AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

3.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 18 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Northfield Estates, IN. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 820 ft4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.93819, -86.03545
Nearest town Northfield Estates, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

3.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 18 min

Elevation 800–820 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.93819, -86.03545

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:31 AM · sunset 7:45 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftSharp left onto Blackbird Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  9. 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  13. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  14. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  18. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 0.9 miSharp right, heading SW.
  22. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 0.1 miSharp right, heading N.
  24. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/nickel-plate-trail-out-back-10-km-3ad7

Trail surface

94% paved5% grass1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:31 AMSunset 7:45 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 7:20 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:04 PM — 8 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Northfield Estates, Indiana