Elm Creek Park Reserve

Teal Lake via Medicine Lake Regional Trail

12.5 mi · ▲ 369 ft · 4 hr 21 min

Teal Lake via Medicine Lake Regional Trail is a 12.5-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. The route reaches Teal Lake at the turnaround, 6.3 miles in. It climbs 369 ft. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 929 ft13.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.19909, -93.43654
Nearest town Champlin, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Teal Lake via Medicine Lake Regional Trail

12.5 mi · ▲ 369 ft · 4 hr 21 min

Elevation 856–930 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.19909, -93.43654

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  3. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  4. 0.5 miBear left, heading W.
  5. 1.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  7. 450 ftSharp right, heading E.
  8. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  10. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  11. 450 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading SE.
  12. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading NE.
  13. 250 ftBear right, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  15. 0.9 miBear right, heading S.
  16. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SW.
  17. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  18. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  19. 400 ftSharp right onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  22. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  23. 200 ftReach Teal Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  26. 0.5 miSharp left, heading W.
  27. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  28. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  29. 350 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  30. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  31. 0.9 miTurn left, heading N.
  32. 50 ftBear left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading N.
  33. 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  34. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  35. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  36. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  37. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  38. 200 ftSharp left, heading N.
  39. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  40. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  41. 1.8 miBear right, heading NW.
  42. 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
  43. 0.9 miTurn right, heading N.
  44. 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

48% paved36% grass8% gravel8% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~17 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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