St. Adolphe Friendship Trail

Family-friendly trail through riverbank woods in St. Adolphe, Manitoba, Canada contains artistic features, picnic areas, and play structures.

The Friendship Trail in St. Adolphe, Manitoba is a charming, family-friendly trail through a wooded area along the riverbank of the Red River. The 2.7 kilometre loop contains artistic features, painted birdhouses, benches, picnic areas, firepits, and a playground.

View of river from rivers bank lines with grasses and small trees with fall foliage — *Red River just to the west of the trail. Several spots along the trail feature paths and lookouts to the river.*

Path through wooded area with tries showing fall foliage

The trail is open year-round, although there may be a period during spring thaw when waters cover the trail and it should be avoided. The autumn photos in this post are from an early October visit.

Tree trunks along with driftwood fashioned into fences mark path

The Friendship Trail began in 2020 when a handful of senior volunteers were helping clean up garbage from the riverbank. They used stumps and driftwood to build artistic features, benches and tabletops, and play structures. The trail continues to be maintained by volunteers. In 2023, the trail received the Manitoba Recreation Nature Award.

Recreation area in the midst of wooded area featured picnic tables, wooden swing, and decorative features including painted bird houses — *Recreation area partway along trail. The bench swing works – my sister and I tried it out.*

Painted game board on stump in wooded recreation area

Play structure with wood ladded to second level with slide

Metal fire pit surrounded by wood benches inside a clearing in the woods — *One of the firepit areas*

Wooden picnic benches in a clearing in the woods with stumps contains decorative wood carvings — *Another picnic area*

Painted birdhouses on tree trunks in the woods

The trail is home to 45 birdhouses, donated and decorated by the St. Adolphe Day Care.

Painted birdhouse on tree trunk surrounded by yellow foliage

Two wooden rocking chairs in the woods in front of a tree with a sign saying photo op

Wood carvings sitting on tree stumps in the woods

Display in the woods features driftwood platform, painted birdhouses, and a pumpkin on a barrel

The trail has become a destination for group walks and social gatherings. According to Bonjour Manitoba, the trail is busiest in spring (after the thaw) and fall. In December, you’ll find Christmas trees along it. When I visited in October, pumpkins decorated a number of spots.

Painted bird house and watering can art piece on tree trunks with view of picnic area through the trees

St. Adolphe is approximately 15 km (9 mi) south of the south Perimeter Highway running around the city of Winnipeg. The Friendship Trail runs between the east side of the Red River and Manitoba Road 200 on the north side of Manitoba Road 210. There are several entrances into the trail, but the parking lot is located at 1530 Manitoba Road 200, just a bit north of Manitoba Road 210. The trail is free to use. Dogs are welcome, but should be on leash.

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