Monarch Trail
10.8 mi · ▲ 302 ft · 3 hr 45 min
Monarch Trail is a 10.8-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 302 ft. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi856 – 929 ft11.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 45.20004, -93.43267
Nearest town Champlin, MN
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Monarch Trail
10.8 mi · ▲ 302 ft · 3 hr 45 min
Elevation 856–930 ft
Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve
Trailhead: 45.20004, -93.43267
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:17 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn 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 SE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading E.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
- 1.4 miBear right, heading NW.
- 300 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn 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
54% paved29% grass10% gravel4% dirt2% boardwalk1% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:17 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~23 min). Leave by 6:34 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- Monarch Trail 11 mi · ▲ 304 ft
- Monarch Trail 10.6 mi · ▲ 300 ft
- Sumac Trail 8.1 mi · ▲ 275 ft
- Sumac Trail 8.4 mi · ▲ 220 ft
- Sumac Trail 8.4 mi · ▲ 277 ft
- Sumac Trail 8 mi · ▲ 273 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Champlin, Minnesota