WINNIPEG LIVING · BY ALIA LIVING
Skating the Nestaweya River Trail: A Winnipeg Winter Plan
Plan a river skate around current ice conditions, access points and a manageable return trip.
The Nestaweya River Trail offers a particularly Winnipeg kind of winter outing: seeing the city from its frozen rivers. Start at The Forks when the official trail is open, and choose a short first trip instead of committing to the longest possible route.
Let conditions set the date
This is a weather-dependent experience, not an attraction with a guaranteed annual opening day. The Forks adds access points as conditions allow. Check its current trail report before leaving home and follow closures and posted directions on site. An old photograph or a cold forecast is not confirmation that the ice is open.
Make the return trip easy
Choose a turnaround point before setting out. Remember that a comfortable outward journey can become a longer trip back, especially with a headwind or tired children. Keep your first visit flexible and leave time to get skates off, warm up and find your way home.
Build a small winter kit
Pack dry mittens, warm layers and a bag for shoes. If you need equipment, confirm current rental availability and return arrangements before travelling. Meet friends at a specific on-land landmark rather than simply saying “at the river.”
For residents, the best version of this outing can be a repeatable short skate rather than a once-a-year expedition. Save the official conditions page and choose your route again each visit; access and usable distance can change during the same winter.
Plan your visit: The Forks river trail. This is a seasonal planning guide, not a confirmed future event listing. Check the organizer for current dates, access and prices. Reviewed November 1, 2026.