Elm Creek Park Reserve

West Arbor Lake & Teal Lake via Medicine Lake Regional Trail

14.7 mi · ▲ 289 ft · 5 hr 3 min

West Arbor Lake & Teal Lake via Medicine Lake Regional Trail is a 14.7-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. The route passes Teal Lake before reaching West Arbor Lake at the turnaround, 7.3 miles in. It climbs 289 ft. It scores 8/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi860 – 961 ft16.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.18839, -93.45111
Nearest town Champlin, MN

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

West Arbor Lake & Teal Lake via Medicine Lake Regional Trail

14.7 mi · ▲ 289 ft · 5 hr 3 min

Elevation 858–962 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.18839, -93.45111

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

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
  3. 2.3 miBear right, heading S.
  4. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  5. 450 ftSharp right, heading E.
  6. 200 ftTurn left, heading E.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  8. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  9. 500 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading E.
  10. 450 ftTurn left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading E.
  11. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  13. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  14. 0.7 miBear right, heading S.
  15. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  16. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  17. 400 ftSharp right onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading SW.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  22. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 0.1 miPass Teal Lake.
  24. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  25. 1.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftReach West Arbor Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  29. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  30. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  31. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  32. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  33. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  34. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  35. 0.5 miSharp left, heading SW.
  36. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  37. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  38. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  39. 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
  40. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  41. 50 ftBear left onto Monarch Long Loop, heading N.
  42. 250 ftTurn right onto Monarch Trail, heading N.
  43. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  44. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  45. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  46. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  47. 200 ftSharp left, heading N.
  48. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  49. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  50. 2.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  51. 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

55% paved34% grass8% gravel3% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:49 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:41 PM — 6 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

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

More from this trailhead