Access to multiple trails in the Lac La Ronge region have been closed. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

hiking and skiing

Community effort required to restore Lac La Ronge trail systems

Jun 24, 2025 | 4:31 PM

There will be plenty of work ahead to restore hiking/skiing trails in the Lac La Ronge region following a devestating wildfire earlier this month.

While the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport has yet to complete an assessment on the condition of regional trails, volunteers with the La Ronge Ski Club and Boreal Outdoor Recreation Association (BORA) are ready to assist with recovery efforts when the call comes.

The vast majority of trails near Lac La Ronge remain closed as of June 24, including the Nipekamew Sand Cliffs Trail, Nut Point Hiking Trail, Don Allen Trails, Saskaloppet Trail, and Nemeiben Lake Trail.

“[We’re] really just waiting for Parks to do their thing and then hearing back from Parks about what needs to be done and really work in collaboration with them in any way that we can to restore the trail system,” said Ski Club President Matt Koebernick.

“That’s mostly because the ski trails are on Parks land, so they’re the ones who have to manage that, and we assist as a club in maintaining the trails, in the winter grooming the trails, also for restoring the trails in what needs to be done.”

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The ski club did lose some assets during the wildfire such as their summit building, a checkpoint building near McGibbon Bay, and a timing hut. Anyone interested in donating to help rebuild those structures or the ski trails are encouraged to reach out to the club with any support they have to offer.

Koebernick explained it is too early yet to know if any events will be cancelled this winter.

“It all depends on what can be reopened and the extent of the damage,” he said.

“The actual trail is fine, but there’s a danger of trees and stuff like that. That was a concern after the 2015 fire. Parks brought people up there to take care of the dangerous trees. The club also did some work too.”

While the BORA trail system was left untouched by wildfire, a large 50 to 100-foot fire break was created between Highway 102 and Morley Wilson (Quarry) Park to prevent the fire from spreading into residential areas of La Ronge.

Heavy machinery was used to create a fire break that destroyed part of the BORA trail system. (Facebook/Matthew Maurer)

“At the same time of the fire, we had winds up to 95 kilometers per hour, so there’s trees down on the trail,” said BORA President Daniel Irvine.

“The caterpillars (machinery) made piles eight and sometimes up to 10-feet high. They were pushing the trees and moss off to the side. We are working on opening up the corridors, we’re taking the trees down that have fallen down with the wind and we’re kind of raking debris and putting up new signs to make sure people are not getting lost as they are crossing those new caterpillar firebreaks.”

BORA, which also works with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport to maintain the Nut Point Trial, currently has a call out for local volunteers. Irvine noted there will be a lot of work to be done this summer and into the fall.

“It will take a lot of work and a community effort,” he said.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com