Explore Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, Canada

Bison, Black Bears, Clear Lake, and Prairie Wilderness Year-Round

Driving through the flat agricultural plains of southwestern Manitoba, the sudden rise of the Manitoba Escarpment announces Riding Mountain National Park with the dramatic effect of a landscape shift most visitors don’t expect. The park rises more than 457 metres above the surrounding farmland, and once inside its boundaries, the prairie outside essentially disappears, replaced by 2,969 square kilometres of boreal forest, aspen parkland, eastern deciduous woodland, and wetland ecosystems that support a wildlife roster almost impossibly rich for its latitude and accessibility.

Wasagaming, the park’s charming resort townsite on the southern shore of Clear Lake, is the organizing centre for most visits. One of only five national parks in Canada with an active townsite, Wasagaming delivers a distinctive mix of boutique shops, restaurants, a golf course, boat rentals, and a boardwalk along the lake that makes a summer evening here feel genuinely festive. Clear Lake itself is ideal for family swimming, sailing, and paddling; its clear, calm waters offer excellent conditions for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. The lake is open to unlimited-horsepower boating in designated areas, with boat and canoe rentals available at the marina.

Beyond Wasagaming, over 400 kilometres of trails connect backcountry wilderness to scenic day hikes accessible within minutes of the townsite. Grey Owl’s Cabin, one of the most storied backcountry destinations in Canadian national parks, can be reached by a 20-kilometre return hike through old-growth boreal forest; the cabin was home to the celebrated but complicated conservationist who influenced an entire generation of Canadians’ relationship with the natural world. The Lake Audy plains in the park’s interior maintain a managed herd of plains bison, making Riding Mountain one of the few places in Canada where visitors can observe bison on the open grasslands from an accessible viewpoint and drive.

The park holds one of the largest black bear populations in Canada, and bear sightings are realistic on most multi-day visits. Elk, moose, timber wolves, beavers, and over 260 bird species round out a wildlife roster that sustains wildlife photography throughout the year. The park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Winter brings snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on hundreds of kilometres of groomed and tracked trails, ice fishing on Clear Lake, and fat biking through the forest on rentable bikes available from the park’s Friends Learning Centre.

Families find Riding Mountain exceptional for multi-day visits built around the accessible Wasagaming beach, short nature trails, and ranger-led wildlife programs. Multi-generational groups appreciate the townsite’s restaurants and amenities alongside the wilderness available just minutes from the boardwalk. Pet-first travelers should note that leashed dogs are permitted in developed areas, campgrounds, and some trails, but are not allowed on beaches, in public buildings, or in the backcountry; confirm current rules at parks.canada.ca/riding before visiting.

The communities of Wasagaming and Dauphin, along with a number of private operations near the park’s boundaries, offer vacation rentals and cabin stays that complement the park experience. Cozy lakeside properties near Clear Lake, larger vacation homes with full kitchens and fire pits, and comfortable cottages in the surrounding area sleep groups comfortably and deliver beautiful views of the escarpment forest. Book your accommodations near Riding Mountain National Park through Lake.com.