Elm Creek Park Reserve

Monarch Trail

9 mi · ▲ 313 ft · 3 hr 9 min

Monarch Trail is a 9-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 313 ft. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 929 ft9.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.18965, -93.44232
Nearest town Champlin, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monarch Trail

9 mi · ▲ 313 ft · 3 hr 9 min

Elevation 856–929 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.18965, -93.44232

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  3. 0.5 miBear left, heading SW.
  4. 1.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 450 ftSharp right, heading E.
  7. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  9. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  10. 450 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading SE.
  11. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading NE.
  12. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  14. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  15. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  16. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  17. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  18. 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  19. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  20. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  21. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  22. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  23. 200 ftSharp left, heading N.
  24. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  25. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  26. 1.8 miBear right, heading E.
  27. 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
  28. 0.1 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

50% grass27% paved11% gravel11% dirt1% boardwalk

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:57 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:17 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:46 PM.

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