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Hike the Ministik!

U of A Field Station Access Road Gate

U of A Field Station Access Road Gate
U of A Field Station Access Road Gate

Trailhead Details

🧭 GPS Location
N53 22.014 W112 57.904 (Opens in Google Maps)

53.366900,-112.965067 (Opens in your default map app)

///liberally.bouts.unworn (Opens in what3words - mobile only)

🅿️ Parking
  • It’s fair to say that the U of A Access Road Gate is the “front door” of the Ministik. The gated road leads to a former U of A Research Station. The facility seems to have been shuttered for many years, but the road itself is periodically cleared of deadfall and other obstacles.
  • This entrance gets by far the most traffic over the course of a year, maybe because there’s decent parking space, room for maybe three or even four cars in the ditch near the gate and for more if parked safely along the road east of the gate.
  • Occasionally vehicles do have to access the road, so please don't block the gate when you park.
Note that you should park well off the road here. Parking with two vehicle wheels just off the road at the top of the hill west of the gate may get you a ticket. Parking this way is unsafe because of the poor visibility for oncoming cars in either direction.

There are 11 suggested hikes starting at the U of A Field Station Access Road Gate.

Five Meadows Loop
Starting from the U of A Access Road Gate, this hike traverses sections of the established Waskahegan Trail as well as a series of five “off-trail” hay meadows on a wide loop that takes you into the inner depths of the Ministik, eventually passing the Ministik Firetower.
Stick to the Field Station Road
This hike is all about easy navigation: you follow a road for the entire hike—a rare thing in the Ministik. If this is your first time hiking in the area, this is a perfect introductory hike.
The Enchanted Forest Loop
The majority of this hike is along the U of A Field Station Access Road, but instead of remaining on the road the entire time, it takes you on a short section of the Waskahegan Trail, loops through a small forested area, and returns to the road. This is a nice introduction to the quiet, understated beauty of this area.
The Waskahegan Trail
This “2-Car” hike takes place exclusively on the Waskahegan Trail, the only trail in the Ministik that has trail markings and receives periodic maintenance. There are a couple of rough sections, and it’s relatively long at 13 km, earning it an “Expedition” rating on this site.
Three Meadows Loop
Like the “Five Meadows Loop”, this hike route takes you from the Waskahegan Trail through three “off-trail” hay meadows. But beware: the middle section of this hike may look like a sly shortcut compared to the “Five Meadows Loop,” but that shortcut is through perennially dodgy terrain where you’ll need to exercise your route-finding abilities.
Trek to the Ministik Fire Tower
Starting out on the U of A Access Road, and after transitioning to the Waskahegan Trail, this hike takes you to one of the few historical landmarks in the area: the Ministik Firetower. This is a “must-do” hike for someone with some Ministik hiking experience under their belt.
UofA Access Road Gate to Mandy Lake Parking
This “2-Car” epic hike starts out at the U of A Access Road gate, and traverses both the north and southern Ministik. The first half is on the Waskahegan Trail; the second takes you through some potentially tougher terrain until you reach the established Nesbit Trail. Be aware: this hike will require both stamina and wayfinding abilities and is intended for experienced hikers.
UofA Access Road Gate to Penny Lane
If the suggested “Starter” hikes look a little too tame for you, this hike takes you one step further by guiding you off-road, along the Waskahegan Trail, and then looping back through a hay field on your return to a road.
UofA Access Road Gate to Stove Lake via Deadfall Alley
This hike takes you on seldom-travelled trails, and because of that, many can be overgrown and hard to follow at times. This hike isn’t one of the longest on the site, but it ranks as one of the more strenuous because of the number of obstacles you will need to navigate.
UofA Access Road Gate to Stove Lake via Ministik Fire Tower
At almost 10 km, this “2-Car” hike will test your stamina, but the trails themselves should be easy to follow throughout. After spending the first half on the Waskahegan Trail, you transition to a former cutline that is often traversed by sleds in the winter, making it fairly easy to follow.
UofA Access Road Gate via Five Meadows to Mandy Lake Parking
This “2-Car” hike is an epic expedition that will take you through the heart of the Ministik. You’ll experience easy sections on a road and clear trails, and a series of open meadows where there are no trails. Note the hike’s difficulty rating: it’s one of the most challenging on this site.