More than two-thirds of Manitoba is forested, and there are some 100,000 lakes in this rugged and beautiful Canadian province.

Winnipeg, this prairie province’s largest city, is filled with dining and recreational activities. Even in winter, Manitoba, Canada, attracts thousands of visitors. They enjoy their festivals, winter celebrations, and scenic beauty.

From ice fishing to snowmachine trails, outdoor enthusiasts will find a reason to explore this winter wonderland.

You can even witness the largest land predator explore his territory in this province that includes polar extremes.

In the following article, we’ll explore some of the incredible things to do in Manitoba in winter and how to plan a trip.

 

What’s Manitoba Like In Winter? 

The winters in Winnipeg start early and end late. The province’s largest city is in its southern region and has a population of 750,000. The city can boast 132 days of snowfall a year. Compare that to Vancouver (10 days) or Toronto (65 days), and Winnepeg is one of Canada’s snowiest cities.

Despite that, the skies are often blue. The clear, cold days mean that the snow sticks and stays and that there’s plenty of recreation opportunities outside during the winter.

In December, Winnipeg’s average daily temperature is minus 19 and is even cooler in January, minus 24.

As travellers head further north and closer to the Arctic, temperatures can plunge to minus 40.

One difficult element of Manitoba’s winter weather is its windy conditions. The wind mixed with cold temperatures means visitors need to take precautions and always dress warmly, in layers and beware of sudden weather shifts.

That said, the climate is often dry and more comfortable, to some, than say, a wetter winter climate like that in Toronto. Some homes and businesses utilize humidifiers to counteract these dry conditions.

One happy side effect of the extreme cold is that there are plenty of frozen lakes to explore. You can travel over ice roads and snowmachine trails. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also popular recreational activities.

Now, let’s take a look at all the reasons to visit this magnificent Canadian province.

 

1) Hunker Down

Manitoba, Canada, has hundreds of accommodations for all types of travellers. Hotels in Winnipeg and Manitoba range from iconic to cozy. There is definitely a place to stay for everyone’s taste.

One of the most famous is the Fort Garry Hotel. This hotel was built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1913. It features 5-star luxury and is located in downtown Winnipeg. The Palm Lounge and Broadway Room offer exquisite cuisine and a world-class brunch. Among its famed calling cards is the Ten Spa for relaxation, which features a Turkish bath.

Another great choice in Winnipeg is the Inn at the Forks. This 117-room hotel and Inn is near all the best restaurants in the city. Like the Fort Garry, this inn also features a spa and an impressive brunch its Smith Restaurant.

For the more adventurous, check out Harness Adventure Mushing Company’s dogsledding experience. You can hang with the pups, take a sled ride, and “glamp” in a yurt with a wood stove, queen-sized bed, and luxury accommodations.

 

2) Snowmachining Manitoba Canada

Manitoba is home to nearly 7,500 miles of snowmachine trails and terrain. Plunge through open prairie, timberland, and frozen lakes. Snowmachining isn’t just a popular recreational sport for the province; it’s a way of life. For many northern communities, riding their snowmachines is a matter of convenience (and fun.)

For example, the mining community of Flin Flon offers 250 miles of trails alone. Pristine trails and plentiful snowmachine rental companies make this area a snowmachiner’s dream come true.

If you want to get off the beaten track, try some of Manitoba’s unique backcountry. The Duck Mountain Provincial Park and the Parkland Region offers over 625 miles of trails, many of which venture deep into the isolated backcountry. Expect to see moose, deer, and black bear., If you’re lucky, you’ll also see that quintessential Canadian predator, the lynx.

 

3) Tournaments and Festivals

There’s no shortage of regional events for Manitoba’s winter travellers. One of the most popular is the Shuffle Duck Tournament in Stonewall. This tourney is a mix of shuffleboard and curling. It’s great for kids as you’ll find rubber ducks perched on hockey pucks in this unique sport.

Another fun winter adventure is the Wild Winter Canoe Race in Forks. This race takes place on the Red River Trail. Contestants paddle a snowy course using a paddle and one leg. You’ll test your toughness in this 200-meter romp.

A festival that promises big fun is the aptly named Big Fun Festival in Winnipeg.  Established Canadian musicians take the stage with newer artists in one of Canada’s biggest winter music fests.

 

4) The Provincial Parks

Manitoba’s Provincial Parks include more than 4 million hectares of terrain. In winter, these parks can make you feel like you’re alone in the world. Winter has its own unique silence, and Manitoba’s famous blue-sky days make enjoying these parks a joy — remember to dress for that cold!

Snowshoeing, snow machining, and cross-country skiing are all popular winter activities in the parks.

Among the most scenic of these parks is Beaudry Provincial Park. A fantastic place to spot wildlife, Beaudry features deer, muskrat, and shelter foxes. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are some popular winter sports here. Bring a polk and tow the children along on the Oak Trail for a true family adventure.

Another stellar park in winter is Whiteshell Provincial Park. With 250 miles of snowmachine trails, this park is popular with motor enthusiasts, snowshoes, and cross-country skiers. Whether you’re travelling to Jessica Lake or Rainbow Falls, Whiteshell is an amazing adventure for winter travellers.

If you’re looking for a park close to Winnipeg, the Birds Hill Provincial Park is perfect for exercise and educational adventures. This park is also famous for the Winnipeg Folk Festival in summer. Yet, in the winter, the trails are taken over by fat-tire bikes that roll over hard-packed trails like the Sparrow Trail or the Nimowin Trail.

 

5) Winter Sport Parks

Asessippi Ski Resort is the largest area in Manitoba and is located in Inglis. This mountain has four chairlifts and 2 dozen short trails to choose from. A great beginner and intermediate mountain, Aessippi is perfect for family skiing and snowboarding.

Another popular resort is Holiday Mountain Resort in the southern region of the province. Located in La Riviere, the resort just turned 60 years old and is a favourite with locals who come to carve and stay at its iconic A-frame cabins.

In Thompson, Mystery Mountain Winter Park offers miles of cross-country trails, skiing, and snowboarding. This rustic and rugged mountain boasts four lifts and 18 downhill trails. Volunteers run Mystery Mountain, so there’s a tremendous amount of community to go with the carving.

Stony Mountain was started by a few Winnipeg families looking for outside adventure some 50 years ago. It now boasts one of the best terrain parks in the province. The resort also has great lesson plans for beginners looking to learn the sport or intermediates looking to sharpen their skills.

 

6) Great Dining

Winnipeg is home to the province’s best dining options. From tapas bars to farm-to-table, the city boasts restaurants that cater to every taste.

Segovia Tapas Bar and Restaurant is one of Winnipeg’s most popular and well-reviewed establishments. Classic dishes sit on the menu next to more contemporary fare. Enjoy everything from sliced pork to tuna tartare at this Spanish-themed restaurant on Stradbrook Ave.

The Peasant Cookery on Bannatyne Avenue is a French bistro in a casual setting. The poutine, tourtiere, and charcuterie platter were popular with reviewers at this rustic restaurant with a country flair.

The Oakland Cafe off Osbourne Street is popular with locals and tourists alike. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; this restaurant offers burgers piled high with fixings, eggs benedict, and generous portions. The Oakland Cafe is a busy place, so you may have to wait for a table.

529 Wellington Steakhouse is one of the best steak and seafood venues in Winnipeg. This restaurant that sits on Wellington Crescent has an ample wine cellar to pair its dozen or more varieties of Canadian prime steaks. Live lobster, shellfish on garlic sauteed spinach, and prosciutto-wrapped scallops are some of the seafood offerings.  This upscale eatery is perfect for a special night out.

 

7) Cultural Sights

One of Canada’s most impressive museums is the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. This museum explores the plight of human-rights victims worldwide and highlights struggles in Canada. Rotating exhibits explore the evolution of human rights around the globe. Recent exhibits have delved into the Polish Solidarity movement and the plight of the Rohingya and their persecution in Myanmar.

The popular Assiniboine Park Zoo features many iconic Canadian animals. You’ll see muskox, moose, seals, wolves, Manitoba’s most popular predator, the polar bear (more on these guys down below). Rare animals also greet visitors at this zoo. From Asia, the zoo features endangered snow leopards and red pandas.

Now that you’ve met some of the world’s current animal inhabitants, step back in time at the Manitoba Museum to see what life was like in the Cretaceous Period. You can explore what the prairie provinces were like millions of years ago and today at this award-winning museum. Housing historical artifacts of great importance to Canadian history, the museum also features a planetarium. This planetarium offers shows daily and has one of the most technologically advanced projection systems in the country.

With 24,000 works of art, the Winnipeg Art Gallery has a great number of Canadian authored works. As the locals call it, the WAG boasts a collection of Inuit art thought to be the largest in the world. You could spend an entire day at the museum enjoying works from today, the Renaissance and Ancient Greece.

 

8) The Canadian Mint

Before we talk about printing Loonies, let’s discuss one of the most iconic buildings in all of Canada — The Royal Canadian Mint. Gaboury Lussier Sigurdson designed this modern, gleaming glass structure. It is a dominant presence set amid parkland and made of shining, strong triangles. And the structure is massive, as it is not only a symbol of Canadian strength but a working mint. The Royal Canadian Mint is a truly impressive building in one of Canada’s most impressive cities.

The mint produces billions of coins each year and not only for the Canadian people — some 75 countries contract with the mint to make their coins.

You can take a 45-minute walking tour of the facility and witness its state-of-the-art minting operation. You can also explore the mint’s onsite museum that celebrates historic Canadian coins and special moments in the country’s history.

 

9) Fishing Derbies

Get your borer out; it’s time to drill for fish! Ok, not exactly. But there are plenty of opportunities for ice fishing throughout Manitoba.

The KidFish Ice Derby is a great way to get on the ice, and this derby also benefits a great cause. Proceeds from the KidFish Derby go to CancerCare of Manitoba and the  Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The Lake of the Prairies Ice Fishing Derby boasts $30,000 in prizes and cash. It’s the most popular fishing derbies in the province and is headquartered at Asessippi Provincial Park on the shores of the Lake of the Prairies. This human-made body of water is famous for its walleye population, and the derby brings in competitors from hundreds of miles away.

 

10) Polar Bear Watching

Some of Manitoba’s most famous residents aren’t linemen on the Winnipeg Jets but fearsome four-legged predators. The tiny town of Churchill gets an influx of polar bears every year as the largest land predator migrates through.

According to tour operators, the bears outnumber full-time residents at the peak of the viewing season. Bear watchers are taken out to view the animals in raised, all-terrain vehicles, and the animals are known to saunter right up to the people carriers.

Polar bear watching in Manitoba is truly a bucket list experience.

 

Getting there

Once you get to Manitoba, Canada, one of the best ways to travel is by car. The Trans-Canada Highway travels through the province and hits upon many things-to-do. Another way to travel in Canada and Manitoba is on Rail Canada. A 2-night train ride will take passengers from Winnipeg to Churchill, with stops along the way.

Need more ideas on how to plan a trip? Contact us for other adventures year-round in Canada.