Riding Mountain National Park
National Park (Parks Canada) / Core Of The UNESCO Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve · Wasagaming, Manitoba
Riding Mountain National Park is a forested plateau that rises from the prairie along the Manitoba Escarpment in south-western Manitoba, about three hours north-west of Winnipeg and about an hour from Brandon. Prairie grassland, aspen parkland, boreal forest and eastern hardwoods meet here, which is why it is the core of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The resort townsite of Wasagaming sits on Clear Lake, with a beach, boat rentals, shops and cabins. Plains bison live in a large enclosure at Lake Audy, and the park is home to black bears, elk, moose and wolves. It suits families, campers, cyclists and wildlife watchers, rather than people looking for mountain peaks. Winters are long and cold, and summer is short and busy on holiday weekends, so book early. Black flies and mosquitoes can be heavy in June. A Parks Canada pass is needed and the roads are good. Allow two to four days, or one long day for the lake and bison.
133 Wasagaming Drive, Wasagaming, Manitoba, R0J 2H0, Canada
The park is open year round, but most services in Wasagaming, including shops, cafes, boat rentals, the visitor centre and campgrounds, run seasonally from about mid-May to early October, with long weekends the busiest. The Lake Audy bison enclosure is open for driving in daylight hours, though access rules change, so confirm before you go. In winter, many roads are plowed only in part, trails are for skiing and snowshoeing, and services are limited. A Parks Canada pass is required, and youth are commonly free. Dawn and dusk are the best times for wildlife and the quietest hours on the lake. Check current road and campground notices at the visitor centre before a long trip.
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