Mantario Trail
Whiteshell Provincial Park
The Mantario Trail remains closed, as work continues to address safety risks and restoration of the trail from the 2025 wildfire.
An assessment of the Mantario Trail was completed in fall 2025. The wildfire burned approximately 27.6 km of the 62 km trail (about 45%). While impacts varied across the landscape, five of the 11 backcountry campsites were damaged, including sites at Marion, Peggy, Alice, Olive, and Mantario lakes. A technical assessment report has been completed and is guiding planning, safety decisions, and procurement for remediation work.
Manitoba Parks has developed a phased plan to restore and enhance the full length of the Mantario Trail, with the goal of reopening for the summer 2026 season. Initial work is focusing on safety and navigation: clearing and brushing the trail corridor, replacing damaged campsite infrastructure, and installing new directional signage.
Future phases will include enhancements such as improved wayfinding and lake signage, kilometre markers, and new campsite amenities including picnic tables, fire pits, and throne toilets. Additional cleanup and hazardous tree removal may also be required. Temporary trail closures may occur to ensure public safety during this work.
Manitoba Parks extends sincere thanks to the South Whiteshell Trail Association and their dedicated volunteers and partners for leading recovery efforts this spring. Their dedication, long hours, and hands-on work are helping bring Manitoba’s signature backcountry long-distance trail back to life.
Please continue to respect the trail closure and stay off the Mantario Trail until it is officially reopened.
Restoration Updates:
June 11, 2026: Clearing and brushing is now complete along with dangerous tree removal along the entire trail, campsites and helipads. Directional signs have also been installed along the trail. Construction is starting this week on a new bridge at Olive Lake, installation of new boardwalks, and setting up picnic tables and toilet thrones at campsites.
Once this work is completed, the trail is anticipated to reopen by the end of June.
May 22, 2026: Over the past two weeks, crews have made remarkable progress in clearing and restoring the Mantario Trail. Progress to date:
- 500+ volunteer hours contributed, with approximately 748 km of cumulative trail travelled by foot and paddle
- Nearly 60 km of trail cleared of deadfall, brush and overgrowth pruned
- 8 helipads established near campsites
- 6 portages cleared, totalling 5.25 km
- Approximately 100 m of new connector trail established to West Caribou
- 3 campsites cleared of hazardous trees
Planned work in the coming weeks:
- Complete trail clearing and brushing, including removal of dangerous trees at campsites
- Complete the establishment of one remaining helipad
- Install new directional signage along the full length of the trail
- Replace the bridge at Olive Lake with a new wooden structure
- Install new boardwalk south of the tower junction at a creek/beaver dam crossing
April 17, 2026: In the coming weeks, Manitoba Parks will work with local community groups in Whiteshell Provincial Park to complete an initial phase of trail clearing. The goal of this first phase is to make the trail passable so it can be safely reopened to hikers for the summer season. Updated trail mapping is also being prepared and will be shared publicly later this summer.
Trail users will also benefit from a new bridge across the Whiteshell River at the south end of the Mantario Trail. Constructed over the past winter, the bridge is substantially complete, with only minor site cleanup remaining this spring. This significant investment was initiated in response to damage from the 2022 flood and will help ensure safe and reliable trail access during high water events. While the new metal bridge may be an unexpected sight along a wilderness trail, it is designed to improve long-term safety and resilience.
