AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

5.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 48 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 5.4-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 mi797 – 824 ft5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.96144, -86.01395
Nearest town Fishers, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

5.4 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 48 min

Elevation 799–824 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.96144, -86.01395

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 S.
  2. 250 ftTurn right onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading SW.
  3. 2.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto Orchard Trail, heading W.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  7. 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  8. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  9. 100 ftContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading W.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
  12. 2.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  13. 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-8-km-0ba9

Trail surface

94% paved3% grass2% dirt1% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:31 AMSunset 7:45 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:58 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 Fishers, Indiana