Elm Creek Park Reserve

Medicine Lake Regional Trail

9.5 mi · ▲ 207 ft · 3 hr 16 min

Medicine Lake Regional Trail is a 9.5-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Osseo, MN. It is mostly level, with 207 ft of elevation gain. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 925 ft10.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.12917, -93.44488
Nearest town Osseo, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Medicine Lake Regional Trail

9.5 mi · ▲ 207 ft · 3 hr 16 min

Elevation 856–925 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.12917, -93.44488

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading NE.
  4. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SE.
  5. 400 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  7. 350 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  8. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  9. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading N.
  11. 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  12. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  13. 500 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  14. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  16. 250 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  17. 400 ftTurn right, heading W.
  18. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  19. 1.8 miBear right, heading N.
  20. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  21. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  22. 1.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
  23. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  24. 450 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  25. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  27. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading S.
  29. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  31. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  32. 0.3 miSharp right, heading S.
  33. 350 ftBear left, heading S.
  34. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  35. 350 ftSharp right onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading SW.
  36. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  37. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  38. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

47% grass32% paved11% gravel10% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.1 mi in (~103 min). Leave by 5:12 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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