AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

3.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 12 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 3.6-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

0 mi801 – 837 ft4.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.94156, -86.01111
Nearest town Forest Ridge, IN
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

3.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 12 min

Elevation 800–836 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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  3. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  5. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right onto Orchard Trail, heading N.
  10. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  11. 150 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  13. 100 ftContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  15. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  17. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  19. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  20. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  21. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/nickel-plate-trail-out-back-6-km-f11f

Trail surface

91% paved5% grass3% dirt1% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:31 AMSunset 7:45 PM

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.

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 Forest Ridge, Indiana