Nickel Plate Trail
5.7 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 56 min
Nickel Plate Trail is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Maple Del, 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
Getting there
Directions
Nickel Plate Trail
5.7 mi · ▲ 54 ft · 1 hr 56 min
Elevation 787–823 ft
Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve
Trailhead: 39.95667, -86.02685
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:31 AM · sunset 7:45 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 1.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftBear left, heading E.
- 250 ftSharp right onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.3 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.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 1.5 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 0.9 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 7:03 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from this trailhead
- Nickel Plate Trail 5.4 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 4.6 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Nickel Plate Trail 5.7 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Cheeney Creek Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 27 ft
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