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DULUTH — A new universally accessible trail at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve will open to the public next Wednesday, marking a significant step in expanding access to one of Duluth’s most prominent outdoor recreation and environmental education sites.
The city of Duluth and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Sept. 16 at the reserve located at 3980 E. Skyline Parkway.
The trail was designed to improve access for people of all abilities and address long-standing limitations at Hawk Ridge involving trail accessibility, visitor movement and conservation-based education.
Following the ceremony, a Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory naturalist will lead a guided walk along the new trail. Participants will learn about birds, plants and other species found along the route.
The project grew out of the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve Mini-Master Plan, adopted in 2022 by the bird observatory and Duluth City Council.
The plan identified three major challenges at the reserve: limited accessible trails and facilities for education and outdoor recreation, conflicts between visitors and vehicle traffic, and insufficient space and resources for high-quality conservation education.
The new trail is intended to directly address those concerns while giving more visitors access to Hawk Ridge’s natural setting and educational programming.
Funding for the project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, following a recommendation from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.
The trust fund was established through the Minnesota Constitution to help protect, conserve, preserve and enhance the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife and other natural resources.
