(Note: All odometers read slightly different, so the mileage stated here is meant to serve as a general guideline. But it should get you very close.)

0.00 Start

Start your adventure in Madison at the county courthouse, at Jefferson and Main Streets. Head north on US 421.

2.8 Right turn

You have to keep a sharp eye out for this first turn as you climb up the valley out of Madison. It is marked with a sign that says “Old SR 62”.

4.8 Right turn at STOP sign

You’ll turn right here at the Cozy Acres Golf Course and get on the actual State Road 62 heading east. You’ll be staying on 62 for the next 35 miles, so just follow the signs and the arrows.

This is where the fun starts! Within the next mile or so you’ll be tipping over the top of the roller coaster and plunging down into your first stretch of twisted asphalt. Stay sharp and be safe!

7.2 Left in the old village of China

Nothing much left of China but the old Catholic church and some nuns who still live next door, but it’s a reminder of the thousands of tiny Hoosier farm villages that served people before motor vehicles came into use.

8.6 Right to stay on 62

12.7 Straight through Canaan

You are getting into Amish country now, and it’s fun to look for the houses with no electric lines attached! Keep an eye out for horse drawn buggies.

19.9 Left into Cross Plains

The road “Ts” here and joins SR129 for a few miles. Turn left and stay on Hwy 62 all the way to Friendship.

22.3 Right to Friendship and Dillsboro

Watch closely about a mile out of Cross Plains for Hwy 62 to turn off to the right. It’s marked by a green highway sign that says “Friendship & Dillsboro”.

26.6 Welcome to Friendship, Indiana!

If you are in the mood for refreshment, stop at the Friendship Bar & Grill. There is also a small general store in town.

Friendship is also notable as the headquarters of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA). Twice a year thousands of muzzle loader enthusiasts descend on this tiny town to camp and target shoot and trade. As you get about a half mile out of town, keep an eye to the left and you’ll see the extensive campgrounds and shooting ranges of the NMLRA. It’s open to the public and you are welcome to drive back to the ranges and see if anyone is practicing. Someone is almost always shooting.

30.9 Check out the stone foundation of the old grist mill

33.9 Dillsboro, Indiana

There’s not a lot in Dillsboro, to be honest. Janet’s Diner serves food. If you need gas or a Dollar store, you’ll find some stuff out on US50, which runs just a few blocks to the north of town. You’ll be leaving Hwy 62 about a mile out of town, so get ready.

34.8 Right on Hwy 262 to Rising Sun

You’ll be staying on 262 all the way to downtown Rising Sun, so just follow the signs and enjoy the ride. This next stretch has probably the tightest curves on the entire route.

36.0 Abandoned Nike Missile base

If you keep a very sharp eye to the left, just about a mile after you turn onto 262, you’ll see some rusted chain link fence and some abandoned concrete block buildings, including a guardhouse. It’s an old Nike Defense Missile Base, designed to shoot down Soviet bombers during the cold war of the 1950s and 60s! There were some 265 of these bases scattered all across the country, manned by Army personnel. The site doesn’t look like much, but there are huge underground bunkers where the missiles were housed. The bases were decommissioned in the early 70s, and the property is now in private hands. Word is the bunkers are still down there, turned into living space!

38.4 Milton, Indiana, home of the Perfect Sweeper

This little town was hit by the devastating tornadoes of April 3, 1974, so there’s not much left standing. But the road features the most beautiful full-speed sweeping left turn you will ever experience. It’s full visibility and the pavement is excellent. Set your speed on the straight as you cross the bridge over Laughrey Creek … and then just hold it through the turn! Perfection.

Beware the Super Twisties!

The next few miles after Milton have some of the tightest switchbacks on the whole route. If you are riding a Harley or other cruiser, your footboards will be throwing up some sparks, for sure! Keep it frosty.

49.5 Welcome to Rising Sun! Ohio County

Rising Sun is another of the “oasis stops” where intrepid travelers can find a beverage of their choice. It’s also home to Indiana’s oldest courthouse in continuous use, coming up on 200 years. It will be on your right just before you hit the first stop sign in town. Continue down Main Street and you’ll find King’s Landing Bar and Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant, both are great stops. You’ll see an American Legion right across the street, too. Rising Sun also has Rising Star Casino out on the north end of town, if you are interested in that kind of thing.

Out of Rising Sun, head west on Hwy 56 towards Vevay.

Hwy 56 is a right turn onto Walnut St. off of 262 (Main St.)

Check out the Ohio County Museum, home of the Hoosier Boy

Immediately after turning west on 56 in Rising Sun you’ll see an old factory building now serving as a museum. The building is all that remains of the old Whitlock Chair Factory complex. Back in the early 1900’s, Mr. Whitlock was into powerboat racing and he built a number of very early planing boats using huge Packard aircraft engines.

One of those boats, the famous “Hoosier Boy”, is on display in the museum. The boat holds the round trip speed record for Cincinnati to Louisville and back, set in 1924. The craft covered the 267 Ohio River miles in 267 minutes and 49 seconds, which works out to almost exactly 60 miles an hour.

But wait, you might say, the average bass boat could probably run better than 60 and beat that record. Ah, but the record was set before the Markland dam was built, so they didn’t have to stop and go through the locks. The record will never be broken!

52.1 Go straight on Hwy 156.

This next section runs along the mighty Ohio River, all the way back to Madison, and it leaves the tight twisties behind for majestic sweepers and undulating straights. The river is always trying to reclaim its riverbank, so the road surface is often broken or heaved when close to the water. Be watchful. But for the most part, you can set a nice legal speed and just hold it, all the way to Vevay, some 27 miles down the road.

Enter Switzerland County

61.7 Patriot, Indiana

The town of Patriot is notable as the birthplace of Dr. Elwood Mead. He led the design of the Hoover Dam project, and he is known as “The man who made the desert bloom.” The giant lake that was formed behind the dam is called … Lake Mead!

79.3 Welcome to Vevay, Indiana

Vevay is your third and final “oasis town” before returning to Madison and completing the 100 mile loop. Check out Roxy’s Tavern, Boondoggles, Tequila’s Mexican, and Cuz’s Bar. You can also get gas and other services in Vevay. By the way, the town name is pronounced “Vee-Vee” for reasons too convoluted to detail here. GAS. FOOD.

82.9 Thiebaud Farmstead

On the right side about 4 miles out of Vevay you’ll see a beautiful barn and a sign for Thiebaud Farmstead. It’s a great example of an early 19th century working farm, and the barn features one of the last functioning examples of a “Mormon” hay press, capable of compressing hay into 400 pound bales for shipment up and down the river.

87.3 Lamb, Indiana and the Greeneville Treat Line

In 1795, General Anthony Wayne (founding father of Fort Wayne, IN) established a treaty with the native Americans that basically opened up the Ohio territory for white settlement. It established the famous “Greeneville Line” between Indian lands and United States land. The line swung south out of Ohio to a point directly across from the Kentucky River, which runs directly through little Lamb, Indiana. Everything west of Lamb (towards Madison) was Indian territory and off limits for settlers!

100 Miles (and 1,000 turns later) back in Madison!

Madison is widely known as Indiana’s Music City. That’s because on any given Friday or Saturday night you’ll find great live music playing at 5 or more places, all within easy walking distance of the core downtown area. So, park your machine, let it cool down, and visit the Off Broadway Taproom or Shipley’s Tavern or the Central Hotel Bar and relive the excitement of the day.

And start planning your next adventure, because the Serpent is not the only adventure loop you can take out of Madison. There are 4 more great routes of varying lengths and intensity, so you can keep riding for an entire weekend, or even a full week!