Meadowlark Trail
8.3 mi · ▲ 189 ft · 2 hr 52 min
Meadowlark Trail is an 8.3-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Osseo, MN. It is mostly level, with 189 ft of elevation gain. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Meadowlark Trail
8.3 mi · ▲ 189 ft · 2 hr 52 min
Elevation 856–937 ft
Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve
Trailhead: 45.13227, -93.45852
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear left, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear right onto Meadowlark Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Sumac Trail, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
- 1.4 miBear right, heading E.
- 300 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miReach Meadowlark Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 300 ftBear left, heading E.
- 1.4 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Meadowlark Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 100 ftBear right, heading S.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:30 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 9 mi · ▲ 207 ft
- Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach–Elm Creek Swim Pond, 4 sights 4 mi · ▲ 172 ft
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