One of Manitoba’s premier backcountry hiking destinations is welcoming visitors once again after an extensive restoration effort following last year’s devastating wildfires.
The 64-kilometre Mantario Trail in Whiteshell Provincial Park has officially reopened after volunteers and park staff completed months of recovery work to repair damage caused by a 2025 wildfire that spread from northwestern Ontario into the Mantario Wilderness Zone.
“The Mantario Trail offers a one-of-a-kind backcountry experience across the rugged granite ridges, lakes and forests of the Precambrian Shield,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes. “I am incredibly grateful to all the volunteers and organizations who helped restore Manitoba’s signature backcountry trail after the devastating wildfires of last year.”
The trail was closed in May 2025 after the wildfire burned through portions of the wilderness zone. A detailed assessment completed later that year helped guide a comprehensive restoration plan aimed at reopening the trail for the 2026 hiking season.
Working in partnership with the South Whiteshell Trail Association, Manitoba Parks coordinated an ambitious volunteer effort to restore the route.
In total, 23 volunteers travelled 1,885 kilometres by foot and paddle while carrying out critical repairs and safety upgrades along the trail.
Their work included clearing and brushing the entire 64-kilometre route, establishing a new 100-metre connector to the West Caribou Lake campsite, removing hazardous trees from campsites and creating 11 new emergency-access helipads. Volunteers also cleared nearly nine kilometres of portages, installed approximately 700 new trail markers, repurposed another 500 markers from fallen trees, built 12 log bridges and installed a new climbing rope at the challenging Rae Creek section.
“The Mantario Trail has been a special place to me for a long time,” said Aaron Webb, a board member with the South Whiteshell Trail Association.
“While I was aware of a larger number of people and organizations who felt the same way, the silver lining to last year’s devastating wildfire was to unite these partners in a shared goal to rehabilitate and reopen the trail.”
Webb said the response from volunteers and partner organizations exceeded expectations.
“It has been truly inspiring to see these partnerships grow quickly and bring together dedicated volunteers who have a seemingly endless amount of energy to pursue this goal in a surprisingly short timeframe,” he said. “We look forward to continuing to grow these relationships in the future to maintain stewardship of the trail and help it realize its full potential as a world-class backcountry hiking experience.”
The work completed this spring focused primarily on safety and navigation improvements to allow the trail to reopen as quickly as possible. Manitoba Parks is now planning additional upgrades, including enhanced campsite amenities, improved wayfinding signage and updated mapping resources.
The province has also introduced a new free, voluntary online backcountry registration form for hikers using the trail and other backcountry areas. The registration system is designed to help officials locate trail users in the event of emergencies or unexpected closures.
Officials note the registration form does not replace the need for hikers to leave a trip plan with a trusted family member or friend before heading into the backcountry.
The Mantario Trail is widely regarded as Manitoba’s most challenging hiking trail, attracting outdoor enthusiasts from across the province and beyond with its rugged terrain, remote campsites and scenic Canadian Shield landscape.
