Randonneur Routes in Winnipeg

Gravel grinding has put a fresh face on randonneur riding. Long-distance routes that run on back roads in the scenic countryside are staples to both. In Manitoba, you can check out the Gravel Parkway 200 route by the Manitoba Randonneurs.

“Gravel riding is pretty new in Manitoba,” says Adrian Alphonso, founder of Clear Paths, where he leads bicycle rides from an Indigenous perspective. “But we certainly have a lot of gravel. Our province has a bunch of options to choose from, and people are creating new routes to ride all the time.”

The Parkway route qualifies as a 200-km brevet ride, and is largely gravel. This ride is tough. Although the route has been attempted 18 times, it’s only been finished on four occasions.

Riders looking for a rail-trail experience can explore the 193-km Crow Wing Trail. Part of the The Great Trail, Crow Wing leads from Winnipeg to the U.S. border. It passes through a number of communities and features historical information about the first settler communities that moved into the region.