The Stanley Trail Association has been bringing people closer to nature through deliberate planning of local hiking trails for twenty-two years.

The Association recently released a report on the Lake Minnewasta Trail (LMT) based on a user survey put out in 2021.

Board member, Leanna Wiebe, explains why they did it, and how they plan to use this information. 

(submitted photo from Paul Goossen)

"The big reason for that was just seeing all the increasing traffic in the area and just like, how valuable that trail system is to our local area, and we wanted to get a sense for how people were using the trail. We know that a lot of people like to cycle around the lake, but people also use it for hiking and birding. (We) also (wanted to) get some feedback from people about suggestions they might have for the trail moving forward."

According to the report, most of those who filled out the survey were new users, with slightly more men than women, and 85.4% Canadian born or Indigenous followed by 14.3% from the newcomer population. 85% of the users live in either Morden, Winkler or Stanley with the rest coming from other parts of Manitoba, and only 2% out-of-province.

Comments on what users like about the LMT ranged from the good mix of flow and technical sections on the trail, as well as a good combination of climbing and descending. Users also noted the ability to spend time talking to God, heal, take time away from the world.

Wiebe said the Board has divided the feedback into 10 different areas of recommendations that it will use to plan the future of the trail.

"For example, some people recommended signage that shares different information about the trail itself and then the landscape it is located in. Also, people wanted more information on how to get involved and volunteer or donate and support the trail. There were a lot of recommendations to close the loop over or around the gap. That's something there's definitely been interest expressed from the city, but we'll have keep working to keep momentum on that, and different facilities and infrastructure were recommended, such as year-round washrooms."

Hiking and various forms of biking topped the list of reasons people use the LMT, as well as photography and birdwatching.

Wiebe noted, Paul Goossen was able to add a survey that focused on birds.

"He's found, I think, 80 different species, which is quite a bit, and I think that partly due to the diversity of habitat around the lake. You've got wetland areas, but you've also got forest and then up top there's a little bit of different grasslands area. Then Paul also noted that even though he found 80 species, there is a popular birding website called Ebird, where local birders and birders that have come out to visit the area from other places, and they've found over 160 different species they've documented."

Among the eight reasons people love LMT are socializing, nature, diversity and challenge.

Wiebe expressed her reasons for investing her time as a board member.

"For me personally, I just love using trails and I am in my late 20s and I've been using the trails in our area since I was a teenager, and I also love building and maintaining trails, it's just a great way to get outside. The cool thing about being out on the trail is usually you pass someone you know or someone doing something similar to you, so you feel like you have a common interest with them. I love the sense of community on the trails, but also just another great way to be own in nature and stay active."

For a full look at the Lake Minnewasta Trail Report click here.