AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

5.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 5.3-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Lantern Crossing, 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 ft6.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.92757, -86.01618
Nearest town Lantern Crossing, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

5.3 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Elevation 800–836 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.92757, -86.01618

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 E.
  2. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  3. 0.9 miBear left, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  5. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  7. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  8. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading W.
  10. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  12. 0.1 miTurn right onto Orchard Trail, heading N.
  13. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  14. 100 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  15. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  16. 100 ftContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading N.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  18. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading E.
  19. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  23. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  24. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  26. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  27. 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-97d6

Trail surface

88% paved3% grass2% dirt1% gravel6% unspecified

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 6:27 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

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lantern Crossing, Indiana