wander around in the back lot. I found area 2 to be right on the county line about 30 feet west of the end of the new driveway (39 deg 55.063 min N, 86 deg 19.571 min W). When they finish construction here, I fear that they will level this spot to smooth out the lawn.

Area three is located several hundred feet directly south, along the county line in some brush and trees. You can circle the wooded area to the left and work your way through a brushy (and well-ivied) field to high ground near a prominent locust tree, or you can circle the woods to the right and walk along the edge of a field to a spot on the other side of the locust tree, which is very close to the high point. The small woods is an almost impenetrable thicket of branches, briars and poison ivy. I believe this southernmost area (near the locust tree) is the highest of the three areas in this neighborhood.. There are some large mounds in the field to the south of the new home which appear to be a few feet higher, but they are part of the neighborhood sewage system.

To visit area four, drive back out to the main highway (Lafayette Road) and turn right (east) for 0.6 mile to an intersection with Kissell Road. Turn left (north) and drive up to the top of the hill where 96th Street intersects. There is a long driveway that goes left at this intersection into a grassy area. Drive up this lane to a spot where an old apple tree is growing on your right. There is a faint path that goes off to the south and bends immediately to the right. This driveway is not in Marion County, but the land immediately to the south is. Area four is in the woods to the south of the apple tree. Once again, be prepared for lots of poison ivy!