Introduction
Crow Wing Trail is a section of the Trans Canada Trail that connects Winnipeg to Emerson. It is based on the Red River Trail routes used in the 1800s.
The trail is close to 200 kilometres long and crosses through small communities and historic sites. The trail itself is comprised of country roads, hiking trails, and community park paths. It goes through prairies, forests and urban centers. From historical sites to modern settlements, it provides a unique and personal look at the landscape, history and heritage of Manitoba and its first settlers.
The trail is split into eleven sections, which range anywhere from 6 to 28 kilometres. A lot of the trail is along gravel roads and dirt paths, however, each section contains at least one very unique area which makes travelling the trail worth the effort.
I completed the trail over several afternoons through a combination of hiking, biking and driving. I hiked all the scenic parts, biked the dikes and floodways, and drove down the portions of the trial that are roadways. Below are all the highlights from the trail, and there are many!
Section 1: Floodway to St. Adolphe
Distance: 18 kilometers
Time: 5 hours
Section 2: St. Adolphe to Niverville
Distance: 14 kilometers
Time: 4 hours
Section 3: Niverville to Mennonite Landing
Distance: 7 kilometers
Time: 2 hours
Section 4: Mennonite Landing to Otterburne
Distance: 19 kilometers
Time: 5.5 hours
Section 5: Otterburne to St-Pierre-Jolys
Distance: 9 kilometers
Time: 2.5 hours
Section 6: St-Pierre-Jolys to St. Malo
Distance: 25 kilometers
Time: 7 hours
Section 7: St. Malo to Senkiw Bridge
Distance: 19 kilometers
Time: 5.5 hours
Section 8: Senkiw Bridge to Roseau Rapids
Distance: 6 kilometers
Time: 2 hours
Section 9: Roseau Rapids to Ridgeville
Distance: 20 kilometers
Time: 5.5 hours
Section 10: Ridgeville to Emerson
Distance: 28 kilometers
Time: 8 hours
Section 11: Emerson
Distance: 18 kilometers
Time: 5 hours
