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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 450 ftBear left onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 350 ftBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftBear right onto Meadowlark Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Sumac Trail, heading NE.
- 500 ftReach Meadowlark Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Meadowlark Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 350 ftBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear 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 1.7 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.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Rice Lake via Medicine Lake Regional Trail 3.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Meadowlark Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Medicine Lake Regional Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 26 ft
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