Elm Creek Park Reserve

Monarch Trail

11 mi · ▲ 304 ft · 3 hr 49 min

Monarch Trail is an 11-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 304 ft. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 929 ft12.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.20211, -93.43291
Nearest town Champlin, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monarch Trail

11 mi · ▲ 304 ft · 3 hr 49 min

Elevation 856–930 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.20211, -93.43291

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
  4. 200 ftBear right, heading S.
  5. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  7. 0.9 miBear right, heading SE.
  8. 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
  9. 300 ftBear left, heading W.
  10. 1.4 miBear right, heading S.
  11. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
  13. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  15. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  16. 500 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading SW.
  17. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading SE.
  18. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  19. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  20. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  21. 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
  22. 0.3 miSharp left, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  24. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SE.
  25. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  26. 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
  27. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  28. 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  29. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  30. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  31. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  33. 200 ftSharp left, heading N.
  34. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  35. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  36. 1.4 miBear right, heading N.
  37. 300 ftBear left, heading NW.
  38. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  39. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
  40. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  41. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  42. 200 ftSharp right, heading N.
  43. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  44. 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

53% paved29% grass9% gravel6% dirt2% boardwalk1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:30 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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