27 August, 2025

Three Days, Two Wheels, One Trail: Bikepacking the Crow Wing Trail

Group of cyclists riding on a trail surrounded by green fields

Trail adventures from Trans Canada Trail staff

Written by Sharee Hochman

In my role as Coordinator, Partnerships with Trans Canada Trail, I often discuss the many benefits of spending time on the Trail: it boosts your mental and physical well-being, it works wonders for team-building activities, and it helps people across Canada access nature, often in their own neighbourhoods or communities.

I recently got to experience the benefits first-hand, with a three-day bikepacking trip on the Crow Wing Trail. I was joined by five of my good friends, all of whom, like me, are avid cyclists and big fans of all things trail. We were all proudly sporting our bikes built by our friend Dan Reihl, who works for the social enterprise Plain Bicycle – an affiliate partner of Winnipeg Trails, a trail partner organization of Trans Canada Trail.

We chose Crow Wing Trail for a number of reasons: it’s flat, goes through many towns and villages en route to the Canada-US border, and it’s got a fascinating history as a former transport route for trade goods between Winnipeg and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Day 1: The Forks National Historic Site to Ste. Agathe

Photo credit: Sharee Hochman

Our group met up at The Forks National Historic Site in the heart of Winnipeg and headed out. First stop: St. Norbert Farmers Market for snacks!

Our route took us through St. Adolphe, where the Trail crosses a disc golf course; and Niverville, which is known for being the site of the first grain elevator in Western Canada! We cooled down with ice cream and a splash pad, right on the Trail. We concluded our day in Cheyenne Park, where we camped right beside a canola field. Fun fact: canola flowers taste like broccoli!

Daily kilometres: 75

Day 2: Ste. Agathe to Saint Malo Provincial Park

Photo credit: Sharee Hochman

Day two brought a stormy rain- and wind-filled ride. It was cold and a bit miserable, though still fun … well, kind of fun. We stopped to warm up with soup in the town of St-Pierre-Jolys (it was delicious!) before concluding our ride at Saint Malo Provincial Park. Much like many towns along Crow Wing’s route, St-Pierre-Jolys was originally the site of a Métis settlement and later by several people from Quebec. It remains a bilingual town today and is known for the Frog Follies – a frog-jumping competition!

When we got to Saint Malo Provincial Park, I was pretty wiped, so cooked dinner right outside my tent and went to bed – resting up for another day on the Trail!

Total kilometres: 50

Day 3: Saint Malo Provincial Park to Emerson

Cycling riding across a suspension bridge, with green trees surrounding bridge

Photo credit: Sharee Hochman

Day 3 was action-packed. We headed south along the Trail, despite significant headwinds. We passed alongside several farms – I loved seeing the signs telling us to thank a farmer for this Trail section (thank you, farmers!). Many people may not realize that several sections of the Trans Canada Trail pass through privately owned land, and it’s down to the generosity and enthusiasm of landowners that people are given right-of-way through their property.

Our ride took us to the Roseau River, crossing the Senkiw Suspension Bridge. Built in the 1930s, the bridge was originally built for kids to access school, and today it’s part of the Trans Canada Trail. After a strenuous ride through a forest, we proudly signed the guestbook. We continued our ride to Emerson at the Canada-US border. One of our party had left a car in Emerson, so that we could get back home to Winnipeg in one shot.

Total kilometres: 85

After three days of cycling, camping and hanging out, we returned to Winnipeg – a little tired, a little dirty and very happy to have undertaken our adventure on the Trail.