5 Manitoba Provincial Parks you don’t want to miss!
Manitoba is known for it’s golden prairies vast skies that bring a new kind of magic. What most people don’t know is the stunning beauty throughout the province. It is not just farmland stretched as far as the eye can but instead home to thousands and thousands of lakes, lush boreal forests and unique landscapes you would never think to find in this prairie province.
I grew up in Manitoba about 20 minutes south of Winnipeg. I did a little bit of exploring but it wasn’t until I moved away that I truly appreciated the beauty of my home. Isn’t that how it always goes. Now, whenever I am back for a visit I cannot wait to explore somewhere new!
There are 92 Manitoba provincial parks across more than 4 million hectares of land. Many are within a few hours to less than half a days drive from the capital city. Now I haven’t been close to visiting anywhere near a quarter of them but here are 5 provincial parks in Manitoba that you don’t want to miss.
Spruce Woods Provincial Park
This park is where you truly see the uniqueness of Manitoba. It is one of the very few areas of sand dunes in Canada. Known as the Carberry Sandhills or Spirit Sands, it is a wonderful place to go walking on the many trails offered with dunes as high as 30 meters over the prairies. It is home to 2 types of Cacti not found anywhere else and the prairie skink, Manitoba’s only lizard.
The Assiniboine River and Kiche Manitou (which means Great Spirits) Lake flow through the park and are located within the campground. There are numerous spots to go swimming or canoeing and kayaking.
Where to stay
Kiche Manitou campground has both serviced and serviced sites. They also have a few sites with yurts that can be booked as well. These book out very quickly so you’ll want to get on it at the beginning of the year. The campground also has mini golf, picnic areas, playgrounds and canoe and kayak rentals. It also has a concession stand and grocery store.
Backcountry camping is allowed on designated spots only and a good level of backcountry experience is required.
How to get there
From Winnipeg: travel west on Highway 1, turn south on Highway 5 for 29 kilometers. From Highway 2 west: turn north on Highway 5 for 13 kilometers. Kiche Manitou is approximately 180 kilometers from Winnipeg.
Nopiming Provincial Park
I visited Nopiming for the first time in the summer of 2018 with a dear friend. I was absolutely blown away by this park. It is named ‘Entrance to the Wilderness’ by the Anishinabe people and you certainly get that wilderness feeling. It is a paddler’s paradise with numerous water routes and the forests are dense with Balsm fir, Jack Pine and Spruce Trees creating a spot of peaceful solitude.
Just two hours east of Winnipeg this park lies on the Manitoba-Ontario border. You get the best feeling of remoteness without actually being in the middle of nowhere! There are a few campgrounds to stay at but be aware facilities are limited. It is peaceful spot to say the least although the sanflies can be annoying so don’t forget your bug spray! I would go back in a heart beat. Click over to my post about Nopiming Provincial Park to see what I got up to my last visit.
Where to stay
I recommend Tulabi Falls campground on Bird Lake and if you can, considered booking into one of the their newly built yurts. If not, there are a handful of campgrounds, campsites and backcountry sites to stay at.
How to get there
From Winnipeg: follow Highway 59 north to Highwayy 44. Turn east to Highway 11, then north to Provincial Road 313. Then turn east to Provinical Road 315. This will lead to Bird Lake at the south end of the park and there is a turn off to Tulabi Falls campground. You can keep going and turn off onto Provincial Road 314 to go to the north end of the part. Tulabi Falls is just over 2 hours from Winnipeg.
Little Limestone Provincial Park
Now this place. WOW. And I mean that. It’s not your average park set up with campgrounds and it is a longer drive, almost 6 hours north of Winnipeg but it is worth every bit of it. It is a protected area operating under backcountry rules with special permission from the Mosakahiken Cree Nation. The park basically consists of Little Limestone Lake. The largest and most impressive example of a marl lake in the world! If you’re wondering what that means, how to explore this area out, and where you can stay, check out my adventure to Little Limestone lake.
Where to stay
Little Limestone lake is a provincial park but labelled as a non operational park and used under backcountry rules. You can camp there but need special permission from Mosakahiken Cree Nation. Grand rapids is the nearest own and has three campgrounds/resorts. I suggest staying at Cook’s cabins and campground. The campground is situated in a beautiful spot right by Cedar Lake.
How to get there
From Winnipeg: Get on the Perimeter highway W in Rosser from Logan Ave/Route 47 and Route 90 N. Head North on Highway 6 and continue straight through for almost 5 hours. Little Limestone Lake is on the west side of the highway. There is a sign posted.
Whiteshell Provincial Park
The Whiteshell holds a special place in my heart. There are 13 main lakes in the park scattered about 2,700 square kilometers. I spent a lot of my childhood fishing and water skiing on Falcon Lake. So although a little biased, it is my fav! Under 2 hours you can be lying on a sandy beach soaking up the rays. There are many campgrounds throughout the park, places to bike and hike! If you can, I highly suggest staying a night or two at Falcon Trails Resort.
Where to stay
The Whiteshell is a large area with a lot of lakes and just as many campgrounds. Check out Manitoba Parks to find out more of where you can stay. I spent a lot of time at Falcon Lake and can recommend the beach campground. This spot is getting busier so booking can be hard.
How to get there
Depending on which lake you’re going to, there are two ways from Winnipeg: Take Highway 1 east to Falcon Lake and West Hawk Lake. You can also access the park from Provinicla road 307 via Highway 44.
Grand Beach Provincial park
I must say Grand Beach gives ocean beaches a run for their money. Large sand dunes line the shore from the end of the last ice age. This area of Manitoba is THE best on a hot summer day. Situated on Lake Winnipeg, it’s just over an hour from the city. In the heat of summer the lake is warm, the sand is soft and loved by many locals. There are many hikes around the area, shops, food stand and is a lovely family spot.
Where to stay
Grand Beach campground has over 350 serviced and unserviced sites. There are playgrounds for the kids and it is not far from the beach. It does get quite busy but there are usually always tent sites open.
How to get there
From Winnipeg: Head north on highway 59 straight up to Grand Beach
Have you traveled to any Manitoba provincial parks? Which one is your favourite?
To book your stay at one of Manitoba’s provincial parks contact Parks Canada here
Jeet
Is spruce park kid friendly, as in if you don’t want to hike and just want to be on the beach and picnic?
Been to birds hill and st.Malo and loved those and looking to explore something unique.
Outsider moved to Winnipeg.
Lauren Korstrom
JeetHeya,
Yup Spruce Woods is a great spot for kids. You can definitely relaxed by the beach and don’t have to go hiking at all. There is mini golf there and you can also rent paddleboards 🙂 If you liked St. Malo and Birds Hill, I think you’ll like Spruce Woods !