
The port rink on the Assiniboine River has been cleared, tested, and flooded, and is now ready for skating. This is the first section of the Nestaweya River Trail to open for the season.
The trail has been built thanks to the generous support of winter enthusiasts who've "adopted" a metre of the trail through the Trail Together campaign in support of The Forks Foundation. Almost 700 metres have been adopted, and people can continue to put their name on a metre of trail at www.theforks.com/trailtogether.
The Nestaweya River Trail provides a much loved connection to and through The Forks site, while also connecting communities along both the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.
This marks only the fifth time since 2008 the trail has opened in December, with the earliest opening coming in 2013 when the trail opened on Dec. 21. The trail generally reaches over six kilometres in length once fully complete and is open on average for 50+ days of the winter.
Visitors can access the trail by using the steps in The Forks Historic Port or the ramp located just to the east of the Historic Rail Bridge.
Additional sections of the Nestaweya River Trail will continue to open as nature allows. The Forks only tests ice on the official trail, all other areas are not tested and people are asked to stick to the marked trail only.
Visitors can stay up-to-date on skating and ice conditions at www.theforks.com/skate.