Nickel Plate Trail
4.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 35 min
Nickel Plate Trail is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Cedar Cove, IN. It is mostly level, with 26 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
4.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 35 min
Elevation 769–823 ft
Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve
Trailhead: 39.92716, -86.06501
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Railroad, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Orchard Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.3 miArrive 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 2.1 mi in (~51 min). Leave by 6:33 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 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 3.6 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 6.6 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 5.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Nickel Plate Railroad 2.9 mi · ▲ 26 ft
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