Elm Creek Park Reserve

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  5. 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
  6. 300 ftBear left, heading W.
  7. 1.4 miBear right, heading SE.
  8. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  9. 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
  10. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  12. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  13. 450 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading S.
  14. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading E.
  15. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  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. 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  26. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  30. 200 ftSharp left, heading N.
  31. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  32. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  33. 1.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  34. 300 ftBear left, heading NW.
  35. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  36. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NE.
  37. 0.4 miTurn left, 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 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 sunset hikes nearby

More from this trailhead