AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Monarch Trail

13.5 mi · ▲ 279 ft · 4 hr 38 min

Monarch Trail is a 13.5-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Dayton, MN. It climbs 279 ft and is mostly grass. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi860 – 942 ft14.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.19897, -93.48786
Nearest town Dayton, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monarch Trail

13.5 mi · ▲ 279 ft · 4 hr 38 min

Elevation 859–941 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.19897, -93.48786

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  4. 4.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 450 ftSharp right, heading E.
  7. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  9. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  10. 500 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading SE.
  11. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading E.
  12. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  13. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  18. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  20. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  22. 450 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading SW.
  23. 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  24. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  25. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 200 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  28. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  29. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  30. 4.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  31. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  32. 0.7 miArrive 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-22-km-1da5

Trail surface

69% grass21% dirt10% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:17 PM

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

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