Skating Winnipeg’s River Trail: A Beginner’s Guide
Some winters the Red River Mutual Trail stretches more than ten kilometres along the Red and Assiniboine rivers — long enough to have once held a Guinness record for the world's longest naturally frozen skating trail. Some winters it barely opens. The trail depends entirely on the ice, which depends entirely on the cold.

When to go
Mid-January through late February is the safe window. Check the official Forks trail status the morning of — anything above zero for more than a day closes it.
What to bring
- Skates (rentals at The Forks) or warm boots for walking.
- Mittens, hat, neck warmer, parka.
- A thermos. Trust us.
Read the full winter Winnipeg planner before booking.
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