Riding Mountain National Park is an island of wilderness in Manitoba’s southwest corner and part of the Manitoba Escarpment. Surrounded by agriculture, this hill in the prairies was created by glacial scouring. It features grasslands, rolling hills, boreal forests, and wild wetlands. The park is full of lakes, the most visited being Clear Lake and its vibrant summer village of Wasagaming. For active families looking for adventure, Riding Mountain National Park is an ideal destination in Manitoba.
Riding Mountain is easily accessible by main highways. It is about an hour’s drive from Brandon and three hours from Winnipeg. This park offers front and backcountry camping and a range of accommodations, activities, and opportunities for outdoor exploration throughout all four seasons.
Riding Mountain National Park is in the Treaty 2 Territory and has been home to the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Assiniboines, and Nehiyaw (Cree) people. It is also the homeland of the Metis Nation. The town’s name, “Wasagaming,” comes from the Anishinaabe word that means “Clear Water.” This is a fitting name given the crystal clear waters of Clear Lake.
A Quick Family Guide to Riding Mountain National Park
Beach days, recreational activities, unique dining and shopping, bison and wildlife viewing, nature trails and great camping make Riding Mountain National Park an ideal destination for active family vacations. The Park offers something new with every season, so check out Travel Manitoba for the latest itinerary ideas and updates for your trip dates.
Where to stay in Riding Mountain National Park
Camping
Riding Mountain National Park has six front-country campgrounds and 15 backcountry campsites. The most popular campground is the Wasagaming Campground, which is within walking distance of the town, beaches, and nature trails. It offers both serviced and unserviced sites, accessible sites, flush toilets, and hot showers. This popular campground is reservable, and it’s recommended that you book your site early.
If you’re looking for a quieter camping experience away from the hustle of Wasagaming, consider one of the unserviced campgrounds in the park. These include Deep Lake, Moon Lake, Whirpool Lake (tents only), and Lake Audy. If you have horses, book the Lake Audy Horse Coral. The coral is a wide-open campground that can accommodate up to 25 horses.
Glamping: Parks Canada offers oTENTiks in the Wasagaming and Moon Lake Campgrounds if you want a glamped-up camping experience. These are part tent-part-A-frame-cabin with cozy beds, furniture, lighting, and heating. They’re great for families who want a rustic camping experience without the fuss! There is also one yurt available for rent in the Wasagaming Campground.
Find your camping or glamping in Riding Mountain National Park.
Stay in Wasagaming
Wasagaming is a full-service resort town with several accommodation options. You’ll find hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, resorts, inn-style lodgings and cabin rentals. Whether you want a quaint cabin, large guest house or modern hotel room, you’ll find something to accommodate your family. Find places to stay in Riding Mountain National Park.
Where to eat in Riding Mountain National Park
The unique culinary offerings in Wasagaming will complement your trip. You can spend the day exploring the deep wilderness or on the beach and then come to town for a tasty meal on a bustling patio or gourmet cuisine in a fine dining establishment. Riding Mountain really offers the best of both worlds. Here are some of our favourites:
- Best ice cream: Boardwalk on Clear Lake
- Best patio: The Lake House
- Best picnics to go: Camp Cantina
Note that not all restaurants remain open in the colder seasons. Check online for hours of operation before you head out!
What to do in Riding Mountain National Park
Enjoy the lakes
Swimming
A day spent on Clear Lake is a day well spent. This lake is crystal clear, hence the name, and has a sandy beach backed by a beautiful park in Wasagaming. The water is warm and perfect for families with young children who want to build sand castles, swim, and be close to ice cream cones should the mood arise.
There are also swimming holes along Lake Katherine, Lake Audy and Moon Lake. There are cases of swimmers-itch from lakes in the park, so take precautions like drying off vigorously with a towel after coming out of the water.
Boating
Clear Lake and other lakes in the park are also perfect for canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing, and boating. If you want to avoid motorboat traffic and immerse yourself in peaceful nature, head to Moon Lake, Deep Lake, or Katherine Lake.
The Clear Lake Marina offers boat rentals, including kayaks, paddle boats and stand-up paddle boards. You can also join a boat cruise tour of Clear Lake. Cruises are available in the afternoon, early evening and at sunset. While the cruises were cancelled for part of the 2024 season to protect the lake from invasive zebra mussels, they could open again in 2025. Check their website for updates: https://www.clearlakemarina.ca/
Fishing
Fishing opportunities abound here, with a thousand fishing holes to be found throughout the park. You can hike to a backcountry lake, fish from your boat on Clear Lake or in mountain-like streams along the escarpment. Anglers can reel in Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Lake Whitefish and Brook trout. Before casting your line, make sure you have a valid Riding Mountain National Park Fishing Permit.
Notice: Invasive Zebra Mussels
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, temporary watercraft management measures are in place for all watercraft and water-related equipment entering park waters. They are monitoring for zebra mussels, which were found in Clear Lake in late 2023. Learn more about what equipment you’ll need to get inspected here – https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/mb/riding/activ/moto-boat
Hit the trails!
Riding Mountain National Park offers some of the best hiking in Manitoba. Hikes range from easy to difficult and take visitors through marshlands, boreal forests, aspen groves, rolling hills and grassy plains. Keep your eyes open for wildlife; there’s a good chance you’ll see deer, coyotes, moose, and plenty of birdlife. There are black bears in the park, so take precautions like travelling in groups and carrying bear spray.
Boreal Trail
The interpretive Boreal Trail is great for families with young children and is located on the main parkway. At only 1.4 km long, this easy loop wanders through, along Jackfish creek and down a fun boardwalk through marshland. Colourful interpretive signs tell the story of the boreal forest! Keep your eyes peeled for furry little critters and birds along the way.
Lakeshore Trail – Main Beach to Deep Bay
Follow the shore from Main Beach in Wasagaming to Deep Bay along this well-maintained gravel trail. It is an easy 3.6 km trail that is suitable for strollers. You’ll find wooden docks out on the water along the way, perfect for a rest stop or quick swim!
Brule Trail
Brule Trail is one of the most visited trails in the park, especially for families. It’s an easy 4.2 km loop through a tall boreal forest and on boardwalks to photogenic Kinosao Lake. This trail also connects to other trails, like the Kinosao Trail, so you can extend your adventure if you want. The Brule Trail is also an excellent choice for snowshoeing in the winter.
Moon Lake Trail
Circumnavigate Moon Lake on this 9.3 km loop. The trail is rated difficult as there could be wet crossings where creeks run into the lake, and it’s longer than our other suggestions. However, adventurous hikers will find peaceful lake views from start to finish. Pack a picnic lunch and stop for a rest at the Parks Canada Red Chairs overlooking the lake. They’re located about halfway.
Bald Hill Lookout Trail
Vistas from Bald Hill Lookout are by far the best in the park. Be careful, as several trails intersect through this section of the park, and there is more than one way up to the lookout. It can be done as a longer loop, but the most direct route is the 14.3 km out-and-back on the Reeves Ravine trail. The trailhead for Reeves Ravine is just north of the East Gate. While this trail is rated difficult for its length and the climb, adventurous families with determined kids can make it to the top!
We’ve shared only five of fifty trails in Riding Mountain National Park. To learn more, visit Parks Canada’s Summer Trail Guide and Winter Trail Guide.
Activities and Attractions
Visit the bison
Take a self-guided tour of the Lake Audy Bison Enclosure. You can access the enclosure using Lake Audy Road off Highway 10 or Provincial Road #354. You must stay in your vehicle. Remember, bison are beautiful and are to be watched and respected from a distance. Never approach them, and do not leave your vehicle. Leaving the vehicle and approaching the bison might lead to fines. Learn more about the Lake Audy bison herd.
Recreation in Wasagaming
If you’ve spent a few days on the lakes and exploring the wildlands of Riding Mountain, spend a day in and around Wasagaming. There is an outdoor recreation centre here with a mini golf course, tennis courts and a massive playground beside them. You can even catch a film at the Park Theatre, a historic, one-of-a-kind log cabin theatre.
e-Bikes:If you want to keep active and see more of the area around town, rent an e-bike! Clear Lake eBike rentals are a great way to explore the town and park, travel cleaner, and discover the lesser-known spots along the way.
Golfing: Golfers can tee-up at the Clear Lake Golf Course. This picturesque course is nearly a century old, and offers a unique course, beautiful lake views and a fun day for golfers of all skill levels. The Golf Course also offers Stay and Play packages, a restaurant and pro shop.
Riding Mountain National Park in the winter
We hope you enjoyed our quick guide to Riding Mountain National Park. While most of the tips in this article are for travelling to the park in the summer, it does remain open year-round. In the winter, the hiking trails become a winter wonderland for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Much of the park, including the Wasagaming Campground, is still open in the winter, but you should check for seasonal closures of restaurants, shops, and accommodation providers before coming.
