Embracing Winter on Frozen Rivers
Every December, at the meeting point of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, a remarkable 7-kilometer skating trail emerges, showcasing how residents turn harsh winters into opportunities for outdoor enjoyment. Crews meticulously prepare the ice for skating, while grooming nearby paths for walking and cross-country skiing. Benches, trees, signs, and artistic warming huts dot the landscape, transforming the frozen waterways into a vibrant winter destination despite temperatures ranging from 0 to -30 C.
Locals flock to these trails to experience city views inaccessible during warmer months, gliding along the ice or strolling the banks. Paul Simpson, a regular skater and runner on the paths, describes the allure: “It’s a totally different perspective of the city, where you’ve got the riverbanks and some green spaces. You can see animal tracks cutting across. It’s just so quiet … you just hear the swoosh of the blade back and forth.” Simpson even commutes to work via these trails in winter, bundled in warm clothing and sturdy running shoes.
The Nestaweya River Trail Experience
Known as the Nestaweya river trail, this central Winnipeg attraction combines skating, walking, cycling, and skiing routes. While shorter than Ottawa’s Rideau Canal, it stands out for its playful charm. Officials run an annual contest to select innovative warming hut designs, blending art with practicality. This year, more than 200 submissions arrived, with a select few chosen to join established favorites.
Standout new additions include an A-frame hut resembling a giant open book with its spine upward, an interactive setup of spinning blocks featuring wildlife images, and a 30-meter corridor of aligned square snow arches. These structures serve primarily as windbreaks rather than heated shelters. Dave Pancoe, manager of placemaking and sustainability at The Forks Renewal Corporation, explains: “They’re basically a windbreak. We always say they warm your heart more than they’re actually warm.”
Weekend Buzz and Weekday Serenity
On milder winter weekends, the trails buzz with families and visitors of all ages. At The Forks— the lively hub around the river junction with shops, restaurants, a hotel, a large skating rink, and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights—rentals for skates and snowshoes make access easy. In contrast, chilly weekday mornings offer a peaceful escape near downtown’s energy, providing a serene spot for reflection.
Community Involvement and Temporary Wonders
The warming huts have gained such popularity that nearby neighborhoods request installations for their areas. One favored design, a wooden frame with internal benches wrapped in fir branches, draws crowds from Lyndale Drive and Riverview communities. Community support extends to funding: for $50, individuals or businesses can adopt a meter of the trail, with hundreds participating this season.
Among the hits is Huttie, a colorful square hut styled like a whimsical cartoon character from a bygone era. Visitors enter through its open mouth, past dangling soft plastic teeth, to relax on benches around a small table. These installations last only a few weeks, depending on weather, before crews remove them ahead of the spring thaw. Pancoe notes: “The window’s pretty small to use it.” Planning for the next winter’s trail begins shortly after, ensuring the tradition continues.
