u/pvr8897

After completing the Mantario Trail a couple of weeks ago, I wanted another backpacking adventure, so I decided to try the Newfoundland Trail in Spruce Woods Provincial Park.
Gear
I carried my 65 L backpack with:
Outbound 3-person tent
Tarp
Blanket
Rope
Gas stove, pot, spoon
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Necessary clothes
Bear spray and bug spray
LifeStraw
Water bottle and a shower bag (used for filtering water while cooking)
Tortillas, peanut butter, and a few packets of noodles
Fishing rod (which I didn’t end up using)
Rain cover
Knife
Cooking vessel
Fire starter
Torch/headlamp
20,000 mAh power bank
Mosquito head net
My iPhone 15 Pro Max ( used as a satellite device )
The same shoes I used on the Mantario Trail
This time my overall bag weight became 16 kgs.

I arrived on August 2 at around 8:30 PM. Instead of starting the trail immediately, I walked about 2 km to a campground, set up my tent, and went to sleep around 11:00 PM.
I woke up at 6:30 AM, but because of light rain overnight, my tent was completely wet. I waited until 9:00 AM for it to dry before packing everything up and starting the hike.
My original plan was to hike to Jackfish Lake Cabin, spend the night there, and finish the trail the following day.
However, after a few hours I realized the trail was much easier than I expected. The terrain was straightforward, and personally I didn’t find the scenery very exciting. After experiencing the incredible views and rugged terrain on the Mantario Trail, I think my expectations were much higher.
By 2:00 PM I reached the halfway point. I had planned to spend some time fishing, but the lake level was quite low, and I quickly lost interest. At that point I made a crazy decision:
“I’m going to finish the entire 42.7 km today.”
So I just kept walking.
The scenery stayed mostly the same for the rest of the hike. Instead of stopping often, I turned the day into a personal challenge to see how far I could push myself.
Everything felt manageable until about 35 km.
After that, things got ugly.
The final kilometres were some of the hardest hiking I’ve ever done. My legs were screaming at me to stop, and I honestly can’t describe how the last kilometre felt. It wasn’t my legs carrying me anymore—it felt like pure willpower, or maybe just madness, that got me to the finish.
Although I wasn’t impressed by most of the landscape, I did come across some beautiful wildflowers along the trail. They were one of the highlights of the hike, and I’m really happy I captured some photos and videos of them.
Overall, I’m glad I challenged myself and learned more about my limits. But if I’m comparing the two trails, Mantario was on a completely different level. It was more difficult, much more scenic, and far more memorable. The Newfoundland Trail was a good physical challenge, but for me it didn’t have the same wow factor.
One thing this hike taught me is how incredible endurance athletes really are. After pushing through the last 7 km with exhausted legs, I have a whole new level of respect for people who compete in triathlons and ultramarathons. Before this, I knew those events were hard. Now I feel like I truly understand the amount of physical and mental toughness they require. Finishing this trail gave me a small glimpse into that world, and it made me appreciate their dedication even more.
Overall, I’m happy I did it. Every trail teaches something different, and this one taught me that sometimes the biggest challenge isn’t the terrain—it’s convincing your mind and body to keep moving when they both want to quit.
Has anyone else done both Mantario and the Newfoundland Trail? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, if there are any other backpacking trails in Manitoba (or nearby provinces) that you’d recommend, I’m always looking for the next challenge.

A few days ago I posted here asking what gear I needed for the Mantario Trail. Thanks to everyone who gave advice. Some people also suggested doing smaller hikes first, but I decided to give Mantario a try.
Gear I used
Black Diamond 65L backpack
Outbound 3-person tent (basic Canadian Tire tent)
2 tarps
Outbound sleeping bag (-3°C) (never used because I usually sleep directly on the ground without a mattress)
LifeStraw
Small pocket knife
Bear spray
Bug spray
2 × 25,000 mAh power banks (only used about 50% of one)
Gas stove
Small pot
Spoon
Instant noodles
Protein bars
Tortillas
Peanut butter
Mosquito head net
Black Reebok work shoes
Shower bag (used to collect/filter water while cooking)
Toothbrush & toothpaste
2 lighters
Rain covers
Rain jacket
Rope
Torch light
Fire starter
Waterproof backpack cover
Water bottle
Slippers
Total pack weight: 21 kg

Day 1 – 26 km (7:40 AM – 8:00 PM)
Difficulty: Medium
The first 15 km felt manageable, but after that my shoulders started hurting badly because of the pack weight. I even removed my sleeping bag from where it was strapped to the outside of my backpack to make it more comfortable.
Originally I thought I could finish the trail in 2 days, but by the end of the first day I realized that wasn’t realistic with a 21 kg pack.
I camped at Peggy Lake, cooked dinner, had a campfire, and stored all my food in the bear box.
That night I heard what sounded like a bear nearby. It was loud enough that I kept making noise throughout the evening. Thankfully, I never actually saw the bear.

Day 2 – 23 km (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM)
Hardest day of the trail
I woke up at 7:30 AM but didn’t start hiking until 9:00 AM, which I regretted.
The heat and humidity made this the toughest day.
Around 7:40 PM I reached Ritchey Lake Campsite, where I met two guys who had paddled in by canoe for an overnight trip.
One of them had completed the Mantario Trail five years ago and shared his experience and advice. After spending two days hiking alone, it was nice to have a conversation with someone.
Ritchey Lake ended up being my favourite campsite.

Day 3 – 16 km on the trail + 7 km on the road
Easiest hiking day
I started hiking at 8:20 AM and reached the north trailhead around 2:00 PM.
The only confusing section was near Moosehead Lake, where I briefly lost the trail for about 10 minutes before finding it again.
It rained for about an hour during the hike. My rain gear kept my backpack dry, although I still got fairly wet.
My friend couldn’t pick me up until 7 PM, so instead of waiting five hours at the trailhead, I decided to hitchhike.
I walked about 7 km along the road while trying to get a ride. After nearly giving up, a guy named Ryan stopped with his pickup truck and drove me to Anola. We had a great conversation during the drive, and I’m very grateful for his kindness. My friend met me there and drove me back to Winnipeg.

Things I learned
A 21 kg backpack is much heavier than I expected.
Start hiking as early as possible.
Ritchey Lake was my favourite campsite.
The trail is well marked overall, with only one confusing section near Moosehead Lake.
Don’t underestimate the heat and humidity.
A lighter pack would make a huge difference.
Overall, finishing the Mantario Trail was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. It pushed me physically and mentally, and I’m glad I challenged myself.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. With the experience I gained and a much lighter backpack, I think I could complete it in 2 days.
Thanks again to everyone here who answered my questions before the trip. Your advice helped me get to the finish.