Duluth Trails

Duluth Trails - Outdoor Recreation

Map dimensions: 38in x 18in, double-sided fold up, 1:24,000

This map was commissioned to the Geospatial Analysis Center (GAC) from the City of Duluth the winter of 2013-14. The GAC is a center at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) that provides student working opportunities on external geospatial contracts, including research coordination throughout the UMD community.

The city wanted a map designed to highlight the many outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the city. There is a deliberate emphasis on city recreational space, see the legend and the matrix for a break down on city park amenities with a focused inclusion of city partners such as the Superior Hiking Trail Association, COGGS, and many more.

Little did the City of Duluth know it was on the cusp of being voted the best outdoor town of 2014 by Outdoor Magazine! But it was of little surprise to the outdoor enthusiastic fans of Duluth; there is incredible topography here, shield geology, rushing trout streams, cliff faces, magnificent vistas, the grandeur of Lake Superior, an estuary, and an awesome amount of public green space! Hiking, biking, skiing, bouldering and more is out there for you to enjoy.

The first edition was completed the summer of 2014, 15,000 maps were printed to be freely distributed throughout the city. A second version was completed in July 2015. This version features newly constructed mountain bike trails that include segments of the Duluth Traverse. Other outdoor recreation activities were added; skijoring, bouldering, and kayaking. Among other improvements and inclusions are additional public land information and a multi-directional hillshade from ESRI.

Design and content contributors: Stacey Stark (UMD GAC), Judy Gibbs (City of Duluth), Tim Bates (UMD Outdoor Education), Kate Carlson (GAC and GUESS Dept.), Brian Downing (student cartographer, GUESS student and GAC employee)
Map Authors/Designers: 2014 version- Kate Carlson (GAC and GUESS Dept.) and Brian Downing (GUESS student and GAC employee). 2015 version- Kate Carlson (GAC and GUESS Dept.) and Micaella Penning (GAC), Britta Hardel (student assistant/cartographer, GUESS student and GAC employee)