AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Mud Lake–Elm Creek Swim Pond, 3 lakes

3.4 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Mud Lake–Elm Creek Swim Pond, 3 lakes is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Osseo, MN. The route passes Elm Creek Swim Pond and Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach before reaching Mud Lake at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 81 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi873 – 932 ft4.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.14182, -93.45946
Nearest town Osseo, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mud Lake–Elm Creek Swim Pond, 3 lakes

3.4 mi · ▲ 81 ft · 1 hr 10 min

Elevation 872–932 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.14182, -93.45946

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SE.
  3. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  4. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  5. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  6. 50 ftBear right onto Valley Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.2 miPass Elm Creek Swim Pond.
  8. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  9. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  10. 450 ftContinue straight onto Northern Lights Trail, heading NE.
  11. 350 ftPass Elm Creek Park Reserve Beach.
  12. 0.3 miReach Mud Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Valley Trail, heading S.
  14. 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
  15. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  16. 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  18. 350 ftBear left, heading S.
  19. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 0.3 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/mud-lake-elm-creek-swim-pond-out-back-4-lakes

Trail surface

71% paved24% dirt4% boardwalk1% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 6:46 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:44 PM — 3 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Osseo, Minnesota