AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

4.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 32 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 4.6-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Fishers, 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 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.95428, -86.01617
Nearest town Fishers, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

4.6 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 32 min

Elevation 800–820 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.95428, -86.01617

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 S.
  2. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  4. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 300 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right onto Orchard Trail, heading N.
  15. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  16. 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  17. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  18. 150 ftContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  20. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading E.
  21. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  27. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  28. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  29. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  30. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  31. 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-7-km-b2b5

Trail surface

93% paved4% grass2% dirt1% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:31 AMSunset 7:45 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 6:35 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Fishers, Indiana