South Mountain
Press
PASSING THROUGH
Friday, JULY 10, 2026 Vo lum e 18 N um b e r37
FREE TAKE ONE SERVIN G ERICK SON , ON AN OLE, SAN D Y LAK E, ELPHIN STON E, W ASAGAM IN G, ROLLIN G RIVER, K EESEEK OOW EN IN & SURROUN D IN G AREA
DAR R E L L N E SBIT T / SO U T H M O U N T AIN PR E SS Much like the sound of thunder, the roar of a motorcycle is often heard long before it comes into view. That was the scenario in Onanole on the morning of Friday, July 3, as a group of six motorcyclists rumbled along Highway 10 heading south. Dressed warmly, the drivers had to deal with intermittent rain showers, making roads slick and prompting extra caution.
R oa d closures a ffect ca m p ground a ccess in R M N P RYAN N ES BITT
So uth M o unta in Pre ss
Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) is asking visitors to plan ahead as the significant rainfall received has led to road closures, affecting access to trails and campgrounds. With communities across Westman forced to declare states of emergency, RMNP has also been impacted, with localized flooding, water-covered roadways,
high water levels, and storm damage seen across the park. As Parks Canada staff continue to access the conditions, there have been some road closures to note. The following roadways are closed until further notice due to flooding and unsafe conditions: •Lake Audy Road from the 61A junction to the Lake Audy Station •Rolling River Road •Sections of Wishing Well Road, and
•Deep Lake Road With the closures, access to the Lake Audy and Deep Lake Campgrounds have been restricted. As well, the closures affect access to the Bison Enclosure, the Bob Hill Day Use Area, and portions of the Central, Strathclair, Grasshopper, and Tilson trails. Parks Canada also states that although most trails have not been formally closed, access to many trailheads is currently lim-
ited or unavailable due to road closures.
W ASAGAM IN G T O W N SIT E R E M AIN S O PE N As the flooding mainly effects trails and backcountry, the Wasagaming townsite remains open, with businesses and restaurants operating as normal. While visiting the park, the public is strongly advised to stay away from flooded areas and all fast-moving water.
Due to safety concerns, Parks Canada also notes that all backcountry travel is strongly discouraged at this time as flood conditions can impact routes with little notice, endangering both hikers, and search and rescue teams. Parks Canada reports infrastructure damage from the storms, including docks, shoreline facilities, bridges, and trails, with crews still assessing the evolving situation.
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