In terms of Canadian provinces, Manitoba is like the often overlooked and forgotten about middle child. Along with neighbouring Saskatchewan, Manitoba may not seem as exciting as the mountainous western provinces, or the big cities of the east. But during my cross-Canada roadtrip, I discovered there was plenty to see and do in Manitoba. These must-see Manitoba destinations cover a lot of different aspects of Canadian culture – from the big city to the vast wilderness, wildlife and fun activities.
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Winnipeg
The only city in Manitoba that has more than 50,000 inhabitants, it’s not surprising that Winnipeg is the provincial capital. There’s quite a bit to do here, though I wouldn’t recommend more than a couple of days. On a sunny day, Assiniboine Park is really beautiful, as is The Forks, the section of the city where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers converge. The Forks is a hugely historical place, very important to indigenous culture in the area, but it’s also a very popular place for locals to hang out, exercise, shop and dine.
Nearby is the lovely Esplanade Riel Footbridge, right in front of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights which is, in my opinion, the number one reason to visit the city. Not only is it an architectural marvel, but the exhibitions inside cover a range of thought-provoking subjects. It takes a few hours to get through it all and really take it in, finishing right at the top of the central tower with views out over the city and the rivers.
There are no backpacker hostels in Winnipeg, but take a look here for some other accommodation options.
Churchill
The place I was most excited for in Manitoba was Churchill, though it is most definitely not a typical backpacker destination. Hundreds of kilometres north of Winnipeg, this tiny town sits on the shores of Hudson Bay. There are no roads to Churchill, so you can’t drive there. There are only two ways to get to Churchill – the first is by horrendously expensive charter flights, the second is by still-expensive, but far more affordable trains. It takes two days to get there from Winnipeg, which puts a lot of people off going in the first place, but trust me, it’s worth it. Called the Polar Bear Capital of the World, in the autumn and winter, the white bears outnumber the locals three to one. It’s one of the easiest places in the world to see polar bears in the wild. But even before the bears arrive, there are some amazing wildlife to be found here.
In the summer months, the estuary around the town fills with white beluga whales, the friendliest marine animals I’ve ever seen. Arctic terns fly overhead, and caribou can be seen wandering the tundra outside the town. Throw in beautiful murals, a bear jail and a really cool plane wreck, and Churchill is one of those Manitoba destinations that should not be missed.
During my stay in Churchill I stayed at the Iceberg Inn, which has an amazing location near the train station and is about as budget-friendly as Churchill gets.
I’ve written three blog posts on the different activities you can do in Churchill during the summer, so check them out if you’re interested in going too!
Experiencing The Arctic Summer With Frontiers North
The Churchill Belugas – My Experience With Sea North Tours
Churchill – 6 Things To See That Aren’t Polar Bears
Riding Mountain National Park
I will always remember Riding Mountain National Park because it was where I saw my first and only bear in the year and a half I spent in Canada. Yes, one single bear. The black bear was foraging on the side of the road, I watched him while freaking out for about ten seconds, then he disappeared into the bushes and I never saw him again. But thank you, Riding Mountain, for those ten seconds.
Aside from brief bear sightings, Riding Mountain has several hiking trails around beautiful lakes, a cute little waterside town with restaurants and cafes, and some gorgeous sunsets. Though ‘Mountain’ is a little misleading (Manitoba, after all, is incredibly flat), the park does have a lot of diversity when it comes to its landscape. There’s grassland, forest and wetland, all of which were important to the local Anishinabe First Nations tribe that historically lived here.
For more information, visit the official Parks Canada site for the park.
Gimli
Definitely one of the more unusual Manitoba destinations, Gimli caught my eye firstly because of its name. If you’re not a nerd like me, Gimli is one of the main characters in the Lord of the Rings books and films. I spent a year in New Zealand because of my love for the films, so you know I’m a fan. So when I noticed a town called Gimli to the north of Winnipeg, I immediately had to google it.
Located on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, the community was first settled by Icelanders around a hundred years ago. To this day, the Icelandic heritage of the town is celebrated, from the national flags all over, to the large viking statue by the lake, to the Icelandic Festival held each year in the town. Generations of fishermen still work on the lake, setting out from the large harbour each day. The name Gimli derives from a place in Nordic mythology that is said to be the most beautiful place in the world. I’m sure many of the residents believe that to be true.
Pisew Falls Provincial Park
You know that moment when you’re walking to a waterfall and you start to feel it before you see or hear it? I love that. Pisew Falls is just like that. A little south of Thompson (and a lot north of Winnipeg), this small provincial park is worth stopping into if you’re driving Highway 6. There are only two walking trails here: a short boardwalk from the carpark to the falls viewpoint (careful, it can be slippy), and a 22 kilometre hike through the backcountry to Kwasitchewan Falls, the highest waterfall in Manitoba. So…not much to choose from there.
But even just taking in Pisew Falls and the first half-kilometre of the hiking trail to the Rotary Bridge spanning the river is worth spending an hour of your time on. The name of the falls comes from the Cree word for ‘lynx’, as the falls apparently sounds like the hissing of a lynx. The only camping allowed in the park is at the far end of the Kwasitchewan Falls trail, and there are very few other facilities here.
The Pisew Falls webpage has some great tips if you decide to go for the longer hiking trail.
Longitudinal Centre of Canada
Okay, so this is really just a big sign on the side of the road, but I thought it was really cool as Manitoba destinations go. I started my Canadian journey on the eastern coast of Newfoundland, and ended it at Victoria on Vancouver Island, so to stand at the centre point between the two was very satisfying. Especially because Canada is the second-largest country in the world, so to have travelled even half of it felt like an accomplishment.
It’s only about twenty minutes east of Winnipeg on the Trans-Canada Highway, so it’s hard to miss (although I did miss it the first time, and had to double back because I really wanted that photo).
Practical Information:
- The weather in Manitoba varies massively throughout the year. In summer, temperatures can reach as high as 38 degrees Celsius in the southern parts of the province, while winters can see days as cold as -40 degrees. Where you can go and what you can do will definitely depend on the time of year.
- Because Manitoba is so flat and sparsely populated, distances between towns can be very long. Along the Trans Canada Highway this isn’t a problem, but travelling north you need to plan ahead for things like accommodation and fuel as these get fewer and farther between the further north you go.
- If you do decide to visit Churchill, getting the train from the northern city of Thompson is much, much cheaper than from Winnipeg, though you do have the extra seven-hour drive each way to make up for that. This does however, cut the overall journey time from 48 hours to around 28 hours, so that’s another plus for taking the train from Thompson.
Which of these Manitoba destinations would you most like to visit?
Continuing your Canada roadtrip west? Check out my favourite Alberta destinations!
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