Near Elm Creek Loop
Shared hiking and cycling trail.
Near Elm Creek Loop
Eastman Nature Center Pond - Elm Creek Park Reserve.

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Driving Directions
Hike Route

Elm Creek Loop

4.5 (2 Ratings)
Nice big loop in savanna with smaller, wooded loop add-on
5.5
mi
Distance
173
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Lake

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
5.54mi
Distance
173ft
Elevation Gain
173ft
Elevation Loss
20%
Max Grade
939ft
High Point
862ft
Low Point
Path Type
Loop
Description
From the trailhead, turn right, and you'll come to a bridge that is also used by snowmobiles, so be mindful. Stay straight at the bridge, the trail that turns right is for snowmobiles. This is probably all accessible to hike in the summer, but I've only been in the winter so my directions are winter-specific. You'll walk for maybe another mile before coming to another intersection, which isn't marked, and stay left at the intersection. Most of the hike, you'll be able to tell which way to go (in the winter) by paying attention to the tracks on the trail; skate ski tracks along with hiking tracks. You'll cross a few other trails, but just keep going straight at each intersection. Eventually, you'll come to a trail with signs that say "no dogs." Keep going. After you've walked around four miles, there will be a trail going off to your left that has a sign saying "nature center." Take that trail if you want to do the inner loop. It's not as well traveled as the larger loop. Follow the trail past the nature center, across the road, over the lake through the floating boardwalk, up the hill, and through the woods. If you reach an intersection, keep heading away from the nature center, until you reach a point where your options are to go to the nature center or the group camp, and then head back toward the nature center. Soon, you'll see the wider trail, and take a left to head back to the trailhead. I highly recommend keeping your GPS on, because the park in general is not well marked, and the signs that do exist relate to the summer map only (so you may want to print off the summer map in addition to the winter map so you know the trail names as well).

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Michelle Dobbratz