Help Save The Ochre River Trail in Riding Mountain National Park!!!

Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT A PETITION BUT RATHER A COLLECTION OF SIGNATURES OF SUPPORT.

For over a century, the Ochre River Trail (also known as the Clear Water Trail) has been of great significance to the local communities of Clear Lake(Wasagaming), Ochre River, Makinak, and Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, Canada. Some of its earliest lore is that it was the main route for Indigenous people and European fur traders to gain access to the southern part of the mountain from Ochre River, Makinak and Lake Dauphin. In 1908, Jas. R. Dickson(assistant inspector of forest reserves in Canada) led a party of eleven, from the Village of Ochre River, up the Ochre River Trail to Clear Lake, "a distance of forty miles, working on both sides" and became the most successful out of the 3 excursions made into the reserve from 1906-1908. The first two failed attempts to reach Clear Lake were from Dauphin(337 square miles covered, almost impassable trails) and McCreary(170 square miles covered, progress was impossible.) It is curious to note that East Gate park entrance road by McCreary was eventually completed and still used today(as well as from Dauphin), yet the Ochre River Trail is slowly dissolving back into forest because of neglect or lack of interest despite its history. 

In the early 1900s-1930s, The Ochre River Trail was a logging route for many of the saw mills during that time period until logging permits were no longer given. In the 1950s, the trail was used to access different escarpments to study water runoff to the farmlands. By the 1970s, there were many horseback riding trails being used in the northern area by the local community.  In the late 1980s, Parks Canada had tour guides on every trail that you could meet up with at a specific time; An ad from the "Riding Mountain Lookout, 1987" displays: "Ochre River Ramble: Explore the upland part of the Ochre River valley for 2 hours through prime moose and elk habitat. Walking shoes or runners advised. Meet Bob at 9:30a.m. at Ochre River Trail parking lot."

The infamous but unforgettable Ochre River Trail follows the Ochre River drainage, cutting through the north eastern half of Riding Mountain National Park from Highway #10 to and from the park boundary(24.9 kms one way). Once advertised as "one of the best trails in the park" and other times described as, "one of the most delightful trails in the park" or "one of the most popular trails used by horseback riders", this trail is full of picturesque sceneries, a variety of landscapes, and overall, a challenging, but rewarding adventure. 

Starting from the top(south) Trailhead at Highway #10 going down, the first section begins with an old logging road into a forest of Poplar and White Spruce broken up by meadows, mimicking the path of the Ochre River and its tributaries and also curves around Grayling Lake. There is a small creek at about 1.8 kms. After 6 kms, Lick Lake; "a hill leads to the lake's edge, and is blanketed by a grassy meadow and occasional white spruce."[Riding mountain National Park Trail Guide: Taking The Trails] "drop down to a lakeshore, then grunt up a steep hill behind it."[Manitoba Walking & Hiking Guide] 

The trail then passes through the rolling land of Poplar, Oak, and Birch, gradually climbing and descending then after a few kilometers, a beautiful view of the escarpment can be seen, and at the 9.9 km point, the first campsite is called, "Elk Creek" and has its own water source. There are 4 streams to cross in between the two main campsites. At 13.6 kms, is the junction to go to Cairn's Cabin, built in 1989, sits 0.8 kms south of the junction and is typically used in winter time by cross country skiers. 

The next campsite is the Ochre River Campsite, that is at 14.5 kms, located on the north side of the river and has its own horse corrals. The trail continues into more thick forest down to the North Trailhead. At around 16.6 kms is where the old "Lone Coyote" campsite used to be down by the Ochre River. Then, passing through an escarpment forest of more Oak, Poplar, and Ash, the trail flattens out and around 18.4 kms used to be another junction to the old "North Escarpment Trail". There is also a large swamp to pass by along the way. Continue down the Ochre River Trail, into the deciduous, and sometimes, muddy forest to a magnificent view of the Ochre River from atop a cliff edge at the 23 km point. The Final stretch is fairly easy but can be wet and finishes at 24.9 kms in the parking lot at the park boundary.

In 2012, Parks Canada experienced Federal budget cuts and Riding Mountain National Park decided to no longer maintain winter trails or Cairn's Cabin, but, the superintendent at the time, Robert Sheldon stated that, "there would be no changes Riding Mountain's capital budget or any of its plans to partner with volunteer organizations to maintain trails or develop new ones."[Winnipeg Free Press] 

By the late 2010s, the northern half of the Ochre River Trail, from the Ochre River Campsite to the North Trailhead parking lot had been abandoned, and the signage in the parking lot removed. There are still traces of the trail present, but if left for too long, will eventually revert back to forest. 

Generations of people have made a lot of good memories travelling up and down the Ochre River Trail through time. Many people do not want to see it go away, but it seems to be getting more and more neglected every year. So, with that said, I would like to ask everyone with a connection to this trail, or anyone who would like to support its restoration to please take a moment and give your signature to show how important the life of the Ochre River Trail means for the people in and around the surrounding area.

Thank You