Rainbow Routes Association opens Wahnapitae Trail

The Rainbow Routes Association is celebrating the opening of its newest trail near Wahnapitae today.

The Wahnapitae Trail measures 500 metres in length, and is located between the guardrail on Hwy. 17 and the Wahnapitae River, said Rainbow Routes executive director Daniel Barrette.

"[The trail] meanders along the river, and goes up and down the natural valleys that exist there," Barrette said, "itgoes through some marshy areas, some wet areas, and some natural vegetation that just thrive in that type of environment."

Barrette said the trail also connects two residential areas on either side of Hwy 17, which means travellers won't have to venture onto the road, wherevehicles pass by at highway speeds.

Plans for the trail started in 1995, when long-time Wahnapitae resident Daniel Venne drafted a bicycle and pedestrian path proposal for a trail along the Wahnapitae River, Barrette said.

Trail result of volunteers' work

"At first we weren't sure how the trail was going to be built," Barrette said, "I worked with Venne and we started making phone calls and knocking on doors."

"And what we found were amazing people and generous businesses and organizations. We met a whole bunch of people that were willing to make this happen," Barrette said.

The trail, entirely built by volunteers in October, has already been in regular use.