Discovery of Southern Manitoba

You will take your flight from Montreal to Winnipeg. You will take possession of your rental car and venture to the Comfort Inn Winnipeg Airport to rest before your next day.

On the second day, it is time to hit the road. After a half-hour drive, you will see the boreal forest landscape. The town is pretty much situated right by the water and has amazing ice creams and a few shops.

There is a lot you can do at Falcon Lake. If you want, you can chill by the beach, swim, rent a dingy, floaty or even a boat to cruise on the lake. There are also a few trails to walk including the Hunt Lake Trail.

If you prefer kayaking or canoeing, you should go to Caddy Lake, which is located at 20 minutes from Falcon Lake. It has a unique and cool water route that has been created in the twentieth century. You can rent equipment at the Green Bay Resort.

Once you discovered Caddy Lake or Falcon Lake, this trip brings you north through Whiteshell Park and many of its beautiful lakes. Rainbow Falls is a nice spot to stop and stretch your legs along the short path to the falls. It’s about an hour from Falcon Lake.

At Whitemouth Falls, you will see American pelicans, beavers and sometimes eagles. It is a beautiful spot for photographing the wildlife. If you prefer, you can skip this stop and go directly to Pinawa.

Pinawa is a nice place to explore. The area has an old dam. You can walk along the rocks and all over a site that was Manitoba’s first hydroelectric station.

Tulabi Falls is the next stop. It’s located in Nopiming Provincial Park. It has gorgeous views of the Canadian Shield landscape. One of the tracks takes you to Tulabi Falls. You might see a black bear or a moose! You can reserve a campground or a yurt for the night.

If the day is sunny, you can go to Grand Beach and spend the morning to early afternoon enjoying the beach vibes. White sand beaches, grass-topped dunes that reaches 8 meters high and the water is warm in summer. There are also several walking trails in this area called Spirit Roch Trail and the Ancient Beach Trail.

Gimli is another option for you. The town has a good selection to eat. Gimli is unique because it has the largest Icelandic community outside Iceland and it has a rich culture. There are art galleries, museums, spots to eat and it’s right on the shore of Lake Winnipeg.

Hecla in Grindstone Provincial Park is the next stop. It is also another Icelandic community. It’s also a perfect spot for bird-watching and wildlife viewing. You have the possibility to walk on some of their self-guided trails. In the evening, you can watch the sunset over the lighthouse.

On this day, you will head to Steep Rock that is another unique spot in Manitoba.

The cliffs around the lake are made of limestone and with erosion over thousands of years, they have formed cliffs and caves. There are trails along the cliffs and some of them lead to the water.

You have the possibility to rent kayaks and paddles. You can also see the geological formation of the cliffs by walking along the shore. The lake looks turquoise on sunny days.

You will leave Steep Rock in the afternoon and head to Lake Audy Bison Enclosure in Riding Mountain National Park in the evening because it is the best viewing time. You will see around 30 plains bison in this area. In the evening, you may also watch bears, dears and moose.

In this National Park there is Clear Lake. This is the main lake in the park and it has many amenities. There is a small beach and a grassy area to relax on and you may rent paddle boards, pedal boats and kayaks at the Clear Lake Marina. There are other lakes in the area for example Graying Lake and Moon Lake situated in the northern part of the park.

There are bike rentals at the Old Surrey station for the 130 km of trails in the area.

The park has also great tracks. Ominick marsh is a popular one and is located in town. Boardwalks take you through the marsh and you may watch a lot of birdlife and critters swimming around like beavers!

Another loop in the area, which is quite picturesque is the Burls and Bittersweet trail that is a 2.2 km track crossing over a little bridge.

On this day, when you go closer to the end of the summer, you will probably see some beautiful colours from the farmer’s field.

Head south on the Manitoba Highway 5 for Neepawa. This is a great place to stop for gas, and grab a few souvenirs, especially for the craft beer lover! Neepawa is home to the Farmery Estate Brewery, Manitoba’s only craft brewery outside the Winnipeg area. It’s also the first estate brewery in all of North America!

The next stop is Spruce Woods Provincial Park where hiking can be done. One of the most well-known hiking track in the park that you should do is the Spirit Sands track. This track can be done in an hour and half. This area has a wide range of plant species one being a few kinds of cacti and several native species.

On the way back to Winnipeg, you can stop at Forte Whyte Center and Assiniboine Park Zoo. It’s a great spot to see birds and taking a bison safari learning about these animals.

Take the time to relax at Thermëa. This tranquil gem is a must-visit when you are in Winnipeg. Explore their many saunas, beautiful hot and cold pools, and picturesque relaxation areas.

The Forks is a beautiful green space where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers meet. A meeting place for Indigenous peoples for over 6000 years, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1974. The Forks boasts a number of outdoor facilities and landscape features that are open to the public year-round. Enjoy a stroll along the Assiniboine Riverwalk and take in the views of Winnipeg from the Esplanade Riel.

The Forks Market is also a great place to eat food and shopping. Originally two horse stables owned by competing rail companies, it now boasts two stories of vendors and restaurants along with a six-storey viewing tower. You can grab a bite to eat at one of the four full-service restaurants, or indulge in one of the quick service restaurants. You can get an amazing meal for 15 $ or less.