With so many multi-use trails in Duluth, trail etiquette makes sure everyone is safe and has a good time.

“The mountain biker is always responsible for yielding,” said COGGS Director Ansel Schimpff. “In a lot of situations, you’ll run into a hiker who will just kind of step off the trail because it’s easier, but we just want to make sure that we’re at least in those situations slowing way down and giving them plenty of room so that people aren’t getting startled or feeling that they’re pushed off the trail.”

When mountain biking on a two-way trail, the uphill has the right of way. Wearing a bell on your bike is advised as there can be blind corners. On a wider trail, a good rule of thumb is to stay on the right side of the trail to avoid collision. Mountain bikers are not the only ones who need to be courteous on a trail.

“As a dog owner, you want to make sure that you’ve got your dog on a leash. Some dogs, you know, they’re really good, then they’ll just follow you, and they’re good at doing that, but other dogs will jump at people or, you know, run around, and it just makes people feel uncomfortable if they don’t know your dog,” said Schimpff. “Then make sure you’re always picking up after your dog too, because the worst thing on a nice mountain bike ride is to run over some dog’s poop on the trail.”

Avoiding muddy trails is necessary for the well-being of the trail.

“Let’s say you’re going out and there’s a trail that maybe it was open or it just closed, just use your own sense of logic to kind of keep an eye on the trails and see when they’re in the right condition to ride, you know, mud puddles and things like that. Anytime you’re riding through those types of, you know, obstacles, you got to be careful and make sure that you’re not damaging the trails permanently,” said mountain biker Jake Torch.