AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach–Elm Creek Swim Pond, 3 beaches

7.5 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 2 hr 32 min

Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach–Elm Creek Swim Pond, 3 beaches is a 7.5-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near West Coon Rapids, MN. The route passes Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach, Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach and Elm Creek Swim Pond. It is mostly level, with 81 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi866 – 932 ft9.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.15081, -93.37915
Nearest town West Coon Rapids, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach–Elm Creek Swim Pond, 3 beaches

7.5 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 2 hr 32 min

Elevation 865–932 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.15081, -93.37915

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 350 ftSharp left, heading N.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  4. 1.1 miBear left, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  8. 450 ftPass Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach.
  9. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  10. 350 ftBear left, heading SW.
  11. 350 ftPass Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach.
  12. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  13. 250 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  14. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  18. 100 ftBear left, heading SE.
  19. 500 ftBear right, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Northern Lights Trail, heading SE.
  21. 0.4 miPass Elm Creek Swim Pond.
  22. 350 ftContinue straight onto Valley Trail, heading SW.
  23. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  24. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  25. 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  28. 400 ftReach Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 400 ftTurn right, heading S.
  30. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  31. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  32. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  33. 450 ftContinue straight onto Northern Lights Trail, heading W.
  34. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  35. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  36. 500 ftBear right, heading NE.
  37. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  38. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  39. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  40. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  41. 250 ftSharp right, heading N.
  42. 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  43. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  44. 350 ftBear right, heading E.
  45. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  46. 0.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  47. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  48. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  49. 1.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  50. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  51. 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/elm-creek-park-reserve-beach-elm-creek-swim-pond-out-back-5-beaches-12-km-0760

Trail surface

82% paved15% dirt3% grass

Weather

Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:38 PM — 5 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near West Coon Rapids, Minnesota