If you are looking for the much-admired “Canadian solitude” and want to avoid the crowds of the tourist hot spots, you’ll find your happy place in northern Manitoba! Here, the vast landscape is designed by huge areas of boreal forest, countless lakes, rivers and waterfalls and finally merges into the subarctic tundra. Wilderness at its finest! RV travelers will find plenty of campgrounds in the beautiful natural settings of the provincial parks, but a road trip by rental car will need an extra bit of planning for the limited offer of accommodation in the North. But the effort pays off: Embark on a summer odyssey through the enchanting landscapes of northern Manitoba, where every twist of the road reveals hidden treasures waiting to be explored. Let the call of the North guide you!
The jewel of the North is Clearwater Lake, the dazzling focal point of Clearwater Lake Provincial Park, less than 30 minutes from the town of The Pas. With its crystal-clear waters (you can see to depths of up to 30 ft) and tropical blue hue, it's hard to resist the beauty of this spring-fed lake. The giant lake takes up almost half of the park with access from sandy beaches as well as public boat launches. Fishing excursions – either on your own or guided with an operator – will likely see you set up near an underwater shelf where large lake trout like to gather. Another of the park’s unique features is a collection of deep crevices, where rocks split from the cliffs along the shoreline, known as the “caves”. Follow a short self-guided hiking trail on the lake’s south shore and explore the caves from the trail, viewing platform and stairways.
For those with a firm belief that Manitoba is a flat, prairie province, Flin Flon will come as a surprise. Built up on rock outcrop, the landscape of this hilly town can be best seen with a hike along Flinty's Boardwalk. The 4.2-kilometre trek brings you around the perimeter of Ross Lake with spectacular views and interpretive signage that explains how the terrain below was formed by underwater volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. It ends with a steep climb atop the orange rocks with a lovely vista of the town.
Travelled by explorer and trader Samuel Hearne more than 200 years ago, the mighty Grass River snakes its way across northern Manitoba. At Wekusko Falls in Wekusko Falls Provincial Park, it drops 12 metres through a series of rapids. There is a very short trail leading to one of two suspension bridges that cross the falls at two spots. These bridges not only give an excellent vantage to photograph the falls, they also get you close enough to really sense the power of the tumbling Grass River. In sight of the falls are walk-in tenting sites – these may be some of the most beautiful campsites in all of Manitoba.
The Grass River flows on through Setting Lake and the rapids of the Sasagiu Rapids before reaching Manitoba's most famous waterfalls, Pisew and Kwasitchewan Falls, in Pisew Falls Provincial Park. The beautiful park scenery is set amongst the lush green of pine, spruce and tamarack forest. You can hear the Pisew Falls as soon as you exit your car in the parking lot; just follow your ear down a short boardwalk to two viewing platforms to take in the awesome site. Pisew, which means lynx in Cree, is where the Grass River drops 13 metres, switches directions and plunges through a gorge. A 0.5 km trail leads to the Rotary Bridge over the Grass River below the falls giving access to trails leading to the top of Pisew Falls and to a 22 km return hiking trail to Kwasitchewan Falls, Manitoba's highest waterfall.
A 45-minute drive further north lies the city of Thompson, gateway to Manitoba’s far North. Travel the curated pathway and biking trail through the heart of the city that takes visitors past 16 points of interest, including the iconic 10-storey wolf mural, a reproduction of a famous Robert Bateman painting. The wolf keeps a watchful eye over this city planted deep in the boreal forest, and its gaze seemingly follows you no matter from which direction you approach it. Stroll the path up to it and take a pic - you'll understand why Thompson earned its moniker “the wolf capital of the world”.
Little Limestone Lake is exceptionally colorful! This Instagram-worthy lake found at the northern tip of Lake Winnipeg is on record to be the largest and most dramatically colour-changing marl lake in the world. Is it the only marl lake in the world? No. But it’s the most impressive, according to CPAWS. Depending on the heat of the day, the colour can change from vibrant turquoise to calming robin’s egg blue due to increasing levels of calcite from the lake’s limestone bottom. Travellers to this provincially protected area need to be resourceful and adventurous as there are limited services and amenities to guide your way, whether you’re exploring by paddling, fishing or hiking.
A dazzling stop on the jounrey north is the Caribbean-esque atmosphere of Steep Rock on the eastern shore of Lake Manitoba where impressive cliffs tower over the lake below. Thousands of years of waves lapping against limestone have created those unique rock formations. Enjoy the quiet, peaceful atmosphere, lush green foliage, abundant wildlife and dramatic sunsets. Swim in the crystal clear shallow waters or just laze on the beach and soak up the hot summer sun. Not enough action? Explore the many trails in and around the park. An endless list of outdoor activities in and around Steep Rock Beach Park await you.
Further information on Manitoba can be found at www.travelmanitoba.com.
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