Nickel Plate Trail
5.9 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 2 hr 1 min
Nickel Plate Trail is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Quaker Ridge, IN. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Nickel Plate Trail
5.9 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 2 hr 1 min
Elevation 777–828 ft
Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve
Trailhead: 39.94167, -85.98773
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:31 AM · sunset 7:45 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Orchard Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~67 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:07 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from this trailhead
- Nickel Plate Trail 5.7 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 6 mi · ▲ 109 ft
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