Top Things to Do in Riding Mountain National Park in Winter: A Nature and Adventure-Filled Getaway in Manitoba
There are few things more Canadian than taking a winter road trip for a nature escape. Riding Mountain National Park is the perfect place to base yourself for a memorable getaway like this in Manitoba. Here, you can enjoy everything from adrenaline-filled outdoor adventures to relaxing at nordic spas or curling up by the fire in a cozy cabin with friends.
Cold as they may be, to make the most out of living or travelling in Canada, you just have to embrace the coldest of the four seasons—winter. As much as Chris and I love a warm, sunny day in this country, we’ve enjoyed every opportunity we’ve had to acquaint ourselves with winter destinations in this beautiful country.
From visiting Canadian cities in winter like Quebec City, Toronto or Winnipeg to enjoying more natural and restorative winter retreats in our home province of Ontario, bundling up in the right clothing for the weather really helps us enjoy so much of what makes Canada’s longest season so magical.
So when the temperatures on our recent winter trip to Manitoba reached feeling like -50C, instead of retreating indoors and watching these sunny, snowy days pass us by, we made the most of it. Nearly every local we met on the trip reminded us that this was the coldest it had been in weeks and even months during our visit, so winters in “Mani-snow-ba” are not always this cold.
But they do get cold. And for that, the only solution is to bundle up and wear the right clothing! The cold climes made our time in Riding Mountain National Park all the more memorable. Let me help you plan to take your own memorable getaway in this beautiful natural escape in Canada.
Taking a Road Trip to the Park & Where to Stay
How to Get to the Park
You’ll need to rent a car from Winnipeg to enjoy your trip fully. We picked up our rental from the Winnipeg Airport, but there are several options in town.
We just so happened to take this road trip with our dear friends Scott and Megan, so we were looking forward to a good road trip together. I’d recommend grabbing a few local road trip snacks and goodies to bring to your accommodation, especially since there’s more in the way of options in Winnipeg than in the park in winter.
We were heading to the park from The Forks Market in Winnipeg, so we grabbed some butter tarts from the Butter Tart Lady, who just so happened to have a pop up in the market. We also picked up a few local and naturally-sourced ciders and wines from Ellement Wine + Spirits. I always like to get a sense for local flavours, and the Dead Horse Cider Co. Sour Cherry cider was a fun find. The Forks Market is the perfect place to find some tasty local treats for your own winter road trip.
It’s a comfortable 3 hour drive to get from Winnipeg to the park. On the way, make sure you take some time to stop at some of Manitoba’s roadside attractions. There are actually over 100 large roadside stops along the Trans Canada Highway in Manitoba! We stopped at the Coke Can and the Grey Owl in Portage la Prairie, and Happy Rock in Gladstone. We could have stopped at more, but our daylight was waning and we wanted to get to the park before dark.
Where to Stay in the Park
There are a few different areas to stay in the park, but your options become narrower in the winter since some places are closed. Staying in the main townsite of Wasagaming is your best bet on a winter trip here.
We stayed in one of the new cottages at Arrowhead Family Resort. The resort is steps away from the centre of Wasagaming, and it has four cottages in total—one of which is pet-friendly. For our road trip with friends this was a great way to stay in a shared accommodation together. Each cottage has two bedrooms and two full bathrooms, making it a perfect option for couples or small families.
Each cottage also has a full, compact kitchen, a cozy wood stove, and a nice shared living and dining space. We loved getting a fire going, playing games and hanging out in the front room at the end of each day here!
Arrowhead Family Resort cottage living space
Arrowhead Family Resort has some other accommodation options, which you can check out on their website. Another great accommodation option in town for a winter trip is The Lakehouse. It’s a boutique hotel in the heart of Wasagaming, with different types of suites and cottages available. They also have a restaurant on site, which I’ll get to a little later.
The Indigenous History of the Park: Wasagaming & Treaty 2 Territory
Riding Mountain National Park was named for being situated on a “mountain” by Manitoban standards, and in its more recent history it’s been home to many horseback riding trails and neighbouring ranches. You’ll find that the park is often referred to by alternate names, like “Wasagaming” and “Clear Lake.” That’s because the history here extends far beyond its establishment as a national park.
Indigenous communities have lived on these lands for centuries. The largest lake in the area has been known as “washagama saageygun,” an Anishanabe term meaning “clear water lake,” for generations. The lake and main townsite are still known as Wasagaming and Clear Lake today, and offer access to one of the deepest and clearest water sources in the region.
When the federal government began to parcel off Indigenous lands in Canada under the Indian Act, Indigenous communities were assigned land here. A good example of this was when the Keeseekoowenin nation were told to live along the shores of Clear Lake in 1906. That all changed when the park was established in 1930, when communities like the Keeseekoowenin nation and seven other Indigenous communities were forced and burned off of the land that was promised to them.
As a result of this violent history, the park acknowledges its location within Treaty 2 Territory, and now works with Treaties 2, 4 and 1. Between its coalition of seven First Nations—including Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation, Ebb and Flow First Nation, Waywayseecappo First Nation, Rolling River First Nation, Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation, Gambler First Nation, and Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation—and Indigenous business owners now being able to operate within the park lands, the focus is on the future.
Winter Trip Highlight: Ice Fishing at Indigenous-Owned Turtle Village
Turtle Village owner Ashley Smith (right), and her daughter Jaylee (left)
Chris and I loved this experience so much that it was featured in my weekly travel newsletter right after our visit. Turtle Village is an Indigenous- and woman-owned business that offers a unique blend of guided ice fishing experiences inside of glamping-style tents on frozen Clear Lake.
Clear Lake has been an essential site for Indigenous communities for centuries. Owner Ashley Smith and her fellow Gambler First Nation ancestors fished here in the winter using fires to melt holes in the ice, and built snow barriers to protect against the wind. They’d catch White Suckers, Lake Whitefish, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Walleye, and Northern Pike, all of which can still be caught here today.
Ice fishing at Turtle Village is much more comfortable than it was for generations past. Ashley, her partner Jason, and their kids Jaylee, Keeson and DawnJae have built four glamping-style fishing tents to make up Turtle Village, each equipped with a wood-burning stove, solar-powered lighting, pre-drilled fishing holes, and cozy seating for up to six people.
Add-ons like bannock-making kits or Indigenous-led fishing lessons deepen the experience, making it both an educational and memorable adventure. The warm atmosphere—literally and figuratively—ensures a fantastic day on the ice. And yes, I even caught a fish!
More Winter Activities to Enjoy in The Park
Fat Biking at Northgate Trails
Chris and Scott at Northgate Trails
Chris and Scott had the incredible opportunity early on a crisp, cold winter morning to hop onto the Northgate Trail System (often simply just called Northgate Dauphin).
It’s a 26km system of stacked loop, multi-use trails that are perfect for mountain biking, trail running, gravel biking and more. Alex Man, who has spearheaded so much of the growth and development of this park was out on the trails with Chris and Scott, and they both noted that they could sense the passion he had for this trail system immediately.
Beyond that passion, from a technical perspective, the trails were nothing short of a masterpiece. What’s beautiful about this is that it’s year-round in many respects. They were fat biking, making the most of ripping along the snow-laden paths and trees, but you could see how this would be a mecca for riders of all kinds in the warmer months.
It’s the perfect way to not only view, but really be a part of this stunning “North Escarpment.” You can find full details about visiting the trails here.
Get Out on the Park’s Other Trails
Megan and I snowshoeing on Clear Lake
Megan and I went showshoeing while Chris and Scott went fat biking. You can rent showshoes from the Friends of Riding Mountain National Park centre in town.
There are a few trails you can take, like the short Ominik Marsh Trail on the edge of the townsite of Wasagaming (which was closed for renovations at the time of our visit), or just head out in the middle of winter when Clear Lake is safely frozen over and go from Wasagaming to Deep Bay Beach. Double check with park staff at the Visitor Centre or the volunteers at Friends of Riding Mountain National Park to make sure conditions are safe before you head out on the lake.
You can rent a few other fun items from the FoRMNP folks, too. They rent out fat bikes, kicksparks (kind of like scooters for the snow), snow tubes and sleds.
If you’re keen to take on even more, there are several much longer cross country ski and snowshoe trails in the park.
Take Advantage of The Free Outdoor Winter Programming in Wasagaming
Enjoying hot chocolates and s’mores at Friends of Riding Mountain National Park
There are a lot of free things to do in Wasagaming in winter:
Skating Trails: There are some skating areas and trails set up close to the Parks Canada Visitor Centre—you just have to bring your own skates, as there are no rentals in the park. They go through the forest, and are really beautiful on a snowy winter day. The cookshack shed is connected to the trails and has two woodburning stoves going at all times, making it a great place to warm up on a cold day.
Parks Canada Visitor Centre: You can come to this historic log cabin to learn a little bit about the park, and maybe warm up on a cold day.
Clear Lake Country Winter Pavilion: This is set up annually near the Visitor Centre. You can check out a variety of ice and snow sculptures, shelters and outdoor seating areas for a fun winter photo op.
Friends of Riding Mountain National Park Events: They put on a lot of winter programming throughout the season. During our visit, they set up a cute hot chocolate and s’mores station beside their building. You can check out their website for the latest in winter programming and events.
Embrace the Nordic Climes at Klar So Nordic Spa
Klar So is a brand-new outdoor Nordic spa at Elkhorn Resort, located just outside of Riding Mountain National Park. Opened in February 2024, it offers an amazing opportunity for relaxation and warming up after a good day spent outside in the park.
Named after the Danish phrase for “Clear Lake”, Klar So features a steam sauna, dry sauna, relaxation pavilion, two hot tubs, a temperate pool, and a cold plunge. I definitely had to catch myself falling asleep in the cozy relaxation room—it’s the perfect way to cap off a winter day.
You can also have a meal at the spa’s restaurant. I’d recommend making a reservation for your meal in advance, or pop up to the restaurant a few hours ahead of time to put your name down, since there is limited seating inside and it can get busy on weekends.
Grab a Bite in Town
The Lakehouse & Spruce Hut in Wasagaming
Although several places are closed in town during the winter months, there are still some good options in and around the park to grab a bite during your visit:
The Lakehouse is a favourite. They have a nicely sized dining space, bar and cafe inside with upscale pub fare and a coffee shop. You can cozy up by the fire with a warm cup of coffee or a cocktail for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or even book a dining experience in their outdoor Spruce Hut.
Clear Lake Trading Post is a small grocery and provisions store in town with a fresh bakery and rotisserie chickens. We also loved the breakfast sandwiches we ordered from here to start off a great day outside.
Buffalo Bar at Elkhorn Resort is a good place to come for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can expect classic pub fare and a selection of beer and spirits to cap off a good day.
Making the Most of Your Winter Getaway to Riding Mountain National Park
During your winter trip, I’d definitely also recommend keeping an eye out for the northern lights. Unfortunately they weren’t active during our trip, but I can guarantee the views would have been incredible from our cabin in Wasagaming if they were.
Being able to experience the best of winter in a park like this with friends like Scott and Megan (from Bobo and Chichi) is a truly Canadian experience that’s good for the soul. I hope you’ve found this guide helpful, and stay tuned since Chris and I look forward to sharing more about our trip to Manitoba in winter here soon. In the meantime, you can feel free to check out the video I put together all about our winter trip to Manitoba below.
I want to thank Travel Manitoba for hosting Chris and I as media for our winter trip to the province. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
Bri Mitchell
Bri Mitchell is a travel writer and content creator from Toronto, Ontario. She loves to highlight all things nature, food, wellness, sustainability and adventure in her work. Bri writes and shares her travel experiences from across Canada, the United States and around the world on Instagram and TikTok (@brimitchelltravels), and in her articles for travelingmitch, Ultimate Ontario, and We Explore Canada.