Riding from Birds Hill Provincial Park into Winnipeg after the Folk Festival was so enjoyable that I just had to share! If you’ve been thinking about pedalling to this nearby park, definitely give it a go. Here’s a photo story of our trip home.
First, we jumped onto the Duff Roblin Parkway Trail from the Cedar Bog Trail parking lot in Birds Hill Provincial Park. This beautifully paved trail travels through the trees and up onto the PTH 59 overpass.
The Duff Roblin Parkway Trail starts from the Cedar Bog trail parking lot in Birds Hill Provincial Park.
This led us to the crazy hooped overpass across PTH 59. I’m not exactly sure why it’s enclosed. Maybe it’s the horses. One of them left a calling card behind. (I didn’t even know that horseriders used the overpass. Or maybe it was another animal?) From the overpass, the trail goes from pavement to gravel as you head away from Birds Hill Park.
Entering the hooped PTH 59 overpass to reach Birds Hill Park.
With low water in the floodway we were able to cross the floating bridge. Pretty cool! You’ll be locked out though when waters are high.
This baby floats only when water is low. High waters mean a locked gate and no access.
Next was a little climb up to the top of the bank along the floodway ditch. Here you can turn northward to Lockport or keep heading south to Winnipeg.
A look back toward the floating bridge
Grasshoppers were lively – several came for a ride on my bike. The wildflowers along the trail edge added a splash of colour.
Taking time to smell the wildflowers.
An extra bonus was the return to a paved trail at Dunning Road. This took us all the way to the town of Birds Hill. We reluctantly exited The Duff Roblin Parkway Trail at Garven Rd then followed Hall Rd and Camsell Ave into town. Time to eat!
After cold bevies and a tasty lunch, we took Hoddinott Rd to Raleigh St to reach the Perimeter. This is where it gets dicey, having to run across several lanes of cars and semis travelling at 100 km/h or higher. But take heart! The Province of Manitoba is building a pedestrian and cyclist overpass in the next few years.
Yikes! Running across the Perimeter! Really looking forward to the new overpass for pedestrians and cyclists that’s on the books.
Safely on the south side of the Perimeter, we connected with the Northeast Pioneers Greenway. Sorry no photos taken of this comfy, paved trail that stretches 5.5 km smack in the middle of Raleigh and Gateway in North Kildonan. From there I was excited to try out the new Chief Peguis Trail. We weren’t sure how the two trails connected but it turned out to be a lovely landscaped overpass where you could either continue south on the Northeast Pioneers Greenway or turn westward onto the Chief Peguis Trail.
Easy – and lovely – connection from the Northeast Pioneers Greenway onto the Chief Peguis Trail.
We zipped along the Chief Peguis Trail, stopping only to check out the stone wall. At least we thought it was a stone wall buffer between adjacent houses and the noisy roadway. Turns out it was some sort of plastic! Weird.
Think that’s a stone wall next to the trail? Nope! It’s fake but it sure looks real.
Not a lot to look at along the Chief Peguis Trail though we were happy to see the relocated community garden. Also the pack of wolves at Henderson Hwy. Love that they included some public art. We need even more of it.
Pack of wolves where the Chief Peguis Trail ends at Henderson Hwy.
From there we ducked over the southbound sidewalk on Chief Peguis Bridge. Technically illegal but it leads directly to the riverbank gravel trail behind Kildonan Golf Course. This hidden gem is home to some of the biggest cottonwoods in Winnipeg. (I think Whittier Park stakes the claim to the largest or oldest or both.)
Look at the size of this cottonwood! Notice the size of my bike leaning against the tree. Wowza.
After winding through Kildonan Park, we moved onto residential streets for the last few blocks home. What a fabulous ride!
We took our e-bike to birds hill this weekend and the active transportation corridor on Gateway is done! It’s cool to see how long the gateway bike path goes.
Great to hear! Good point – I will update the post. I had a chance to cycle the route a few weeks ago and it’s fabulous. Also highly recommend stopping in the former quarry park in the town of Birds Hill. It’s a hidden gem for sure.
Looks like an exciting ride! Do you know the total distance of your ride and how long it took you?
It was great fun! Big thing though is to check before you leave that the floodway isn’t open (if it is, the floating bridge gets pulled out). I think it took us a couple of hours to ride the 25-30 km but we were riding leisurely and stopped for lunch along the way.
Oops, most important thing though is that the Province has blocked access from the north end of Raleigh across the Perimeter. They’ll be working on the new overpass there for the next 3 years (https://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/roadinfo/pdf/pth59_design_build_project_announcement_fact_sheet.pdf). Means a detour back to Henderson and then ride north to Hoddinnott Rd to get back to Raleigh north of the Perimeter. Adds another 2-3 km to your trip.
Thanks for the quick reply and the heads up!
Thanks so much for sharing. It wasn’t until mid October (2014) when I come across your photo story and didn’t even realize the trail was done. Although it was late in the season, my friend and I biked it twice in October and early November and it was very enjoyable. Note: (the floating bridge was already removed for the season and had to tip toe over a few of the rocks which only added to the excitement) Can’t wait until spring as biking to Birds Hill Park is the only way to go 🙂
That must have been really interesting to climb across the rocks! It will be a really great ride once the new overpass is built (though it will take 3 years) so that cyclists and walkers can safely and easily cross the Perimeter at Raleigh without having dodge cars and trucks.
The reason the overpass is enclosed is to prevent people from throwing or dropping larger objects onto cars passing under at 100km/h (intentionally or unintentionally).
You know, that’s what I thought at first too. But there’s a middle viewing section that is wide open.
Thanks for documenting your route and experience Beth. This is very helpful for me. I would really like to bike out to Birds Hill on this new trail – and this gives me just the information I need!
Wow, this is a beautiful cycle-log, Beth. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks for sharing! I’m definitely going to take the ride this summer!