Name: Valley West (Duluth Traverse)
Rating: 3.8

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Family Friendly No technical features; easy, smooth, and flowing. The only consideration might be its relative 'remoteness'(far from the road) and the big climb out from Mission Creek Pkwy if you go that far.

Closed when wet or muddy, and during spring thaw. Check coggs.com for closures.

Description

Part of the Duluth Traverse, this trail follows the signature style of fast, easy, flow that the Mission Creek cluster is known for.

The trail rides both directions. This trail is extremely consistent in character throughout its entire length; it's smooth, bermed, and flowing, with lots of short bridge/boardwalk crossings. The trail design generally follows the topographic contours of the land so there is not much sustained elevation change although most of the trail feels like a roller coaster of shorter hills and dips.

Starting at the southwest end it leaves Upper Cathedral and the St. Louis River Trail just north of the State Highway 210 road crossing.

Just a bit north of the intersection with Ninja Beaver, the bench-cut trail traverses a big open area with a beaver pond to the east. Elevation-wise, this beaver pond is a low-point in the trail, but the ascent out isn't very noticeable as the trail flows so smoothly.

The easternmost mile or so consists of the most elevation change. If you're northbound, you'll enjoy a long, fast, flowing descent. If you're southbound, it's a bit of a climb.

The eastern terminus of this trail is at its intersection with "Mission Creek Pkwy" which is a wide, rough, doubletrack trail (it was an actual dirt road for vehicles circa 1930).