Review Date
January 5, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: SRautio ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
The trails in Hartley are good any time of the year... well that being said, it does get soft in some places in the spring. I was just there this morning doing a winter trail ride. It was pretty good. I would suggest sticking to the main trails as the snow was more packed down and easier to ride on. I really enjoy every time I ride these trails and it is pretty close to home. A lot of people who I bike with see this as a good place for beginners, but there is a lot of technical area too. I hope to have some GPS tracks to upload in the future. I usually ride it 4-5 times per season... and now once in the off season.

Recommended Route:
Inner loop, outer loop, over the rock!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Seven Bridges
Spirit Mountain
Pokegama (Superior, WI)

Review Date
September 6, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Runjwalker ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Took a trip up to Duluth last weekend and rode Hartley Park for a couple of hours. I have to agree with the review below, this place could be one of the best in Minnesota. I give big points to the people who built and maintain these trails. They didn't groom them to death, so they are rugged and challenging like mountain bike trails should be. There are some awesome high speed, rocky, rooty, using all your suspension descents. As well as some rough, grinder climbs. They have tight twisty sections and fast flowing areas. The rock knob area was a real treat and challenge. Nice bridge work for getting you over the marshy stuff. The only thing I would like to see more of, is some alternate routes for some more expert obstacles like large log pyramid's, tree rides, teeters, etc. But I did only ride this trail once and I could have very well missed some stuff. I will be going back though, it was a very fun ride and Duluth isn't to far from the cities.

Recommended Route:
Use the map. Not sure if there is a marked direction when you get into the deeper trails, we just kind of randomly choose our routes.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
The trails at Spirit Mountain are great, the CAMBA trails off Mosquito Brook Road--Mosquito Brook Trail and Hatchery Creek Trail--are great rides and not to far from Duluth. Lutsen is a fun place also which isn't that far North.

Review Date
October 29, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: jberg_21 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
From advanced technical work on "Rock Knob", to thrill-a-minute single track descents and climbs this trail is a mountain biker’s buffet. It has the potential to be the "Best in the Midwest".

Recommended Route:
See City Website:

http://www.ci.duluth.mn.us/city/parksandrecreation/Secondarypages/hartleytrail.htm

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Spirit Mountain, Pokegama Trail

Review Date
September 6, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Team Hawkeye ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Best trail system north of the Twin Cities that I have ridden. Better than the Cities trails that I have ridden. It seems to get better every year. I don't live in Duluth anymore, but everytime I go through town I try to stop. Have ridden it 5 or 6 times this summer and again like last summer it has dried out and is fantastic. A little bit of everything and new loops. Whoever maintains this trail (I assume Kurt Lange and COGGS) does a great job. Worth a ride anytime you are in Duluth, especially later in the year.

Recommended Route:
Guardrail loop

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Pokegama trail

Review Date
August 2, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: nonoy_d ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Moved from Chicago, found out about this trail winter of 2002 and rode it first spring of 2003. A lot of changes made since then. The trail can be muddy and harsh on the drivetrain. Need to have the syn lube for mud. The trail is technical and and is a loop. About 7 miles or so. The used to be muddy part got upgraded by 2 kind hearted MTBikers Mike and Ryan. They built this wooden bridge, so now I used to dismount in the muddy part thanks to them I can bike over the mud. The roots and baby heads can be a chalenge specially if it is wet. Good tires are necessary. You can either do the loop clockwise and you'll be going down that guard rail where I endoed once, or counter clockwise and you'll be climbing the guard rail. My best was only a few feet. I tried to ride it one winter when the snow was still a powder coat too bad the ambient temp was too cold that my BB brake cable froze. I was told that SS would be an advantage.

Recommended Route:
If the swamp trail is not submerged. You can enter this via old Hartley Road. You'll notice wooden planks before the stream and then the wide bridge. Along the way are smaller bridges that gradually decrease in width to about a plank of wood. You'll end up by the rock knob the trail would fork there and either route will take you to the inner most trail. Follow the main trail either go clockwise and you'll be in the gradual long ascent after the twisty wooden bridge, then to the guard rail. From there you can get into the inner loop. Either way it is fun and good aerobic exercise

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Lester Park which is a ski trail for the winter, 7 bridges road to Amity Creek and loop to Hawks Ridge. You may see some sub trails that can be technical but short.