AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Nickel Plate Trail

11.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 44 min

Nickel Plate Trail is an 11.1-mile out-and-back near Sandstone Lakes, IN. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi801 – 850 ft12.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.96523, -85.94217
Nearest town Sandstone Lakes, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

11.1 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 3 hr 44 min

Elevation 800–849 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.96523, -85.94217

Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 64°F / low 55° · precip 2% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 7:32 AM · sunset 7:43 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  3. 1 miBear left, heading W.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  5. 1.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  6. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  7. 0.4 miSharp right, heading W.
  8. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  11. 250 ftTurn right, heading W.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading N.
  17. 1.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  18. 1.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  24. 300 ftTurn left, heading S.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  26. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  27. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  28. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  29. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  30. 1.6 miBear left, heading E.
  31. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  32. 1 miTurn right, heading E.
  33. 0.2 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-18-km-2f98

Trail surface

95% paved5% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 64°F55°
Precip2%Wind11 mphUV4Humidity86%
Rained 0.4″ yesterday (1.7″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
65°50°
Sunrise 7:32 AM12 AM3 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:43 PM
Wed 63°58° 28%
Thu 67°55°
Fri 67°50°
Sat 69°51°
Sun 64°57°
Mon 65°55°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~43 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Sandstone Lakes, Indiana