AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Monarch Trail

11.1 mi · ▲ 304 ft · 3 hr 51 min

Monarch Trail is an 11.1-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 ft12.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.20052, -93.43529
Nearest town Champlin, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monarch Trail

11.1 mi · ▲ 304 ft · 3 hr 51 min

Elevation 856–930 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.20052, -93.43529

Weather Sep 22: Clear, high 64°F / low 44° · precip 1% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  4. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 0.9 miBear right, heading SE.
  7. 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
  8. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 1.4 miBear right, heading S.
  10. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  11. 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
  12. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  14. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  15. 500 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading S.
  16. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading E.
  17. 250 ftBear right, heading E.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  19. 0.2 miBear right, heading NE.
  20. 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miSharp left, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  23. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SE.
  24. 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
  25. 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
  26. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  27. 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  28. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  29. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  30. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  32. 200 ftSharp left, heading N.
  33. 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  34. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  35. 1.4 miBear right, heading N.
  36. 300 ftBear left, heading NW.
  37. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  38. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
  39. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  40. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  41. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  42. 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-18-km-40e1

Trail surface

52% paved28% grass9% gravel7% dirt2% boardwalk2% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 64°F44°
Feels like44°Precip1%Wind5 mphUV5Humidity87%
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 59°55° 50%
Fri 68°54°
Sat 64°58° 55%
Sun 69°60° 22%
Mon 74°58° 26%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:25 PM for the 7:13 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

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Champlin, Minnesota