AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Monarch Trail

8.5 mi · ▲ 316 ft · 2 hr 59 min

Monarch Trail is an 8.5-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 316 ft. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 929 ft9.5 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monarch Trail

8.5 mi · ▲ 316 ft · 2 hr 59 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 right, heading W.
  4. 300 ftBear left, heading SW.
  5. 1.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  6. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  7. 450 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  8. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  10. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  11. 500 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading SE.
  12. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading E.
  13. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  14. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  15. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  16. 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miSharp left, heading S.
  18. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  19. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SE.
  20. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  21. 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
  22. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  23. 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  24. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  25. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  26. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 200 ftSharp left, heading N.
  29. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  30. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  31. 1.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  32. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  33. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  34. 200 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/monarch-trail-out-back-14-km-9e4c

Trail surface

44% paved37% grass12% gravel5% dirt2% 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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