Seeker Bio
Best Hikes in Manitoba Canada
Top 6 Hiking Trails in Manitoba on Trans Canada Trail
Popular Trails of Manitoba to Hike and Bike
...the sea, the woods, the mountains
by Albert Pike
all suffer in comparison with the prairie ...
the prairie has a stronger hold upon the senses.
Best Hikes in Manitoba Canada includes the South Whiteshell Trail
Insider Tip: The South Whiteshell Trail overlaps with the Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail, which is a must-do trail for birders!
Pinawa Trail
Insider Tip: Bring your camera! The Pinawa Suspension Bridge is a great spot for a selfie, and you're sure to spot some deer along the trail.
Duff Roblin Parkway Trail
Red River Floodway
Wildlife viewing along the Duff Roblin Parkway
One of the key reasons we included the Duff Roblin Parkway on our list of best trails in Manitoba Canada is the opportunity to view birds and wildlife so close to the city limits. During our cross-Canada Come Walk With Us Expedition, we spotted red foxes and coyotes on the open grassy fields bordering the floodway. In addition, large flocks of American White Pelicans and other waterfowl were swimming in its waters. Further, while only a small segment of this well developed path is part of the Trans Canada Trail, the entire route is worthwhile. From end to end, additional wildlife viewing opportunities along the Duff Roblin Parkway can be experienced in Birds hill Provincial Park, Duff Roblin Provincial Park, and St. Norbert Provincial Heritage Park.
City of Winnipeg Manitoba Trails
Highlights of the City of Winnipeg Trails
Specifically, highlights along the Trans Canada Trail in Winnipeg include visiting The Forks National Historic Site of Canada at the cultural and social centre of the city. Furthermore, you can enjoy amazing wildlife viewing opportunities by following the Aspen to Preston Trail through Assiniboine Park or venturing along the Headingley Grand Trunk Trail out to Beaudry Provincial Park. Finally, exploring the Thundering Bison Trail through Fort Whyte Alive takes you to one of the best birding hotspots in Winnipeg. The ability to connect with nature, venture along trails through tunnels of trees, and visit nature sanctuaries and historic sites along one pathway are some of the reasons the City of Winnipeg Trails are on our list of best hikes in Manitoba Canada. Furthermore, if you're visiting Winnipeg, the Trans Canada Trail is a great way to explore the city and to foster a deeper connection with nature and with yourself.
Insider Tip: If you are looking for an epic mountain bike challenge of fat biking adventure in the City of Winnipeg be sure to check out the trails of Fort Whyte Alive!
Crow Wing Trail Pilgrimage Route
The Crow Wing Trail Pilgrimage Route is the next choice on our list of the top sections of the Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba to hike and bike. It is also one of our favourite Canadian Camino routes, like the pilgrimage route in Ontario. In addition, at 198 km in length, it is the longest Trans Canada Trail section in Manitoba. The Crow Wing Trail begins at the southern edge of Winnipeg and runs south to Emerson, on the Canada-US border. Furthermore, it follows the historical route of the Red River Ox Cart Trail. Interestingly, this route was used throughout the 1800s to transport goods to and from both the Red River and the Crow Wing Settlements.
More than just a trail
Much of the pilgrimage route follows backcountry gravel roads. However, it offers opportunities to visit the famous Senkiw Swing Bridge over the Roseau River. In addition, it takes hikers and cyclists to the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine and Grotto in St. Malo. Furthermore, if offers opportunities to learn about early setter history at the Mennonite Memorial Landing Site at the junction of the Rat and Red Rivers. Finally, in Emerson hikers have the opportunity to walk along the international boundary between Canada and US.
A Camino Experience
Along the Crow Wing Trail, hikers, cyclists, and pilgrims enjoy a true prairie experience, which is reminiscent of the Meseta landscape along the Camino Frances in Spain. In addition, pilgrims can collect stamps in a pilgrim passport at accommodations, businesses, and attractions in the communities of St. Adolphe, Niverville (the home of GORP), Shelburne, St Pierre-Jolys, St. Malo Provincial Park, and Emerson. Moreover, the Crow Wing Trail is partnered with the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This means that pilgrims who have trekked 25 km of the Crow Wing Trail can count this towards receiving their Compostela (certificate of completion) on the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Insider Tip: To learn more about Canadian Caminos and pilgrimage routes across Canada check out this article!
Crocus Trail
The Crocus Trail is the final choice on our list of best hikes in Manitoba Canada. This is the most westerly section of the Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba, extending 145 km north from Russell to the Saskatchewan border. Interestingly, the Crocus Trail picks up where the Rossburn Subdivision Trail ends, which is one of the top ATV routes on the Trans Canada Trail. Much of the route follows backcountry gravel roads. However, major highlights along the route include visiting Asessippi Provincial Park and the Inglis Grain Elevators National Historic Site - a national treasure that was featured by Rick Mercer.
Connecting to nature on the Crocus Trail
The final 17 km of the Crocus Trail leaves the backcountry roads and becomes a gorgeous footpath through the lush Duck Mountain Provincial Forest. In this stretch the trail builders and volunteers of the Crocus Trail have done an outstanding job connecting visitors and hikers to nature. In particular, hikers can enjoy a walk in the woods, spot amazing wildlife, and view dozens of bird species. In addition, the trail skirts around the beautiful Benson, Bird and Slip Lakes. As an added bonus, while the Crocus Trail technically ends on the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border, the route of the Trans Canada Trail takes visitors into the wonderful Duck Mountain Provincial Park in Saskatchewan which has great opportunities for camping.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, our list of the best hikes in Manitoba Canada includes our favourite sections of the Trans Canada Trail for hiking and biking in this beautiful prairie province.Simply put, the great trails of Manitoba showcase amazing landscapes, terrific wildlife viewing opportunities, and a glimpse of prairie life. Furthermore, there are plenty of fantastic options for weekend walkers, thru-hikers, long-distance cyclists, mountain bike enthusiasts, and ATV drivers. There is something for everyone on the great trails of Manitoba!
Best Hikes in Manitoba Canada
Top Sections of the Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba
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Comments 10
I have not explored very much of Manitoba yet. These hike recommendations are a great place for us to start. Thanks for sharing!
Manitoba has a lot to offer, including some wonderful trails and some fascinating history. Definitely worth a visit!
Another quality article Sonya Richmond
EH Canada Marketing Group Thank you! We certainly learned a lot on our hike across Manitoba, and there was some wonderful scenery along the way too!
This is awesome, thank you so much for sharing! I grew up in Manitoba and spent most of my summers out at Falcon Lake! I had no idea about all these trails!
We loved the Falcon Lake area, and the rest of Whiteshell Provincial Park! It reminded us a little of Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, where we both spent many happy summers. Whiteshell has plenty of paddling routes and trails that we'd love to return to explore one day.
Excellent article, Sonya. I've spent some time in and around Winnipeg, plus have taken several road trips around the province. It was great to see all the photos and be reminded of what I love about Manitoba.
Thank you! I'm glad the beauty of Manitoba shone through - it has so much to offer, but I think it is quite underappreciated. Winnipeg is amazing, but it is definitely worth exploring the rest of the province as well.
Sonya, I'm really enjoying your series of "Best Hiking Trails" across the country. I can't help but be aware of the lovely photos, winding trails, and sunny days, and know all days were not like that. Have you considered doing a blog about rainy days, broken laces, tent problems, after you've finished the provincial hiking trails? It would be interesting to see a "blooper" style blog about hiking mishaps.
I love this idea! When I think about it, we don't tend to photograph those toughest of moments, and when we do, somehow people often read them as epic or beautiful rather than the total disasters they felt like at the time. Good opportunity for some humour at our own expense