Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Nickel Plate Trail

5.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 50 min

Nickel Plate Trail is a 5.5-mile out-and-back in Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve near Fishers, 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 – 824 ft6.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.96137, -86.01599
Nearest town Fishers, IN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Nickel Plate Trail

5.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 50 min

Elevation 798–824 ft

Out & Back · Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

Trailhead: 39.96137, -86.01599

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 SW.
  2. 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
  3. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  4. 300 ftSharp right onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading E.
  5. 2.1 miSharp right, heading SW.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  8. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blackbird Trail, heading W.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  10. 0.3 miSharp left onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading S.
  11. 2.1 miSharp left, heading NE.
  12. 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  13. 150 ftBear right, heading N.
  14. 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 surface

93% paved3% grass3% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:31 AMSunset 7:45 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 6:26 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

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