Northern Lights Trail
- 0.9 mi
- round trip
- 65 ft
- climb
- 925 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
The Northern Lights Trail is a 0.85-mile cross-country ski route in Elm Creek Park Reserve, about 1.7 miles of out-and-back, on land managed by a regional agency in Minnesota. The trail is rated easy, with a total climb of about 65 feet and a low point of 896 feet. Winter is the season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 24°F and lows near 7°F, while February is similar at highs near 29°F and lows near 11°F. By contrast, July highs average about 83°F. The Valley Trail is about half a mile away, and the Monarch Trail is about a mile off. Farther out, the Walking and biking path and Coon Creek are within about 7 miles.
Best time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Northern Lights 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, 6.8 mi away at 861 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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0.24-mile out-and-back route in Minnesota with 36 feet of elevation gain.
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Medicine Trail
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0.30-mile out-and-back route in Minnesota with 16 ft of elevation gain.
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Northern Lights Trail
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Northern Lights Trail is a 0.12-mile out-and-back route in Minnesota with 2 feet of elevation gain.
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Valley Trail
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0.13-mile out-and-back route in Minnesota with 27 ft of elevation gain.
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Judy Loop
~19 min drive
0.61-mile out-and-back ski trail in Minnesota with 126 ft of elevation gain.
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Blue Loop
~13 min drive
Blue Loop is a 1.72-mile out-and-back route in Minnesota with 75 feet of elevation gain.
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Valley Trail
~2 min drive
0.51-mile out-and-back trail in Minnesota with 68 ft of elevation gain.
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The North Finger
~20 min drive
0.25-mile loop in Minnesota with 65 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
