AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

3.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 3.3-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Heritage Meadows, 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 ft3.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Clay Prairie Parkway 39.94500, -86.01870
Nearest town Heritage Meadows, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

3.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Elevation 800–820 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: Clay Prairie Parkway · 39.94500, -86.01870

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 SW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  4. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  5. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  9. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right onto Orchard Trail, heading N.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  12. 150 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  13. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  14. 100 ftContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  16. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  23. 0.1 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-5-km-1ce1

Trail surface

90% paved6% grass3% dirt1% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:31 AMSunset 7:45 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 6:51 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Clay Prairie Parkway Trailhead

Hikes near Heritage Meadows, Indiana