A brand new multi-use trail park.
Mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing, trail running, family walks, fat biking + more.
Valley Life Recreation continues to execute on a comprehensive plan to develop the Squirrel Hills Recreation Area on highway #10 and highway #16 (adjacent to the Town of Minnedosa) to accommodate a world-class mountain biking, hiking and snowshoe trail network, in addition to the existing cross-country ski trails and hiking system. This will facilitate the promotion of active living, economic development and increased tourism in the Minnedosa, R.M. of Minto-Odanah and Westman region.
We continue to seek Platinum ($10,000+), Gold ($5,000+), Silver ($2,500+), Bronze ($1,000+) and Friends ($100+) sponsors to complete the financial goals of this project.
The Squirrel Hills Trail Park trail system has been designed by award-winning trail designer Alex Man (PhD, PEng) of Scatliff+Miller+Murray and professionally construction was completed in September 2023. A comprehensive trailhead design has also been completed by Scatliff+Miller+Murray and construction is scheduled to take place in spring 2024.
The Trails
The existing Squirrel Hills Recreation Area consists of cross-country ski and hiking trails shown in brown on this map. The new plans double the available trails, adding professionally designed trails with appropriate grading and design for all skill levels from novice to intermediate to advanced (see legend and trail difficulty rating).
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The Trailhead
To facilitate park entry, a beautiful new trailhead will welcome community members and those visiting our region. This trailhead will be utilized as a hub for fitness, family and friends gathering, education and community celebrations. It will feature a nature play area, pavilion with beautiful views of the valley, areas for snacking before and after hitting the trails, and a walking loop with a mountain bike skills development area.
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VISION
The Minnedosa region has a strong reputation for outdoor living and recreation. Our lake, beaches, playgrounds, water park, cabins and campsites are all evidence of the high standards and reputation our “Valley Life” area is well recognized for.
With the increase in popularity of mountain biking on a regional, national and global scale, this project seeks to take advantage of this growing sport to enhance the recreation opportunities in our community. The unique topography with varying levels of elevation and terrain make our area on the prairies unique to facilitate professional level mountain biking and multi-use trails.
With trails at the Brandon Hills and Riding Mountain National Park, along with the success of Dauphin’s Northgate Trail System, Assessippi’s downhill trails and the recently opened Hylife Back Forty bike park in Neepawa, this project will further cement Westman as a marketable provincial and national trails destination.
WHY SPONSOR?
- Supporting the Squirrel Hills Trail Park will enable no-cost opportunities for physical fitness, mental well-being, increased tourism, economic benefits, and enjoyable recreation for the entire community.
- Trails are a relatively low-cost community investment that do not require above average incomes to enjoy and are easy to maintain over their lifespan. Trails quickly become a valuable community asset and source of pride for every citizen in the region.
- In helping this project come to life, you will be demonstrating your desire to encourage people to get outdoors and connect with nature in a sustainable and climate-friendly manner. Use in trails has exploded with the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating just how important they are for our modern-day society.
- This trail system will be in use year round through activities such as cycling, trail running, hiking, dog walking, snowshoeing, winter fat biking and more.
“Given the topography of the area, there is enormous potential to create a world-class trail network that will be enjoyed by members of the community and by people travelling to the area.”
– Alex Man, PhD, PEng,
Geological Engineer/Trail Designer
“Heritage Co-op is proud to be able to support worthwhile community projects like this through our Community Fund. Building sustainable communities is a foundational piece of our business model that helps us to make a difference in members’ lives.”
– Heritage Co-op