Trail Tutors

08/25/2026

We're thrilled to be a part of this program as well as the work to expand the Northgate Trail System into the north end of the park! Going to be an exciting year ahead. Message us with interest on volunteering or being a part of trail maintenance and building workshops in the future.

🌲VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Help Get Riding Mountain's Trails Ready! 🌲

Do you love spending time outdoors and want to give back to Riding Mountain National Park? Join the Friends of Riding Mountain Trail Stewards and help keep RMNP's trail network in great shape for everyone to enjoy!

No experience is necessary. Whether you can join for one morning or both days, we welcome all volunteers. All you need is:

✅ A positive attitude
✅ A love of the outdoors
✅ A willingness to lend a hand at your own pace
✅ A desire to support an incredible community fundraising event

📅 Upcoming Trail Steward Sessions
Saturday, August 29 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 30 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

📧 Pre-registration is required:
[email protected]

Trail maintenance is especially important this year as we prepare to host the Epic East Gate Trail Run on September 12, 2026. Featuring 10 km, 25 km, and 50 km categories. Epic East Gate is the only ultra and trail running event held within Riding Mountain National Park. Over $40,000 in proceeds raised provide support to regional healthy living initiatives through the Dauphin Rotary Club.

Earlier this summer Trail Steward volunteers cleared portions of the North Shore Trail ahead of the Mennonite Central Committee’s - Cycling Clear Lake event which raised nearly $60,000 towards providing clean drinking water in West Bengal India.

💚 Whatever your experience; every hour makes a difference, and many hands make light work. Join us, meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts, and help ensure RMNP's trails are in top shape for this exciting event and for everyone who uses them.

Register today by emailing:
📧 [email protected]

08/07/2026

If you've signed up for interest in the past at any of the Park's trail meetings - now's the time to get out and support the program we've been asking for :)

Upcoming Friends of RMNP Trail Steward outings. Contact [email protected] if interested in helping out!

03/27/2025

Alex is out & about in a top secret British Columbia locale checking the route for Adventure Race World Series in September!

Interested in learning more about the race? Check it out here: https://www.arworldseries.com/races/expedition-canada-canada

03/13/2025

Trail Tutors had to make the decision to cancel plans to attend & present at the Professional Trail Builders Association’s International Trails Summit next month (in Madison, Wisconsin). While we’re extremely disappointed not to be reconnecting with friends, partners, & the industry itself, we must stand with our Canadian membership & pass on visiting the States this year.

We’re looking towards the future & wishing our American colleagues all the best in dealing with a fairly wild/odd/disturbing political climate.

In the meantime - come on up to Canada! We’ve got amazing trails, far fewer protests, and your dollar will go a lot further here these days 😉

All the best & see you on the trails - Alex & Mel

11/23/2024

Whether you are looking to develop a trail that is suitable for use in all seasons or by all abilities, properly installing an aggregate surface can be an integral strategy for enhancing tread durability, sustainability and user experience.

After a general introduction to various types of trail surfacing, this webinar will focus on design and construction factors specific to aggregate surfaced trails.

In terms of design, speakers will discuss how slope, soil, watershed, and designed use shape an aggregate surface trail project. Speakers will then delve into the construction logistics and specialized techniques including material transport, specialized equipment, and tread compaction.

Speakers will share real-world examples of aggregate surface trail projects including successes and lessons learned. This session will conclude with a facilitated 10 minute Q&A.

Speakers:
Jed Talbot, OBP Trailworks, LLC
Erin Amadon, Town 4 Trail Services, LLC

🗓️ December 5, 2024 - 10am PT

This webinar is free, but please register: https://www.trailbuilders.org/webinars

OBP Trailworks, LLC Erin Amadon American Trails

11/15/2024

Happy to host this event at the shoppe tomorrow! Come on down and chat with Adrian while he tunes up your rig!

10/25/2024

Looking forward to getting back to the States for PTBA conference next year!

Basic Soil Mechanics for Trailbuilding Webinar

Soil types vary widely all over the world - and even on a single trail! Understanding the physical characteristics of soil and having the ability to categorize soil is VERY important to successful trailbuilding.

This session will provide applicable knowledge of soil including soil description, grain size distribution and its measurement, clay plasticity, and compaction curves and the importance of water.

Thursday, November 7
10 - 11 am PT

This webinar is free, but please register: https://www.trailbuilders.org/webinars

Trail Tutors American Trails

10/03/2024

We are very excited to announce the formal addition of friend and colleague, Adrian Alphonso, to the Trail Tutors team!

Adrian is from Anishinaabe and Guyannse parents and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is passionate about Indigenous perspectives in tourism and storytelling. He uses Trails to inspire a connection through experiences all while inviting Canadians to consider impactful "Trails As Reconciliation", a concept he is presenting at the World Trails Conference in Ottawa this week, hosted by the Trans Canada Trail Sentier Transcanadien.

Adrian believes all people need radical welcoming opportunities to benefit from a relationship to Land. Currently, Adrian holds Vice-President board positions with both Trails Manitoba and International Mountain Bike Association of Canada.

Adrian is a Bicycle Knowledge Holder, Truth & Reconciliation Facilitator, Experiential Educator, and a Two-Eyed Seeing Practitioner.

We can't wait to share the exceptionally thoughtful approach Adrian takes to the development of programming for all.

09/04/2024

Getting back from a trip out to Copper Harbour, Michigan, situated on Michigan’s semi-remote, wonderfully unpopulated eastern tip Upper Peninsula. One of the most beautiful trips & one of the best overall trail experiences yet. This is the home base of Rock Solid Trail Contracting and the owner, Aaron Rogers. The place & the trails are a work of art, creating a vibe and well-rounded riding experience that’s out of this world. We had a chance to meet with Aaron on his stomping grounds, at the base of his latest design-build around Eagle Bluff. It was great to meet him, hear about plans for the future, challenges with expansion & gov barriers (same as Canada), and listen to his thoughts on a wholistic approach to the sustainable trails tourism experience. The man knows his stuff - a pleasure to connect with people who understand that trail design & building is a profession, not a hobby. Keep up the amazing work, Aaron & all the great people in and around Copper Harbour. We’ll be back!

08/09/2024

Fun project at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park! This unsung area has hugely desirable topography, fantastic amenities, and great wildlife viewing. Historic hand built xc trails mixed with some new, machine-built flow will help round out opportunities for all level of rider and leverage the type of topography and vistas on the developed side of the lake and site of a decommissioned ski hill. Can’t wait to go back!