AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Monarch Trail

10.6 mi · ▲ 300 ft · 3 hr 41 min

Monarch Trail is a 10.6-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 300 ft. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 929 ft11.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.19823, -93.43440
Nearest town Champlin, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monarch Trail

10.6 mi · ▲ 300 ft · 3 hr 41 min

Elevation 856–930 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.19823, -93.43440

Weather Sep 22: Partly cloudy, high 64°F / low 43° · precip 1% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  5. 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
  6. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  7. 1.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
  10. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  12. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  13. 500 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading S.
  14. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading E.
  15. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  16. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  17. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  18. 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
  19. 0.3 miSharp left, heading S.
  20. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  21. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SE.
  22. 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
  23. 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
  24. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  25. 300 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  26. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  30. 200 ftSharp left, heading N.
  31. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  32. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  33. 1.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  34. 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
  35. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  36. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NE.
  37. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  38. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/monarch-trail-out-back-17-km-8867

Trail surface

54% paved30% grass10% gravel4% dirt2% boardwalk

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 64°F43°
Feels like44°Precip1%Wind7 mphUV5Humidity83%
Rained 0.6″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
65°40°
Sunrise 7:01 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:13 PM
Wed 65°45°
Thu 65°58° 50%
Fri 68°58°
Sat 64°60° 55%
Sun 72°57° 22%
Mon 77°59° 26%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:32 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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