AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

7.1 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 7.1-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Lakeside Green, IN. It is mostly level, with 80 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi774 – 833 ft8.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.92939, -85.99504
Nearest town Lakeside Green, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

7.1 mi · ▲ 80 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Elevation 773–835 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.92939, -85.99504

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:32 AM · sunset 7:43 PM

Dogs allowed on leash

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 1 miTurn right, heading W.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  4. 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  7. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 0.8 miBear left, heading N.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  10. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  11. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  12. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  13. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  16. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  18. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  20. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading E.
  21. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  23. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  24. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  25. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  26. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  27. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  28. 0.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  29. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  30. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  31. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  32. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  34. 0.5 miArrive 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-11-km-2ec9

Trail surface

92% paved2% grass2% gravel4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:32 AMSunset 7:43 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.3 mi in (~80 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lakeside Green, Indiana