Elm Creek Park Reserve

Monarch Trail

7.7 mi · ▲ 368 ft · 2 hr 45 min

Monarch Trail is a 7.7-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 368 ft. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 929 ft8.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.19909, -93.43654
Nearest town Champlin, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monarch Trail

7.7 mi · ▲ 368 ft · 2 hr 45 min

Elevation 856–930 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.19909, -93.43654

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  3. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  4. 0.5 miBear right, heading W.
  5. 300 ftBear left, heading W.
  6. 1.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  7. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 450 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  9. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  11. 500 ftBear right, heading S.
  12. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  13. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  14. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 200 ftSharp left, heading W.
  17. 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
  18. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  19. 1.4 miBear right, heading N.
  20. 300 ftBear left, heading N.
  21. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  22. 0.9 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 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

58% paved35% grass6% dirt1% boardwalk

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~16 min). Leave by 6:39 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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