When is Wapusk Trail built?
Canada, north-america
772 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Located in the geographical heart of Canada, near the tree line on the edge of Hudson Bay, the Wapusk Trail is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the longest seasonal winter road in the world. Careful preparation for your trip will ensure that if, and when, things do go wrong, you are prepared for the situation.
When is Wapusk Trail built?
Every January, the road is painstakingly constructed on snow and ice to provide temporary access for a few weeks to remote settlements surrounding Hudson Bay.
These settlements, which are typically only reachable by air, rely on this road until the arrival of warmer March weather necessitates its closure. Designed in cold conditions, the road is strategically laid out, following the path of least resistance and traversing natural terrain features like muskeg, lakes, rivers, and creeks.
These winter roads play a crucial role in facilitating transportation during the winter, connecting isolated areas where permanent or all-weather roads are absent.
Unfortunately, the increasing brevity of the seasons poses significant challenges. It is becoming progressively more arduous to construct reliable ice roads as they are highly dependent on the unpredictable thickness of the ice.
As an alternative, air transportation is available, albeit at a considerable cost.
How long is Wapusk Trail?
The road is 772 km (479 miles) long and stretches west from the communities of Shamattawa and Gillam in Manitoba and east to Peawanuck.
In 2011 the road was made a bit longer, arriving to Winisk. The road runs 252 km from Peawanuck to Fort Severn, 234 km from Fort Severn to the Manitoba border, 90 km from the border to Shamattawa, and 196 km from Shamattawa to Gillam.
The first 90 km of the road west from Fort Severn is the worst part of the road when the wind is blowing. The number of trucks averages between 30 to 40, with 44 trucks being the record number of trucks in one year,
transporting consumer goods, fuel and construction materials. This type of ‘temporary highways’ have a crucial role in enabling goods to be delivered to communities without permanent road access.
When was the Wapusk Trail constructed for first time?
The winter road system dates back to the 1950’s
built by private construction companies to provide a means of transporting freight to isolated northern communities that would be less costly than air transport. The trail has been featured in Ice Road Truckers TV show.
How long does it take to drive the Wapusk Trail?
It takes about 12 to 17 hours to complete the drive, depending on the conditions.
How to prepare to drive the Wapusk Trail?
Due to the remoteness of the area, take special care to ensure that your vehicle is ready for the trip.
You need to be prepared. In case of a breakdown, there is very little in the way of passing traffic or inhabitants around, and no cell phone service in parts. Winter survival and communication equipment are recommended.
Take emergency supplies and extra parts; make sure you know your route. Know where you are and know where you are going.
Pic&more info: https://www.tvo.org/article/since-ice-roads-wont-stay-frozen-we-need-to-get-serious-about-building-permanent-roads-in-the-far
Saskatchewan Highway 955 is worth the white-knuckle drive
Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive: A Comprehensive Travel Guide
Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our
to discover the most spectacular roads of the world
Drive Us to Your Road!
With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click
to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 772 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
moderateWhy is the Secret Normandy Road in Middletown Restricted to Civilians?
🇺🇸 Usa
Ever heard of a road so secret, so off-limits, it practically screams "conspiracy theory"? Buckle up, because Normandy Road in Middletown, New Jersey, is that road. Tucked away in northern Monmouth County, hugging the New Jersey coastline, this 15-mile stretch of pavement is strictly for military eyes only. It's the lifeline connecting Mainside and the Waterfront Area of Naval Weapons Station Earle, named after Rear Admiral Ralph Earle (a big shot in WWI). Legend has it, this place might've even been a nuclear weapons storage site back in the day! Here's the kicker: it looks like any other road. Shows up on maps and everything. But don't even think about cruising down it. This baby is patrolled by armed sentries, and civilians aren't welcome. It's that tantalizing mix of accessible and forbidden that makes Normandy Road so darn intriguing.
hardWhere is Upper Pomeroy Lake?
🇺🇸 Usa
Alright, adventure seekers, let's talk about Upper Pomeroy Lake in Colorado! This alpine gem sits way up high at 12,283 feet in Chaffee County, nestled north of Salida at the base of Pomeroy Mountain. And get this – just a little over 4,000 feet north of it is another lake! Getting there is an experience. Forest Service Road 297, your path to paradise, is a 3.75-mile unpaved track of steep and rocky goodness. It's moderately challenging, but rewards you with stunning views, a taste of Colorado history, and access to some killer hiking and fishing. Word to the wise: you'll need a high-clearance 4x4 to tackle this trail. Sadly, vehicles aren't allowed to go all the way to the lake anymore, so be prepared for a bit of a walk. Keep in mind that due to its high-altitude location in the Sawatch Mountains, the road is usually only open from late June through October. Expect the ice on Upper Pomeroy Lake to stick around until late June or early July.
moderateWhen was the Cherohala Skyway built?
🇺🇸 Usa
Cruising between Tennessee and North Carolina, the Cherohala Skyway is one of the most stunning drives you'll find anywhere. This fully paved beauty stretches for about 52 miles (83km), linking Tellico Plains, TN, to Robbinsville, NC, as TN-165 and NC-143. It took a whopping 34 years to build, finally opening in 1996! The name? A mashup of the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests it slices through. Be prepared for some serious elevation! You'll climb to around 5,400 feet (1,600m) near the state line at Santeetlah Overlook, near Haw Knob. Even in summer, the weather can throw you curveballs – think dense fog, thick clouds, and chilly temps. Layer up! This mile-high route offers an unforgettable experience. It's a hidden gem with breathtaking overlooks around every bend. Motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts love it for the long, sweeping corners. Just be aware that it can feel isolated at night and turn treacherous in winter. The two-lane road has wide shoulders and plenty of scenic overlooks (15!), so you can pull over and soak in the views. Give yourself two to three hours to drive it without stops, but honestly, you’ll want to take longer. Nestled amidst hardwood and evergreen forests, this easy drive delivers incredible mountain vistas, vibrant foliage, and cascading waterfalls. It’s a perfect taste of the southern Appalachian Mountains at their finest. Don’t forget your camera!
easyIs Cottonwood Cove Road in Nevada paved?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're cruising down Cottonwood Cove Road in Nevada, heading towards some serious lakeside chill time! This paved beauty snakes for about 13.4 miles through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, offering stunning views the whole way. You'll start near Searchlight, a quirky little town just an hour south of the Vegas madness, and wind your way to Cottonwood Cove on Lake Mohave. Give yourself around 25 minutes for the drive, but trust me, you'll want to budget extra time for photo ops! Keep an eye out for flash flood warnings, especially, during the rainy season - this desert landscape can change in a heartbeat. Also, heads up that it's a popular route in the summer, so expect some company. Get ready for some incredible desert scenery and good times!