Winnipeg's Nestaweya River Trail opens in December for just 5th time since 2008

The first section of Winnipeg's river trail is open for skating right into the new year.

The port rink on the Assiniboine River, the first section of the Nestaweya River Trail, opened for the season on Tuesday, The Forks said in a news release.

It marks just the fifth time since 2008 that the trail has opened in December, with the earliest it opened on Dec. 21, 2013, the release says.

The trail regularly reaches more than six kilometres in length once fully complete, joining the frozen Red and Assiniboine rivers for winter enthusiasts to enjoy, and is generally open for 50-plus days.

Last season was trying for the trail, with warm winter weather limiting access to just nine full days of operation.

It was the shortest season — both in distance and time — for Winnipeg's well-loved skating trail if you don't count 2020, when the trail didn't open at all, according to The Forks.

WATCH / Trail Together campaign in support of the Nestaweya River Trail: 

Winnipeg's Nestaweya River Trail up for adoption

2 months ago

Duration 0:23

Winnipeg's most popular winter recreation site is up for adoption. For 50 dollars, people can put their name on part of the Nestaweya River Trail at the Forks. Donors can adopt a metre in their name, or in honour of a trail lover.

The Forks Foundation launched its Trail Together campaign earlier this year. It has provided a chance to "adopt" a metre of the trail, and nearly 700 metres has been adopted to date, the Forks says.

Additional sections of the Nestaweya River Trail will continue to open "as nature allows," the release says.

Visitors can stay up-to-date on ice and skating conditions at The Forks' website.