Elm Creek Park Reserve

Monarch Trail

8.6 mi · ▲ 314 ft · 3 hr 1 min

Monarch Trail is an 8.6-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 314 ft. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 929 ft9.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.19889, -93.43925
Nearest town Champlin, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monarch Trail

8.6 mi · ▲ 314 ft · 3 hr 1 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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  5. 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
  6. 1.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  8. 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
  9. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  11. 450 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. 500 ftTurn left, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  16. 200 ftSharp left, heading W.
  17. 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
  18. 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
  19. 1.8 miBear right, heading N.
  20. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  21. 0.9 miTurn right, heading N.
  22. 0.4 miSharp left, 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

52% paved43% grass5% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:15 PM

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.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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