Gorge Creek Trail

(Riding Mountain National Park)

With the coming of cooler late summer weather, we will begin our season of longer and more challenging hiking trails. 
 
Gorge Creek is a lovely trail, that traverses several bio-systems: 

• through the large ferns of a thick forest of aspens (poplar and birch)

• along the steep shale banks of the canyon for which the trail is named,

• wide vistas from the top of the Manitoba Escarpment. 

The trail is 6.5 km one way, 13 km return.  It may be considered a moderately difficult hike, as this is a hilly trail, with much climbing and descending.  (Difficulty:  7 on a scale where 1 is Assiniboine Forest, 5 is Steep Rock Quarry and 10 is Hunt Lake).

Please bring good walking shoes.  As there is some poison ivy along the path, socks above the ankles are recommended.  Bring also 2 litres of water, a picnic lunch and snacks,  your camera, sunscreen and repellent.  Also, a bear bell or whistle, if you have.

We will meet in the outdoor courtyard beside Sargent Sundae, 2053 Portage Ave, at Overdale, (across from the Assiniboine Park footbridge).  Coffee and breakfasts are available across Overdale at Joe Black's Coffee Bar, at 2037 Portage. Buses:  The Blue line and Bus 22 both stop at Overdale.

We will begin meeting  at 8:45 am, arrange car-pooling and be on the road by 9:15 am

We should arrive at the trailhead near east gate of the park (off Hwy 19) by 12 noon.  We will have a light lunch there. then climb up the escarpment, a walk of about 2 hours.  We will stop at the west end of the trail for a break and a snack, before descending the escarpment, back to the trailhead.

Dogs are permitted on this trail -- the park asks that they be kept on leash.

We should finish our hike by 6 pm. Those who leave right after the hike should arrive back in the city by 9.  Those who wish may travel another 30 km east to Wasagaming (Clear Lake) for a swim, or stop at Neepawa for supper.

Gas prices have gone up again, so please pay your driver about $25 before leaving the city.  We also politely suggest a $1 donation for Out There (or $4 for the remainder of the season).   Parks Canada is offering free admission to national parks until September 7, so no pass will be required! (Yay!)

Register for this event by emailing Thomas at tnovak@mymts.net

Please let us know if you have a vehicle and can take passengers.

If you need to contact us by phone, call Thomas at (204) 981-2719.

Should the weather turn out to be unsuitable for this adventure, we will send out a message by 7:30 on the day of the hike and propose an alternate date.