Happy trails to you: Winnipeg edition

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/10/2021 (1691 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Autumn is the perfect time to get out and explore Manitoba. Not only is the landscape bursting with gorgeous fall colours but there are fewer bugs and it’s not too hot or too cold – usually just the right climate for venturing outdoors.

Here are some places to check out on each side of the city:

Just south of Winnipeg, near St. Norbert, you’ll find La Barrière Park. It’s a popular location, judging by the amount of people who were out and about on the same sunny Sunday that I visited. La Barrière’s 2.9 kilometre hiking trail loop is relatively short compared to other Manitoba trails, is easy enough for all skill levels, and – being mostly bordered by the La Salle River- is quite scenic. It’s a busy little place for paddling, too, with an entry point to the La Salle right at the park entrance, and a regular stream of kayakers, canoeists and paddle boarders can usually be spotted on the water.

Earlier this summer, on the east side of the city, I accidentally discovered the Transcona Bioreserve while out bike riding with my nephew Evan.

I had no idea this place even existed. It has a 2.3 kilometre trail nestled within a meadow and is teeming with natural prairie plants and wildflowers. It’s a great place for biking and walking, and is easily accessible for wheelchairs. It’s also a dog-friendly place where your favourite canine pals can stroll along with you off-leash.

Over on the west side, Assiniboine Forest is an actual forest and a convenient and peaceful locale to escape urban life for a while. This unique area is home to a herd of white-tailed deer and other small animals, a great variety of birds, aspens and oaks, and some rare plants, too. There is a pond at its centre, with an observation deck from which you can watch gaggles of waterfowl doing their thing. If you took the time to travel all of the trails within the forest, you’d cover a distance of just over 10 kilometres.

On the northeast side of town, Bunn’s Creek Parkway in North Kildonan is a three-kilometre route that follows its namesake. It might be one of the most authentic outdoor areas in the city, with much of its natural vegetation still intact, and it is home to an array of birds, little critters, and even turtles. In the springtime, species of fish, such as white sucker, black bullheads, and northern pike use the creek to spawn. In winter, Bunn’s Creek Centennial Park offers a toboggan slide and skating rink.

If you are interested in supporting urban trail initiatives, Winnipeg Trails Association is a non-profit organization with the goal of developing a sustainable city, with a focus on active transportation. Trails Manitoba promotes and develops the use of recreational trails throughout the province, with the ongoing mission of improving the overall wellbeing of our communities.