Subscription Services

 

print article Print     e-mail article E-mail
Published June 30, 2012, 12:00 AM

Flood briefs: Hiking, biking trails remain closed

Numerous hiking and biking trails in the Duluth area remain closed as a result of last week’s flooding. Others are open, but caution is advised.

By: News Tribune staff, Duluth News Tribune

Numerous hiking and biking trails in the Duluth area remain closed as a result of last week’s flooding. Others are open, but caution is advised.

In a news release, the city offered the following update on city of Duluth trails:

  • Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores mountain biking trails are closed.

  • Kingsbury Trail is closed.

  • The Western Waterfront Trail is passable. Hikers are asked to use caution.

  • The Lakewalk is repaired and open.

  • Chester Trail is closed.

  • Lester Ski Trail is being surveyed for damage. Use with caution.

  • Hartley Trail is open.

  • Lincoln Trail is closed.

    The city also provided an update on the Duluth segment of the Superior Hiking Trail:

  • Jay Cooke State Park headquarters to Grand Portage parking lot: Closed.

  • Grand Portage parking lot to Fond du Lac: Closed.

  • Fond du Lac to 123rd Avenue West: Closed. Hiking west from 123rd Avenue West is possible, but you will need to return to the 123rd Avenue West trailhead.

  • 123rd Avenue West to Magney-Snively: Open, but there may be some closures of Skyline Parkway.

  • Magney-Snively to Spirit Mountain: Open, but the bridge over Knowlton Creek is gone. Wet-water crossing is possible.

  • Spirit Mountain to Kingsbury Creek. Closed because of a washout along the Kingsbury Creek spur trail. A detour is being worked on. The snowmobile bridge at the base of the Spirit Mountain spur trail is there. There is rough hiking in parts of this section.

  • Kingsbury Creek to Skyline at Highland/Getchell: Closed because of the washout on the Kingsbury Creek spur trail. The trail is hikeable from the Skyline at Highland/Getchell trailhead going southwest.

  • Skyline at Highland/Getchell to North 24th Avenue West: Open, but Miller Creek bridge is damaged. To cross Miller Creek where the trail crosses Lincoln Park Drive, walk to the street upstream of the bridge, cross over on the street and walk back to the trail on North 24th Avenue West.

  • North 24th Avenue West to Twin Ponds: Open.

  • Twin Ponds to Rose Garden: Open.

  • Rose Garden to Hartley Park: Open; rough but hikeable along the Chester Creek Trail section.

  • Hartley Park to Martin: Closed because of the closure of Vermilion Road, but the trail is hikeable. The spur trail to Hawk Ridge is hikeable.

    For complete information on parking, trail descriptions and printable maps for these sections. Go to the website at www.shta.org, click on “Trail,” then click on Duluth Trail Sections.

    CITY TO OPEN VOLUNTEER CENTER

    The city of Duluth is set to open a processing center to match volunteers with flood victims who need help.

    The city and the United Way of Greater Duluth, in partnership with All Hands Volunteers, say they will open the Volunteer Reception Center of Greater Duluth at the Secondary Technical School next to the recently closed Central High School off Central Entrance at Pecan Avenue.

    Volunteers and groups are urged to pre-register by going to www.unitedwayduluth.org and clicking on the “Give Help” button. Individuals and groups may also register on-site at the Volunteer Reception Center.

    Property owners impacted by the flood also are encouraged to visit www.unitedwayduluth.org and click on the “Get Help” button.

    The Volunteer Reception Center will work to screen both volunteers and those asking for help, and then match the residents’ needs with volunteer availability and skills.

    The center will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until July 12, except for July 4, when it will be closed.

    NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 61 AT KNIFE RIVER STILL CLOSED

    The Minnesota Department of Transportation on Friday re-opened the southbound lanes of the Highway 61 expressway at Knife River. The highway was closed and detoured while crews completed emergency repairs to the bridge.

    Motorists traveling north on Highway 61 must still use the detour, as repair work continues on the northbound Highway 61 bridge. Both bridges sustained flood damage after a major storm on June 19.

    For a list of highways closed in Northeastern Minnesota due to flood damage, visit www.mndot.gov/d1/ . For updated travel information on all Minnesota roads, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.

    UMD, KUMD HOSTING STUFF THE TRUCK DRIVE

    The University of Minnesota Duluth and KUMD 103.3-FM are collecting donations of money, non-perishable food and hygiene products like soap, shampoo and toothpaste as part of a Stuff the Truck drive to benefit flood victims.

    Donations will be accepted at the radio station on campus next to Weber Hall (130 Humanities) from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. There will also be a place to drop off goods at the main entrance of the Twin Ports Bridge Festival, July 7-8 at Bayfront Festival Park.

    All donations of money go to the United Way’s long term flood recovery fund and supplies will be given to the Salvation Army for distribution.

    Tags: , , 

    More from around the web