AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve

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

0 mi787 – 824 ft6.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.95667, -86.02685
Nearest town Maple Del, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 1.6 miTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 100 ftBear left, heading E.
  4. 250 ftSharp right onto Nickel Plate Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.7 miSharp right, heading N.
  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. 0.7 miSharp left, heading NE.
  12. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  13. 100 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  14. 1.4 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-9-km-b9fd

Trail surface

91% paved4% grass3% gravel2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:31 AMSunset 7:45 PM

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.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Maple Del, Indiana