Project Overview:
The Duluth Traverse is a multi-use trail system linking neighborhoods and people to green spaces and our parks. It is a single-track, natural surface trail, purpose built for mountain bikes, stretching the entire ridge line of Duluth from Lester Park in the east to Chambers Grove Park in the west. It will be the first 100-mile trail system of its kind, wholly within an urban environment. This project is a shared vision between The City of Duluth and the Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS). In 2018, the Duluth Traverse was designated as a regionally significant trail by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission.
Although purpose built for mountain biking this trail is intended to be a multi-use trail system open to all human-powered users. Besides mountain bikers, trail users include: runners, hikers, dog walkers, fat tire winter bikers, snowshoers and backcountry skiers.
When completed the Duluth Traverse Trail System will improve upon, expand, and link existing multi-use trail centers at Lester Park, Hartley Park, Piedmont/Brewer Park, Spirit Mountain and Mission Creek Park.
Duluth Traverse Visitor Profile Survey
In 2021, a visitor profile survey was conducted along the Duluth Traverse in partnership with the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission and the Parks & Trails Council. The survey found that the total summer traffic on the trail ranges from nearly 26,500 visitors at Hartley Park to roughly 8,500 visitors at Haines Road.

In addition to demographic information about users and total counts, the survey compiled information about purpose for visiting, trail experience, and estimated traffic flows at seven sites including details about timing, and east and west bound travel. The primary use of the trail is mountain biking (61% of users) followed by hiking (24%). The trail is an important tourism destination for Duluth with roughly 30% of trail users being tourists.
The full results of the survey are available here: Duluth Traverse 2021 Summer Visitor Profile