Manitoba Walking and Hiking Guide

Dave Jenkinson is Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education at the
University of Manitoba.

This is not a how-to but rather a where-to book, detailing the best
places to walk, hike, and backpack in Manitoba. The 150 walking routes
are each less than 5 kilometres long, while the more than 60 hiking
routes, which sometimes involve demanding terrain, are longer but can
still be covered within a day. Nineteen backpacking trails range from 5
to 96 kilometres long and require one or more overnight trail stops.
While the book’s three major foot-travel sections are each organized
by geographical areas of the province, the opening walking segment also
offers an organization by theme for readers who may want farm-vacation,
architectural, botany, bird-watching, wildlife, beach, or historical
walks.

Particularly useful is Marr’s information about wheelchair
accessibility. Section summaries categorize routes by three levels of
increasing difficulty, with difficulty being defined as a combination of
distance, surface, and topography.

For the most part, each walk, hike, or backpacking trail is briefly
described in point form in terms of its type, access, facilities,
distance, and difficulty. The remainder of each entry gives route
directions. Sometimes practical advice is added about such things as the
need to check current trail conditions to avoid beaver flooding, where
one can experience a particularly fine view, or what topographical maps
or local guides are required to complete a route. Marr makes a number of
suggestions about how shorter walks and hikes can be turned into
backpacking expeditions. She also frequently refers to the cycling
routes cited in her earlier book, Manitoba Outdoor Adventure Guide:
Cycling as possible foot trails.

As with Cycling, this practical title should be included in all
Manitoba’s public libraries and any schools providing
outdoor-education courses. A must purchase, too, by leaders of
outdoor-oriented youth organizations like Scouts and Guides.