Monarch Trail
11.8 mi · ▲ 300 ft · 4 hr 5 min
Monarch Trail is an 11.8-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 300 ft. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi856 – 929 ft12.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 45.20243, -93.42471
Nearest town Champlin, MN
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Monarch Trail
11.8 mi · ▲ 300 ft · 4 hr 5 min
Elevation 856–930 ft
Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve
Trailhead: 45.20243, -93.42471
Weather Sep 22: sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:13 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.8 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 S.
- 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 N.
- 1.4 miBear right, heading NW.
- 300 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading E.
- 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
59% paved27% grass9% gravel3% dirt2% boardwalk
Weather
Sunrise 7:01 AMSunset 7:13 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~36 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
More from this trailhead
- Sumac Trail 9.2 mi · ▲ 273 ft
- Sumac Trail 9.4 mi · ▲ 218 ft
- Monarch Trail 9.2 mi · ▲ 243 ft
- Monarch Trail 9.4 mi · ▲ 250 ft
- Sumac Trail 9.1 mi · ▲ 300 ft
- Sumac Trail 9.4 mi · ▲ 245 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Champlin, Minnesota