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 mi797 – 837 ft6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.92802, -86.01220
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 798–836 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.92802, -86.01220

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. 150 ftSharp right, heading W.
  3. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  5. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  6. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  7. 0.8 miBear left, heading N.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  9. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  10. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  11. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  12. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  15. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  16. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  17. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading W.
  18. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  19. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading E.
  20. 0.7 miTurn right, heading NE.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  22. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  23. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  24. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  25. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  26. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  27. 0.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  28. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  29. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  30. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  31. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  32. 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-9-km-2a5c

Trail surface

88% paved4% grass3% gravel5% 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