Nickel Plate Trail
3.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 14 min
Nickel Plate Trail is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Forest Ridge, 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
3.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 14 min
Elevation 798–836 ft
Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve
Trailhead: 39.94156, -86.01111
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.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left, heading E.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~39 min). Leave by 6:46 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 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 3.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 2.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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