AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Elm Creek Swim Pond via Valley Trail

11.7 mi · ▲ 331 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Elm Creek Swim Pond via Valley Trail is an 11.7-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. The route reaches Elm Creek Swim Pond at the turnaround, 5.8 miles in. It climbs 331 ft. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 929 ft13.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.20052, -93.43529
Nearest town Champlin, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Elm Creek Swim Pond via Valley Trail

11.7 mi · ▲ 331 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Elevation 856–930 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.20052, -93.43529

Weather Sep 20: Overcast, high 62°F / low 51° · precip 1% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  4. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 0.9 miBear right, heading SE.
  7. 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
  8. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 1.4 miBear right, heading S.
  10. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
  12. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  15. 500 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading S.
  16. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading E.
  17. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  19. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  20. 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miSharp left, heading S.
  22. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SW.
  23. 200 ftPass Elm Creek Swim Pond.
  24. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SE.
  25. 400 ftReach Elm Creek Swim Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 400 ftTurn right, heading E.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left onto Valley Trail, heading S.
  28. 0.3 miSharp right, heading W.
  29. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  30. 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
  31. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  32. 50 ftBear left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading N.
  33. 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  34. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  35. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  36. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  37. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  38. 200 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  39. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  40. 0.5 miBear left, heading SW.
  41. 1.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  42. 300 ftBear left, heading NE.
  43. 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
  44. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
  45. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  46. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  47. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  48. 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-swim-pond-out-back-19-km

Trail surface

54% paved27% grass9% gravel7% dirt2% boardwalk1% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 62°F51°
Precip1%Wind8 mphUV5Humidity76%
Rained 0.6″ 2 days ago (0.9″ over the last week) · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperature
65°50°
Sunrise 6:59 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:17 PM
Mon 58°47°
Tue 65°42°
Wed 69°47°
Thu 64°56° 33%
Fri 65°55°
Sat 63°57° 29%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:29 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Champlin, Minnesota