Description: Duluth has something like 23 major streams that drain into The Lake, and many have carved scenic ravines into the ridgeline and hillside that the city sits along. These ravines make for terrific hiking and Chester Bowl is no exception.
The Chester Creek Trail is a 2.2 mile round trip that can be entered from the top at Skyline Boulevard bridge under Chester Bowl or else at the bottom across from Whole Foods Co-op at the intersection of 4th and 15th. This is a serious hill, so either way you will spend a mile going up and a mile going down. The trail runs both sides of the creek, so you have the choice of returning along a different trail than you come in on.
Much of the trail is maintained by the food co-op and has wood chips neatly spread upon it, but the steeper sections can be muddy--hiking boots recommended. The trail has much to offer in terms of scenery with the creek forming into numerous cascades and waterfalls along the way. Located just below the 8th street bridge (remember, this scenic park is actually loacted in the city limits) is a particularly deep section of the ravine and the trail is over a hundred feet above the creek.
During the summer, there are free concerts in the Bowl on Tuesday nights and in the winter, you can watch (or try?) ski jumping. The Bowl is also a popular mountain biking destination and has a 3K x-country loop for the community to enjoy. Chester Bowl is just one more example of what makes Dukuth an outdoor enthusiast's year round mecca.
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