AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Oxbow Creek West Pond–Grizzland, 3 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 84 ft · 3 hr 11 min

Oxbow Creek West Pond–Grizzland, 3 sights is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. The route reaches Oxbow Creek West Pond at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 84 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi863 – 922 ft11.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Elm Creek Mountain Bike Trailhead 45.18072, -93.41596
Nearest town Champlin, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Oxbow Creek West Pond–Grizzland, 3 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 84 ft · 3 hr 11 min

Elevation 862–923 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: Elm Creek Mountain Bike Trailhead · 45.18072, -93.41596

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:15 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Loop A, heading S.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  4. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Powerline Lumps, heading S.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto Grizzland, heading SW.
  11. 450 ftBear left, heading S.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  14. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  15. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  16. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  18. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  19. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  21. 0.9 miTurn right, heading E.
  22. 0.9 miTurn left onto Rush Creek Regional Trail, heading S.
  23. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  24. 0.6 miPass Oxbow Creek West Pond.
  25. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  26. 400 ftReach Oxbow Creek West Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  27. 450 ftTurn right, heading E.
  28. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  29. 0.9 miTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 0.9 miTurn left, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  32. 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
  33. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  35. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  36. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  37. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  38. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  39. 0.2 miBear right onto Grizzland, heading NW.
  40. 400 ftBear left, heading N.
  41. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  42. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  43. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  44. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  45. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Powerline Lumps, heading N.
  46. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  47. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  48. 0.3 miTurn right onto Loop A, heading W.
  49. 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/oxbow-creek-west-pond-grizzland-out-back-3-sights-15-km-8193

Trail surface

62% paved38% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:15 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 7:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Elm Creek Mountain Bike Trailhead Trailhead

Hikes near Champlin, Minnesota