Manitoba Highway 26

Provincial Trunk Highway 26 (PTH 26), also known as Chemin Assiniboine Trail, is a provincial highway in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is an east-west route that begins and ends at the Trans-Canada Highway (PTH 1). The western terminus is located near the interchange of PTH 1 and PTH 1A approximately 3 km east of Portage la Prairie, while the eastern terminus is 3 km southeast of St. François Xavier and 13 km west of Winnipeg's Perimeter Highway. PTH 26 provides access to the small communities of St. François Xavier and Poplar Point. It serves as an alternative scenic route between Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg as it closely follows the Assiniboine River which flows south of the highway. The speed limit on this highway is 90 km/h.

Route description
PTH 26 begins just outside of the Portage la Prairie city limits at a junction with PTH 1 (Trans-Canada Highway / Yellowhead Highway) in the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie. The highway heads north for 0.5 km to turn right onto the original alignment of the Trans-Canada. It heads northeast for a few kilometers, passing along the southern edge of High Bluff as it begins paralleling the Assiniboine River. PTH 26 crosses a small creek and has an intersection with PR 430, prior to passing through the town of Poplar Point.

PTH 26 enters the Rural Municipality of St. Francois Xavier, turning southeast along the banks of the Assiniboine River for the next several kilometers, having a short concurrency (overlap) with PR 248 and traveling through the communities of Pigeon Lake and St. Francois Xavier, where the highway forms the main thoroughfare. PTH 26 comes to an end shortly thereafter at another junction with PTH 1 (Trans-Canada Highway / Yellowhead Highway).

The entire length of Manitoba Highway 26 is a rural, paved, two-lane highway.

History
Between 1928 and 1938, the number PTH 26 was used for the portion of highway between Brandon and Minnedosa. This became part of PTH 10 in 1938.

Prior to 1958, the current PTH 26 was part of the original PTH 1. Most of PTH 1's current route between Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie, which provides a more direct course, was constructed in 1958. The section that was replaced by the new route, the current-day PTH 26, was then designated as part of the transprovincial PTH 4, along with current PTH 9, 16, and 44.

In 1968, it was again renumbered to its current designation.