Outdoor Recreation

Ski Manitoba's Provincial Parks

In Manitoba provincial parks, winter is a season worth celebrating. Cross-country skiing is an excellent way to get some fresh air and exercise in the great outdoors. On groomed trails sheltered by thick forests, even the coldest day can become a memorable outing.

Enjoy the pristine winter scenery and visit places not accessible in summer. Glide effortlessly through silent forests, past cliffs and across frozen lakes. Be dazzled by the sun glittering off fields of snow. Listen to the rhythmic swish of the skis. Test your skills and endurance by zipping down hill or finishing a steep climb. For a new experience try a moonlight ski.

Whether you go for an hour or stay for a weekend, cross-country skiing is an invigorating and enjoyable winter activity. Choose from a variety of trails in Manitoba provincial parks. Your destination is limited only by the distance you want to travel, the skill level of your group and whether you want to soak in a hot tub afterward.

Spruce Woods Provincial Park has diverse terrain with excellent views. The park offers three different trail systems, the gentle Yellow Quill, the exciting Seton and the spectacular Épinette. Enjoy great forest runs and steep valleys. Marvel at the winter scenery, beautiful woods and open vistas. To stay overnight at Jackfish Cabin call (204) 834-8800.

Ski under a canopy of trees at Turtle Mountain Provincial Park. These trails are double tracked and have a completely different feel from the single-track typically found in parks. Attractions in the park include the gently rolling hills and the excellent wildlife viewing. To stay overnight at James Lake Cabin call (204) 534-7204.

In winter, Whiteshell Provincial Park is a great getaway offering close to ten different trail systems peppered across the park. At least half a dozen resorts provide a comfortable wilderness retreat, some with trails leading out from their doors. A few have the option of a hot tub.

Visit Camp Morton in the Interlake for easy trails with views of vast Lake Winnipeg. Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park offers a sense of wilderness along the trails.

Provincial parks close to Winnipeg offer a rural ski experience that is rewarding and accessible for many. Grand Beach Provincial Park has about 37 kilometres of exciting trails, half of which are intermediate. Choose from many exhilarating trails, some with warming shelters along the way. Birds Hill Provincial Park is conveniently close for Winnipeggers and offers shorter, child-appropriate ski trails as well as sleigh rides and snowshoe trails.

For more information visit the with the Cross Country Ski Association of Manitoba website at www.ccski.mb.ca