Nestaweya River Trail closes for the season

Warmer temperatures and rising river levels have led to the closure of both the Red River and Assiniboine River sections of the Nestaweya River Trail trail, The Forks announced on Wednesday.

As winter shifts toward spring, changing ice conditions mean it is no longer safe to maintain the route, the organization said in a news release.

It also marks the end of this year’s Trail Together adopt-a-metre fundraising campaign. Through the campaign, members of the community adopted 1,270 metres of trail, helping support the care and work that makes skating on the rivers possible each winter.

Winnipeggers had ample time to enjoy this year’s Nestaweya Trail, which was open for 62 days and extended more than 6 km, offering skating and walking trails from Churchill Drive on the Red River to the Hugo Docks on the Assiniboine River. This year fell short of last year’s 68-day season and is below the record 76 days set in 2019.

While the river trail season has come to a close, skating continues at The Forks. The Canopy Rink and Upper Trails remain open, weather permitting.