Monarch Trail
8.3 mi · ▲ 366 ft · 2 hr 57 min
Monarch Trail is an 8.3-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 366 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Monarch Trail
8.3 mi · ▲ 366 ft · 2 hr 57 min
Elevation 856–930 ft
Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve
Trailhead: 45.19889, -93.43925
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:15 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
- 300 ftBear left, heading W.
- 1.4 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 500 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
- 1.4 miBear right, heading N.
- 300 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
- 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 (~26 min). Leave by 6:29 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
- Sumac Trail 8.3 mi · ▲ 312 ft
- Sumac Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 314 ft
- Monarch Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 314 ft
- Sumac Trail 8.3 mi · ▲ 366 ft
- Sumac Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 314 ft
- Rice Street Beach 3.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft
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Hikes near Champlin, Minnesota