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Elm Creek - 10 mile Ride

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.6 (114)
  1. Areas
  2. MN
  3. …Minneapolis - St. Paul
  4. …Maple Grove
  5. Elm Creek Park Reserve
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“Fast and fun flow trail resembling Murphy-Hanrehan in Savage, MN. ”

Karmen Woelber
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Map Key

10.1

Miles

16.2

KM

100%

Singletrack

920' 280 m

High

861' 263 m

Low

342' 104 m

Up

341' 104 m

Down

1%

Avg Grade (1°)

9%

Max Grade (5°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Overview

This is a 10 mile intermediate and advanced loop. Ride begins at mountain bike parking lot trailhead accessed from Hayden Lake Road.

At Elm Creek, you'll ride through a variety of terrain from mature wooded tracks to open prairie areas. Flowing trails with small bumps and rises designed to keep water off the trail make sections of this trail feel like a pump track. Many opportunities are available to bump up the difficulty with rock gardens and log features.

In the Advanced Loop / Grizzland area there are advanced difficulty opportunities with elevated skinnies, log features and uphill step-ups. Features are marked and have ride-arounds so you can just cruise on by if you desire. A few of the features are in small loops of their own. Regardless, each feature or loop returns to the main trail. All are clearly signed.

Ride includes: Intermediate Loop and Advanced Loop/Grizzland .

Need to Know

The singletrack is groomed for winter fatbike riding!

Description

The trailhead is signed well and located immediately across the road from the parking lot. Go counter-clockwise on the dirt trail for about 15 yards and onto the gated paved road. There is a narrow bike lane along the edge of the road to follow for about 1 block. The trail then exits to the Left and enters the trees again with a short climb.

The initial intermediate trail is tree lined singletrack full of snug corners and rolling elevation changes. Video of what to expect in this section: youtu.be/ss2YT1T3tWk

At one point along the western edge you'll come out of the trees to an intersection with a larger signboard. Go left to continue on with this ride. (If you want to bail out back to the parking lot you can go right-ish here and get back onto the paved road and head right to get back to the mountain bike parking lot.) Eventually it makes its way to an open prairie type area where the wider turns will light the fire for speed in some, yet in others, just as powerfully lead them to sit up and soak in the day.

Near the end of the prairie area is an intersection. To continue this ride follow the trail forward into the Advanced Loop / Grizzland area. If you want to bail here you can go left.

Grizzland returns to the trees and offers steeper and longer bench cut climbs plus a multitude of advanced difficulty feature options to set this area apart from the rest of the ride. The most difficult features have ride-arounds so you can pick and choose your challenges for the day. At the end of this loop you have the option of going left to repeat it, or continuing on forward seamlessly rejoining the Intermediate Loop which eventually returns to the mountain bike parking lot trailhead.

History & Background

In June of 2011, MORC and Three Rivers Park District opened a new, purpose-built mountain biking trail at Elm Creek Park Reserve. The full trail network currently consists of approximately 2.5 miles of beginner/adaptive trail. 8.5 miles of intermediate trail, and 2.5 miles of intermediate/expert hand-built trail.

Contacts

Local Club: Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists (MORC)

Land Manager: Three Rivers Park District

Shared By:

Karmen Woelber with improvements by Joel B
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 114 votes

#1

in Elm Creek Park Reserve

#79

Overall
  4.6 from 114 votes
5 Star
72%
4 Star
23%
3 Star
4%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
1%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Elm Creek Park Reserve

#2

in Minnesota

#79

Overall
47 Views Last Month
29,235 Since Oct 31, 2013
Intermediate Intermediate
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Photos

Beginner-sized drop.
Jan 26, 2016 near Champlin, MN
Short loop takes advantage of the natural half pipe.
Jul 30, 2013 near Champlin, MN
Rocks, bridges and logs! Oh, my!
Aug 7, 2013 near Champlin, MN
1 of a handful of technical treats.
Jul 30, 2013 near Champlin, MN
Very unique Log Pyramid. If you ride around, don't forget to duck!
Aug 7, 2013 near Champlin, MN
Trail split around tree, ride left for a hop or right for speed.
Aug 7, 2013 near Champlin, MN

3 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 84 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jan 1, 2025
Private User
Jul 23, 2024
cj du
May 10, 2024
Jake Weinzierl
10.9mi — 1h 12m
Oct 14, 2023
Mike Benam
Aug 27, 2023
Lori Malvey
Bike with Pat 11.5mi — 1h 38m
Aug 5, 2023
Zachary Williams
intermediate loop 8.1mi — 1h 02m
Jul 2, 2023
Lori Malvey
11.5 miles. Fun!!! 11.5mi
Aug 3, 2022
Tony Grossman
12mi — 1h 23m

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