Parks & Recreation

Project Status: Construction

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. By the end of the 2017 build season, 85 miles had been completed. This project is a shared vision between The City of Duluth and the Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS).

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.

Project Update:

Construction of the following trail projects is anticipated to be completed 2019:

• Quarry Park Connector: roughly a ½ mile segment that follows the eastern rim of the quarry and terminating at Skyline Parkway.
• Brewer Park Connector: roughly a ½ mile segment that begins on Skyline Parkway and terminates up the hill in Brewer Park, tying into an existing trail.
• Antenna Farm Phase II DT Spine: roughly ½ mile in length that connects Hilltop Park to Enger Park through a residential area.
• UMD DT Spine: this segment beings at Arrowhead Road and is approximately one mile in length before it terminates on Brainerd Avenue.
• East Lester River Trail: roughly a ½ mile segment located at the eastern most terminus of the Duluth Traverse System in Lester Park.
• Elys Peak Trail: this two part project consists of a looped system above the DWP that is approximately 2.5 miles in length and a ¾ mile bypass trail around the tunnel below the DWP.
• Downer Park Trail: this lollypop trail will be roughly 1.5 miles in length starting at Vermilion Road.
• Craft Connector Trail: this trail begins at Enger Park and terminates on West Superior Street and is approximately ½ mile in length.

Important Documents:

• Duluth Traverse Mini Master Plan

Project Partners:

Cyclists of the Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS)