AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Crystal Lake Regional Trail

8.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 57 min

Crystal Lake Regional Trail is an 8.8-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 ft10.2 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

8.8 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 2 hr 57 min

Elevation 875–921 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.09757, -93.38523

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:15 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 SW.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  6. 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
  7. 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  9. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
  10. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left onto Valley Trail, heading NW.
  13. 350 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  14. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  15. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  17. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  18. 0.9 miBear left, heading SE.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  20. 0.8 miTurn left, heading S.
  21. 0.8 miBear left, heading E.
  22. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  23. 0.6 miTurn right onto Crystal Lake Regional Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.9 miSharp left, heading S.
  25. 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-14-km-3181

Trail surface

98% paved2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~15 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 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