AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Crystal Lake Regional Trail

8.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 45 min

Crystal Lake Regional Trail is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Osseo, MN. It is mostly level, with 27 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi876 – 922 ft9.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.09757, -93.38523
Nearest town Osseo, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Crystal Lake Regional Trail

8.2 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 45 min

Elevation 875–921 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.09757, -93.38523

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Transit-accessible: Lakeland Av N stop 74 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 150 ftSharp right onto Crystal Lake Regional Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.9 miTurn left, heading W.
  4. 0.6 miBear left, heading W.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  6. 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  9. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  10. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  13. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  14. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  15. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  16. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left onto Rush Creek Regional Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  22. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  23. 450 ftBear right, heading W.
  24. 100 ftBear left, heading W.
  25. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  26. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  28. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  29. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  30. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  32. 0.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  33. 0.8 miBear left, heading S.
  34. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  35. 0.6 miTurn right onto Crystal Lake Regional Trail, heading E.
  36. 0.9 miSharp left, heading E.
  37. 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/crystal-lake-regional-trail-out-back-13-km-b917

Trail surface

96% paved4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~15 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Lakeland Av N stop 74 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Osseo, Minnesota