Monarch Trail
11 mi · ▲ 247 ft · 3 hr 47 min
Monarch Trail is an 11-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Dayton, MN. It is mostly level, with 247 ft of elevation gain, and mostly grass. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Monarch Trail
11 mi · ▲ 247 ft · 3 hr 47 min
Elevation 858–941 ft
Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve
Trailhead: 45.19897, -93.48786
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:17 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
- 3.7 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 500 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
- 3.7 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 6:52 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:38 PM — 9 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
More from this trailhead
- Monarch Trail 13.7 mi · ▲ 305 ft
- Monarch Trail 14.1 mi · ▲ 309 ft
- Monarch Trail 13.2 mi · ▲ 279 ft
- Monarch Trail 13.5 mi · ▲ 279 ft
- Sumac Trail 11 mi · ▲ 221 ft
- Sumac Trail 11.3 mi · ▲ 223 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Dayton, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Dayton, Minnesota