July 18, 2025
Celebrate Parks Day in Manitoba
Celebrate Canada Parks day on July 19
Parks Week is the perfect occasion to explore Manitoba’s amazing natural treasures. Here are some great ways to celebrate! From local parks to remote gems and why investing in protected spaces is vital for everyone.
Manitoba is home to an incredible variety of parks, from sandy beaches and boreal forests to rugged cliffs and rolling dunes. Whether you’re looking for a quick escape close to Winnipeg or an epic adventure up north, there’s a park for every kind of explorer.
And this year is an especially great time to get outside and explore. Manitoba provincial parks are offering free entry for an entire year from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. Plus, Parks Canada is offering free admission and 25% off camping and overnight stays from June 20 to September 2, 2025. It’s the perfect opportunity to pack your bag, pitch a tent, and discover a new corner of the province — or revisit an old favourite.
While we can’t list them all, here are just a few of our favourite national and provincial parks to help you celebrate Parks Week and soak up the best of what nature has to offer.
National Parks to Visit
Riding Mountain National Park
Highlights:
- Location & drive time: ~300 km northwest of Winnipeg (~3.5 hrs via Hwy 10)
- Nearly 3,000 km² spanning three ecosystems—boreal, deciduous, and prairie
- Over 400 km of hiking/biking trails, plus campgrounds with lakeside beaches on Clear Lake and Wasagaming
What to do:
- Hike trails like Ominnik Marsh Trail
- Swim or paddle in Clear Lake
- Stay in a Turtle Shell in Turtle Village
- Participate in wildlife watching at the Bison Enclosure
- See a movie at the largest log cabin theatre in North America
Wapusk National Park
Highlights:
- Location & drive time: Located in northern Manitoba, far from Winnipeg—accessible only via special tours.
- Spans ~11,500 km² covering boreal forest-tundra transition
- Famous for polar bear maternity dens, plus belugas, caribou, Arctic wolves
- Deep Indigenous cultural significance and a key area for research and conservation
What to Do:
- *A licensed tour operator is required for all activities in the park.
- Join a guided tundra-buggy tour
- Take an aerial tour of Wapusk
Provincial Park Gems
Grand Beach Provincial Park
Highlights:
- Location & drive time: (~90 km northeast of Winnipeg, ~1¼ hrs)
- Iconic white-sand dunes on Lake Winnipeg
What to do:
- Great beach picnics
- Birdwatching, see the endangered Piping Plover.
- Water sports
- Hiking the trails, including Ancient Beach Trail
Whiteshell Provincial Park
Highlights:
- Location & drive time: (~130 km east of Winnipeg, ~2 hrs)
- Widely known for rocky lakes, granite cliffs
What to do:
- Hiking trails
- Canoeing
- Visit the Whiteshell natural history museum
- Admire the amazing petroforms
- Cliff jumping at spots like Big Whiteshell
Spruce Woods Provincial Park
Highlights:
- Location & drive time: (~230 km southwest of Winnipeg, ~2.5 hrs)
- Features Spirit Sands dunes, mixed forests, and multi-use trails—now an official Dark-Sky Preserve
What to Do:
Clearwater Lake Provincial Park
Highlights:
- Location & drive time: (~320 km north of Winnipeg, ~3.5 hrs)
- Pristine lake with sandy beach
What to do:
- Camp at Campers Cove
- Check out the Caves self guiding trail
- Fish for lake trout, northern pike and whitefish.
Pisew Falls Provincial Park
Highlights:
- Location and drive time: ~700 km north of Winnipeg)
- Home to dramatic falls and wilderness hiking; mini microclimate fosters ancient ferns
What to do:
- Go on a hike in the area
- Visit the the highest waterfall in the province, Kwasitchewan Falls
How You Can Celebrate Parks Week
Plan a Hiking Trip
Visit our Manitoba Trails map to take a look at a few of Manitoba’s most popular hikes! See the hike highlights, accessibility features, history, and what other people are saying about the trail!
Visit local parks
You don’t have to travel far to enjoy Manitoba’s natural beauty. Some amazing parks are just a short drive from Winnipeg. Check out Beaudry Provincial Park (30 minutes west), where you can walk shaded forest trails and spot deer and songbirds along the Assiniboine River. Or try La Barrière Park (just south of the city), a peaceful spot for walking, birdwatching, and picnicking by the river. If you’re up for a slightly longer drive, Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park offers coastal hikes, marsh boardwalks, and scenic lake views about 2.5 hours north of Winnipeg. Each visit is a chance to reconnect with nature and discover something new, even close to home.
Plan a weekend trip
Go camping at Whiteshell or Spruce Woods, two of Manitoba’s most popular provincial parks known for their hiking trails, beaches, and unique landscapes. Just keep in mind that many campgrounds are fully booked as early as April when reservations open for the season. You can still snag a spot at some of the larger campgrounds or through last-minute cancellations. The Manitoba Camping Facebook group is a great place to watch for updates. And it’s a good reminder of why we need more campgrounds. Everyone should have the chance to enjoy our parks, even if they didn’t plan their entire summer months in advance.
Support park improvements
Manitoba’s provincial parks are loved by thousands of visitors every year — and they need ongoing care and investment to keep them safe, accessible, and enjoyable. You can help by speaking up for more provincial funding to build new campgrounds, repair aging infrastructure, improve signage, and support the dedicated staff who care for these spaces. Contact your MLA, write a letter, or join groups advocating for stronger park policies. Investing in parks is investing in our health, economy, and environment.
Volunteer or donate
Lend a hand by joining a park cleanup, helping at an interpretive event, or volunteering for trail monitoring or citizen science projects. Some parks and nature organizations host guided walks, invasive species pulls, or storytelling circles where you can contribute to conservation while learning more about the land. If time is short, consider donating to groups that support protected areas and outdoor education. Every bit helps protect these spaces for future generations.
Share your stories
Celebrate your love for parks online by posting your favourite Manitoba park memories on social media. Whether it’s a photo of a perfect paddle, a moose sighting, or a quiet forest trail, your posts can inspire others to get outside and explore. Use hashtags like #ParksWeekMB or #KeepManitobaWild to join the conversation and raise awareness about the importance of nature and protected areas.
Why We Need More & Better Protected Areas
Protecting pristine landscapes ensures future generations have places to explore, connect, and unwind.
Expanding campgrounds and facilities relieves pressure on popular hubs and spreads visitors across the province.
Investing in park staff and maintenance improves safety, preserves habitats, and delivers a better experience for everyone.
Enhancing seldom-visited areas like Wapusk and Pisew Falls creates unique, off-grid adventures and supports broader conservation goals.
Want to help protect Manitoba’s land and water? Take action now!
Final Thoughts
Parks Week is a celebration, but it’s also a reminder we must do more. By protecting, maintaining, and investing in parks, we’re safeguarding nature, culture, and recreation across Manitoba.
Let’s honor Parks Week by taking action: visit a park, advocate for better resources, and spread the word. Together, we can create a future where Manitoba remains wild, accessible, and inspiring for all.