Duluth Traverse (DT)

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Current as of July 2022: the Duluth Traverse can be ridden end-to-end through use of a few short on-road stints that link the last few remaining un-built singletrack sections.

The Duluth Traverse ("DT") is progressing toward completion with each trail-building season that passes. It is the result of a shared vision that COGGS and the City of Duluth has for a multi-use, singletrack trail that is purpose-built for mountain biking and completely traverses the entire length of the City of Duluth. Consisting of mostly flowing beginner-level singletrack, the DT connects extensive and more difficult trail networks in clusters at Lester Park, Hartley Park, Piedmont-Brewer Park, Spirit Mountain and Mission Creek.

This route is drawn strictly using sanctioned, purpose-built singletrack, and public roads.

As mapped here, the route is close to 90% singletrack and it is 98% off-road. Much of the non-singletrack is comprised of short sections of gravel, doubletrack, or paved paths. The largest remaining section of the non-singletrack is a roughly 3 mile section of gravel doubletrack on the 'DWP', between the railroad tunnel and Spirit Mtn singletrack segments. The last remaining notable on-road sections consist of a 3/4-mile section east of the antenna farm and a 1.3-mile long section east of Hartley Park.

(This "route" on MTB Project will be updated periodically when additional sections of sanctioned singletrack are filled-in.)

Direction: there is a segment at Spirit Mountain called "Happy Camper" which is a one-way, downhill trail when lifts are running, and one-way, climbing trail when they are not running. Everything else is two-way. To ascend Spirit Mountain while the lifts are running, use "The Puker."

The singletrack sections are all signed with the red/grey Duluth Traverse Logo.

NOTE: This route is drawn strictly using sanctioned singletrack and public roads.

Wild Woods: Mission Creek to Spirit Mountain
Start in Chamber's Grove Park and head north on the rolling climb of St. Louis River Trail - Duluth Traverse. At the junction, keep left. Cross Highway 210 and keep left to stay on Valley West. Descend into the valley of Mission Creek, and turn left for a short jog on Mission Creek Pkwy (gravel doubletrack). Take the singletrack on the right. Keep left at the junction. At the top of the singletrack climb, you'll come back out on Mission Creek Pkwy, with bridges over a paved trail and several railroad tracks. Continue north on this, cross Becks Road and onto the "DWP" (gravel doubletrack, rails-to-trails) going east. Ride the DWP for about 5 miles, crossing through a rock tunnel partway. Eventually you'll find yourself on Spirit Mountain's alpine slopes, with the Grand Avenue Chalet at the base of the ski hill on your right.

From the chalet area, get back onto DT singletrack right next to the pump-track. This singletrack goes for about 1.5 miles before you'll find yourself back on the DWP (a paved recreational trail here); go left. From the I-35 underpass, follow the Keene Creek trail across Cody Street, past the florist and left onto Westgate Boulevard. The singletrack will pick up again on the right (uphill) side of the road, in the trees. Keep climbing on this trail, crossing Skyline Parkway onto Lollygagger in Brewer Park.

Hills and Harbor: Piedmont Park to Observation Hill
Follow Lollygagger down and through the Haines Road tunnel onto Lower Burner of Stovetop, climbing gently to the top of Piedmont Park. Then head down Skyline trail, crossing Skyline Parkway, continue descending on Lincoln Trail until you are spit out onto Lyman Street. At the corner, turn left onto the singletrack and continue on the Lincoln trail. This section will spit you out onto West 9th Street. Take this to its end where you hit the singletrack of the Miller Creek section. Climb along the wild little creek and turn right at the top. Cross Piedmont Avenue on the Skyline road bridge then duck into the Enger Trail on your right. Roll along here to Twin Ponds and ride around the lower pond to the little parking lot on the other side. Climb up and over Observation Hill.

Observation Hill to Hartley:
Follow West 8th St (dead-end road crossing the paved road) until you see the singletrack trail "Antenna Farm" on your left. Where the Antenna Farm singletrack ends, turn east on the gravel road. Wind your way through the neighborhood and cross the highway (Central Entrance) to get back onto singletrack: Hilltopper and Chester Bowl Rim. After Chester, cross College St to go half of a block north on Brainard, where you'll see the singletrack on your left (UMD trail). Follow this into Hartley Park, crossing Arrowhead Road. At the junction with Root Canal, you can turn right to "Old Hartley Road"(gravel doubletrack) if you want to avoid the "intermediate" section. Continue through Hartley Park to Woodland Avenue.

Ridgelines and Rivers: Hartley Park to Lester Park
Cross Woodland Avenue and follow the Duluth Traverse singletrack through the woods. Turn right on Allendale Avenue, and take St. Paul, Woodland, and Carlisle Avenues to Vermilion Road (go north). Ride the gravel road between cemeteries and watch for Morningside trail on your right (east) after the beaver swamp. Continue across Jean Duluth Road. For the easiest option, follow the gravel road around the corner and take Snively Trail, for intermediate option go right onto Hawkridge Trail. From the end of either of those trails, cross 7 Bridges Road and take Lester River trail down to the park.