Monarch Trail
- 0.2 mi
- round trip
- 14 ft
- climb
- 879 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Monarch Trail is a cross-country ski route in Elm Creek Park Reserve in Minnesota, on land managed by a regional agency. The trail is short, about 0.38 miles long, and it's an out-and-back with a flat profile. The climb is minimal, with a total gain and loss of about 14 feet each, and the steepest part is a 2% grade at about 0.05 miles in. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 24°F with lows near 7°F, while February is similar at about 29°F and 11°F. Spring warms quickly, with May highs near 70°F. The Northern Lights Trail and Valley Trail are both about a mile away and are also used for cross-country skiing. For a change of pace, the Walking and biking path is about 5.7 miles off, and Coon Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 7.9 miles away.
Best time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Monarch Trail
Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
24° / 7°
Feb
29° / 11°
Mar
42° / 23°
Apr
57° / 35°
May
70° / 47°
Jun
79° / 58°
Jul
83° / 62°
Aug
81° / 60°
Sep
73° / 52°
Oct
58° / 38°
Nov
42° / 26°
Dec
29° / 13°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mpls Crystal Ap, MN, 7.9 mi away at 861 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
SKI
Northern Lights Trail
~2 min drive
Northern Lights Trail is a 0.12-mile out-and-back route in Minnesota with 2 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Valley Trail
~2 min drive
0.36-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 63 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Judy Loop
~21 min drive
Judy Loop is a short out-and-back ski route in Minnesota covering 0.79 miles with 142 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Medicine Trail
~16 min drive
0.30-mile out-and-back route in Minnesota with 16 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Northern Lights Trail
~2 min drive
0.24-mile out-and-back route in Minnesota with 36 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Valley Trail
~2 min drive
0.13-mile out-and-back route in Minnesota with 27 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Judy Loop
~21 min drive
0.61-mile out-and-back ski trail in Minnesota with 126 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Northern Lights Trail
~2 min drive
0.85-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 86 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Valley Trail
~2 min drive
0.51-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 68 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
The North Finger
~21 min drive
0.25-mile loop in Minnesota with 65 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
