Great days start with packing up a vehicle, putting a kayak on the top and heading out to the lake. A perfect day is doing it all with such a great friend! We didn’t see a bear fishing, a moose swimming across the water or a beaver playing on the rocks, but Nopiming Provincial Park is still the perfect picture of real prairie province wilderness.
 
Nopiming comes from the Anishnaabe word noopiming, and translates as “Entrance to the Wilderness. I didn’t really know what to expect driving up to Nopiming Provincial Park but as soon as we turned down the gravel to the park I could understand why it is named what it is. The Canadian Shield stretches across the land with dense boreal forest. We didn’t see any wildlife but we could just imagine into the back country moose sauntering through the swamps and bears picking at the berry bushes.
We also learned that further north in the park (Nopiming is quite large) has an area with Woodland Caribou which is restricted and protected during calving season. It was really to cool to learn and something I haven’t ever thought about much mainly because its Alberta that gets most of the attention for wildlife.
The Yurt
We had a 2 night stay at the Tulabi Falls campground area in Nopiming in one of the newly built Yurts. I also didn’t quite know what a yurt was but it’s this awesome cross between a cabin with a fixed roof and a tent. They are the only Yurts in Nopiming Park and a way of camping I could get used to!
There are at least 5 Yurts available to rent at Nopiming. Some are also pet friendly and can accommodate many guests. The one we stayed in had a bunk bed, futon, table and chairs and a dresser. It was electrically equipped which was nice as we did turn on fan when we were real hot or the little flies were bad. Really roughing it I know! It would be great in winter time to plug a heater in and I’m sure the place would get toasty real quick!
There was a deck built surrounding the yurt looking straight onto Bird Lake in front of us. Sitting out in front of the water with a soundtrack of frogs and pure nature, watching the sun go down is probably one of my favourite things. I really do wish for everyone in this life to experience it at least once. It’s just amazing and puts you in a spot of reflection and seeing how beautiful the world is.
Nopiming Provincial Park does feel more remote and receives a lot less visitors than its neighboring park, the Whiteshell Provincial Park but there is plenty to do and a lot of lakes close to each other in the area. For us, we spent a solid two days kayaking on Bird Lake and portaging over the Tulabi Falls to get to Tulabi Lake. We were so lucky to get two days of calm, quiet, no wind weather, the lake was like glass.
There are multi day canoes trips that you can take throughout the clusters of water in Nopiming. Twin River Travel offer some pretty epic adventures! There are also back country sites and walking trails. We took the short trail near the campground that follows the lake. Both my friend and I are still learning about keeping composure if we see a bear or any wildlife and to be frank we were not brave enough to go too deep into the woods… We’re working on it!
The lake track though takes you right to a viewing platform to see Tulabi Falls. It might be just me but this is was a big deal. I thought it was so cool to see. Manitoba is a called a prairie province for a reason but people think in order to see epic scenery a mountain or the ocean need to be in view.  I couldn’t disagree more. Water wasn’t running off 200 ft cliff but the way the water was running through the rocks from one lake to another was pure simple Manitoba beauty. Enjoy the little things right?
I feel so blessed to be able to come on this adventure to Nopiming Provincial Park. It reminded me of how beautiful Manitoba is but it left me in a complete state of relaxation and contentment. Both my friend and I soaked up every second we could on the lake listening to nature and taking hold of the it’s just us and the wilderness feeling.  I don’t know what could be better?!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Tulabi Falls Campground
Getting there: just over 2 hours from Winnipeg, east on PR 315 leading to Bird Lake at the south end of the park. Google maps will take you there!
Camping:
– there are no showers (as of July 2018)
– BRING BUG SPRAY
– non potable water source ( I drank it and I was fine!)
– short hiking trails
– back country campsites available
Here is a campground map of Tulabi Falls campground
Always respect the land and wildlife. Its against the law to feed wildlife. Always tell someone where you are!
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24 Responses
Nopiming Provincial Park looks like a really awesome place to visit. I love your pictures and detailed information. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Anita! It really is such a wonderful spot! Its nice its a lot more remote than lots of other parks 🙂
A yurt in Canada? How cool! Staying ins yurts are so cozy. We stayed in tons of them on our trip to Mongolia. The nature and lakes here look stunning too. I would love to visit.
Oh and im thinking a yurt in Mongolia how amazing! Yes the nature, just everything was something else!
I’ve never been in Canada but I would like to and there is so much to explore, I’m crazy about parks and I would like to discover this one too 🙂
You’d love this one and if you love parks, Canada is the place to be! I hope you get to explore it some day 🙂
Looks absolutely peaceful! and a YURT!!!!! So fun!
haha yes a yurt, weirdest name but coolest stay!
Those views/viewpoints really are phenomenal. Actually thought they were by drone before seeing the platform 😀 Canada never really fails when it comes to lakes.
Thanks for that! I’ve actually always wanted a drone lol but glad I can get drone like shots! I truly believe Canada is the leader of beautiful lakes! We’ve got the advantage of being so frickin big though! lol
This yurt looks amazing! Being from Canada I found it very expensive to travel within our own country. I hope that one day I will get a chance to visit Alberta
They were so cool! And yes you are absolutely right. Its really sad because Canada has so so much to offer coast to coast. I hope you do! Alberta is unreal!
Wow. I almost didn’t bother reading your article because I was so mesmerised by the photos. It looks like such a stunning area to have an adventure in!
Wow I really appreciate that!! I’ve been working hard on my photography but it was also such a photogenic place! Thank you!
Looks like a very nice provincial park. I especially would like to experience camping in a yurt!!!
Agreed! A perfect day always seems to be enjoyed with friends. I never heard of this park but I’ll add it to our list for when we road trip through Canada. We just turned our minivan into a campervan and hope to make it up there soon. Thanks!
Nopiming Provincial Park looks amazing. I’m sure Tulabi Falls is beautiful just as you described it. I have wanted to spend a night in a yurt for a few years now. They do seem to give you all the comforts of home, but the tent design makes you feel like you are “roughing it.”
Canada has some of the most beautiful lakes in the world, doesn’t it? The mountainous terrain and the conifers provide such a gorgeous backdrop to the lake. I didn’t know the origin of the word “Nopiming” but seems apt to call it the entrance to the wilderness. I have never been inside a yurt. How’s it like?
I’ve never stayed in a yurt but always wanted to! And in such a stunning setting what more could you ask for?? Canada has always been on my list of places to go and it is photos like yours that have inspired this. The meaning of the word Nopiming is fitting and beautiful.
A yurt…with a deck?? Fantastic! We’ve always wanted to stay in one! As an Alberta girl I can truly appreciate the prairie beauty, and this area looks like a beautiful and serene place to spend time, with a great variety of things to do. We also love back country camping, so would happily check that out as well. Might have to take a road trip!
This place in Canada Nopiming Provincial Park looks and sounds like such a great place to spend some time and going kayaking. I could definitely stay in that new built Yurts its glamping for sure. I am adding this place to my Canada wish list.
What a beautiful park! But then, I’ve yet to see park in Canada that ISN’T a stunner. And those views at the end – whew. Amazing travel inspo!
It’s always so much fun to explore offbeat and lesser known places. Sure Nopiming Provincial Park needs to be on the Canada list. Pinning for referencing later.
Omg taking so many notes! I’d LOVE to stay where you did, the location looks amazing and charming. I can’t believe I have yet to visit Canada… need to fix that in 2019!