Duluth Traverse
Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Trail Length: 40 miles
Trail Type: The official “Duluth Traverse” (DT) trail connects Chambers Grove and Lester Park. Generally traversing across the hillside you will ride on mostly flow trail with a few unavoidable rocky sections. You will pass through many neighborhoods along the way. The “DT” forms the spine of all of our trails. All trail systems are accessible at various points.
Trail Direction: Two way
Location: West side trail head, east side trail head.
The Duluth Traverse
Epic Traverse Trail Across Duluth, MN
Showcasing the glacial bedrock that creates the short but steep shoreline of Lake Superior, the Duluth Traverse mountain bike trail threads along the entire city of Duluth, MN. Over 30 miles of spine trail connects the 5 main trail centers and neighborhood routes. With over 90 total miles of trail, there is something for everyone: from smooth flow lines in Mission Creek; lift serviced, downhill runs at Spirit Mountain Bike Park; technical, rocky descents in Piedmont; to old school, rooty XC trail in Hartley, and everything between.
About
Established over 25 years through dedicated community building, the Duluth trails are never more than half a mile from any neighborhood! Come find your favorite trail and stop in for a cold one in one of many local breweries.
For all these reasons Duluth, MN was established as one of only seven IMBA Gold Level ride centers in the world. We are extremely proud of this designation and have worked hard to earn it. 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. As mostly 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. End to end is over 40 miles.
As mapped here, the route is roughly 80% singletrack. Much of the non-singletrack is on gravel road, doubletrack, or paths. The longest section of non-singletrack is a roughly 5 mile stretch of gravel doubletrack (the DWP) connecting Spirit Mountain with the Mission Creek area. The last 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 will be updated periodically when additional sections of sanctioned singletrack are filled-in. Check out the full details on our MTB Project Riding Area. Get Duluth Traverse on-trail navigation for Android and iOS.
Current as of Spring 2021
Duluth Traverse Overview: West to East
Direction: The DT is a two-way trail and can be ridden in either direction. The end points are roughly the same elevation, so gain/loss is approximately the same regardless of which direction you ride.
START: Mission Creek to Spirit Mountain
Park/start in Chamber's Grove Park and start out riding north on the St. Louis River Trail. Watch for the official "Duluth Traverse" trail marker signs. Continue up Valley West, and take a short jog west on Mission Creek Pwky (gravel doubletrack) then east on new singletrack. You'll come out on a wide gravel path with bridges over a paved bike trail and several RR tracks. Continue north on this, cross Becks Rd (paved hwy), and turn right into the DWP (gravel path) going east. Stay on the DWP for about 5 miles, over a couple of RR bridges and through the rock train tunnel, until it dumps you out at the base of Spirit Mtn's ski hill.
Big climb: Spirit Mountain to Observation Hill
At the base of Spirit Mtn. chalet, look for signs for the DT and follow it through the Kingsbury section. Then continue northeast on a recreational trail until you pass under I-35. From the I-35 underpass, you'll start a big "cat 3" climb on singletrack. Follow the DT segments Keene, Lollygager (top of the climb), under the Haines Road tunnel and onto Lower Burner, Skyline, Miller Creek, Enger, and the Observation Hill sections.
Observation Hill to Hartley
Continue to follow signs for the DT onto the "Antenna Farm" trail (singletrack) shortly after crossing 4-way intersection. This trail will take you across a long bridge, along a ridgeline, and terminate at W 13th St - go right. Follow roads through Harbor Highlands housing development and grab paved pike path on your left just as you leave. Then cross Central Entrance and immediately dive back into singletrack on "Hilltopper" trail. Continue to follow the DT trail ("Westchester" section) and soon, you'll be in Chester Park. Zip around the Chester Bowl Rim segment. Navigate on sidewalk/street across College Street and up Brainard Ave where you'll jump back onto singletrack on your right. Follow this singletrack into Hartley Park where you can choose to ride old Hartley Road (wide gravel) or intermediate trail "Root Canal" toward the other side of the park where there is a nature center and trailhead area.
Hartley to Lester - END!
Take the Fairmont street spur trail, go down Fairmont Street, cross Woodland Ave and take Carlisle Ave east until you hit Vermilion Rd (then go north). Ride the gravel road between cemeteries and watch for the DT singletrack to pick up again on your right (east). Follow that trail, Morningside, through to the Hawk Ridge Trail and on down the final stretch - the Lester River Trail to the bottom in Lester Park.
Mapping and Navigation Resources: