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
Getting there
Directions
Nickel Plate Trail
3.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 6 min
Elevation 800–836 ft
Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve
Trailhead: 39.94198, -86.01600
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 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 W.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 6:50 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Nickel Plate Trail 3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Lantern Ridge Pond & Cheeney Creek Trail via Nickel Plate Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Sahm Park Beach–Nickel Plate Trail, 3 sights 7.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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