AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

4.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Gatewood, IN. It is mostly level, with 54 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi764 – 820 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.94542, -86.04487
Nearest town Gatewood, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

4.8 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Elevation 766–820 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.94542, -86.04487

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:31 AM · sunset 7:46 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 1.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  3. 0.6 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  5. 200 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto Cheeney Creek Trail, heading E.
  7. 250 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  8. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  9. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  10. 200 ftTurn left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  12. 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
  13. 0.9 miArrive 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-c13a

Trail surface

99% paved1% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:31 AMSunset 7:46 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 6:51 PM for the 7:46 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 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 Gatewood, Indiana