Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

6.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Sunblest Farms, 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 mi797 – 824 ft7.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.96334, -86.02028
Nearest town Sunblest Farms, IN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

6.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Elevation 798–824 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.96334, -86.02028

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

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
  6. 2.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  9. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading W.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
  12. 2.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 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

94% paved3% grass2% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:31 AMSunset 7:45 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~73 min). Leave by 6:11 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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