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 Hamilton Hills, 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 mi794 – 824 ft3.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.92717, -86.05065
Nearest town Hamilton Hills, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

3.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 6 min

Elevation 795–823 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.92717, -86.05065

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:32 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 E.
  2. 0.7 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Railroad, heading NE.
  3. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  5. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  6. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  8. 0.4 miBear right onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 0.7 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-a8b5

Trail surface

66% paved6% grass5% gravel23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:32 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

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

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Hamilton Hills, Indiana