Elm Creek Park Reserve

Meadowlark Trail

5.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 43 min

Meadowlark Trail is a 5.1-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Maple Grove, MN. It is mostly level, with 26 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi876 – 938 ft6.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.13155, -93.47769
Nearest town Maple Grove, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Meadowlark Trail

5.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft · 1 hr 43 min

Elevation 875–937 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.13155, -93.47769

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:15 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 450 ftBear left onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  5. 350 ftBear left, heading E.
  6. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  7. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  9. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  10. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  13. 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
  14. 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
  15. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  16. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  19. 450 ftBear right onto Meadowlark Trail, heading N.
  20. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftBear right onto Sumac Trail, heading NE.
  22. 500 ftReach Meadowlark Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
  24. 100 ftTurn left onto Meadowlark Trail, heading NE.
  25. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  26. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  28. 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
  29. 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
  30. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  31. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  32. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  34. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  35. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  36. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  37. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  38. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  39. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  40. 350 ftBear left, heading S.
  41. 50 ftTurn right onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading S.
  42. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  43. 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

65% paved26% dirt5% grass4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~41 min). Leave by 6:14 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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