Looking to enjoy Manitoba’s Riding Mountain National Park in the fall and winter? Hey, me too! I’m a Manitoba local who heads to this beautiful National Park pretty much every season, and I can confirm that it has a special charm during the colder months.

Of course, you clicked on this article so you’re probably asking, “But what is there to do in Riding Mountain during the fall and winter?”

Well, that’s what I’m here for. Below, you’ll find my fave Riding Mountain National Park activities for the fall and winter. And while you’re here, bookmark my full Riding Mountain National Park Travel Guide (it includes where to stay, where to eat, and more!)

Best Fall & Winter Things to Do in Riding Mountain National Park

Klar So Nordic Spa

Relax at this cozy spa that has steam & dry saunas, hot tubs, a cold plunge, fireplaces, and a restaurant.

I had to start this article off with a banger. Klar So Nordic Spa is great year-round, but it’s especially cozy and therapeutic in the colder months.

Klar So is Danish for “Clear Lake” which is also the name of, you guessed it, the major lake in Riding Mountain National Park. This oasis is essential for letting all the stresses of life melt away as you take advantage of the dry saunas, steam saunas, hot tubs, cold plunge, wood-burning fires, the restaurant, and specialty treatments.

You’ll find the spa attached to the Elkhorn Resort, so it’s a must-do if you’re staying at the resort. Just note that the spa is adults-only.

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Klar So Restaurant

Grab light fare and drinks in between thermal cycles.

I know I just mentioned the Klar So Restaurant above, but I feel I have to do it one more time so you really do add it to your itinerary. This restaurant is exclusive to spa-goers and has a truly great menu of light fare and drinks.

In between thermal cycles, grab a charcuterie board with drinks like we did for another level of luxury and relaxation. Your nervous system (and tummy) will thank you.

Elkhorn Resort

A beautiful resort perfect for family vacations or couple’s getaways.

If convenience is top of mind, then Elkhorn Resort Spa & Conference Centre can be a one-stop-shop for your trip to Riding Mountain National Park.

This resort features hotel rooms, beautiful chalets, the Buffalo Bar restaurant, a pool with a waterslide, a playground, cross-country skiing and hiking trails, an exercise room, a games room, and wood-fired saunas.

It’s perfect whether you’re on a family getaway, with kids, or even as a romantic couple’s escape.

Visitor’s Centre

Come here for information on activities before you head out.

The Riding Mountain Visitor’s Centre is located right downtown Wasagaming. I recommend coming here before you do any outdoorsy activities to get more information on closures, safety, and permits.

The visitor’s center is also a great place to learn more about the history and wildlife of Riding Mountain. For example, they have dioramas that explain the wolf packs present in the park.

Lake Audy Bison Enclosure

Drive safari-style through this enclosure to see bison.

Safari in RMNP? Sign me up! The Lake Audy Bison enclosure is located about 30 minutes north of Wasagaming (the main town in Riding Mountain) and is a 500-hectare field that encloses about 40 plains bison.

The enclosure has a road to follow as you use your own vehicle to traverse the plains. In the winter, I recommend using a 4×4 vehicle so there’s no chance you get stuck out there. Granted, I used my front-wheel-drive car, and was fine even with a fresh layer of snow, but you’ll want more power as the snow piles up.

Ice Fishing

Try your luck bobbing for a fresh catch.

Ice fishing is so quintessentially Manitoba, and I highly recommend doing this activity in Riding Mountain National Park.

If you plan to bring your own equipment, I recommend heading to (or calling) the Riding Mountain Visitor’s Centre before you do anything else. Here, you can get the proper license and they’ll let you know about any restrictions.

Just note that RMNP asks that you do your due diligence to keep the lakes AIS (Aquatic Invasive Species) free, including decontaminating your equipment.

If you don’t have your own equipment, then I recommend booking a hut at the Ice Fishing Village by Turtle Village. Their beautiful tents are all set up on the ice and include seating for 6, a wood-burning stove, solar-powered lighting, a USB port, and beverages.

They have equipment for rent (you must use their equipment if you book a tent, to prevent contamination) and you can get your fishing permit through a link on their website.

They also have add-ons available for purchase including a Bannock making kit, a fish finder, and a 1-hr learn-to-fish guide. You can book the experience here.

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Skating

Experience RMNP from a new vantage point by skating around

*Note – all of my photos skating are of me as a kid, so, I’ll take some on my next trip to RMNP, I promise!

Riding Mountain National Park has beautifully groomed skating trails and an outdoor skating rink (with twinkly lights & a warming shack!) The skating trails are located behind the Parks Canada offices and go through the forest.

If you have them, I recommend bringing your own skates as services are limited and can sell out. I also recommend going to the Visitor’s Centre before you head out on the ice. Making sure the ice is thick enough before you go is super important, and you’ll only want to trust the experts.

Lakehouse Restaurant

Grab a bite at this cozy cottage-style restaurant.

If you’re looking for a romantic, or simply just more upscale, dining spot in Riding Mountain National Park, then look no further than Lakehouse Restaurant. This eatery, located in the boutique motel of the same name, is open year-round and features excellent craft cocktails and scrumptious (but still approachable) fare.

The interior was redesigned as recently as 2023 and has a very cozy, wood-cottage kind of feel. They even have a patio with fire pits for getting extra cozy in the wintertime.

Snow Shoeing

Traverse the land and explore to your heart’s content by strapping on some snow shoes.

Snowshoeing is an awesome workout and Riding Mountain National Park is the perfect place to do it. Plus, because the lakes and marshes are all frozen over in the winter, there are places in RMNP that you can only access by snowshoe in the wintertime. Pretty special, hey?

Some of the best snowshoeing trails are the Brule Trail, Bead Lakes Trail, Arrowhead Trail, South Lake Trail, and Moon Lake Trail.

I recommend reading this Riding Mountain trail guide for updates on trail conditions and which ones are open/closed for maintenance.

You can rent snowshoes at:

• Elkhorn Resort (ask the front desk)
• Friends of Riding Mountain Learning Centre (Winter hours are Tues-Sun 10am – 4pm)

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Fat Biking

Think biking is just for summer? Think again.

Who says biking is just for the summer? Fatbiking in Riding Mountain National Park is a great way to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time – especially if you don’t want to just drive around everywhere.

Fatbikes are similar to regular bikes, except their tires are, you guessed it, fatter. Fat tires mean more traction, which makes fat bikes good options for riding on snow and ice.

You can rent Fatbikes at:

• Friends of Riding Mountain Learning Centre (Winter hours are Tues-Sun 10am – 4pm)

Winter Hiking Trails

Traverse the winterized trails in RMNP.

If this isn’t your first time reading my blog, then you’ll know I love a good hike (& if this is your first time, welcome!)

Riding Mountain is known for awesome hikes, and you’ll be happy to hear that, while the selection certainly drops when it gets snowy, there are still some great winter hikes. You’ll want a pair of trusty crampons though (I always, without fail, hike in winter with mine on).

A few of the best winter hikes in RMNP are:

• South Lake Trail
• Kinosao Trail
• Arrowhead Trail
• Brule Trail

Again, I recommend checking out this Riding Mountain Trail Guide for updates on trail closures and maintenance.

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Kicksledding (Kicksparks)

Cover more ground in less time on these Scandanavian sleds.

I admit, I hadn’t actually heard of Kicksledding until I went to Riding Mountain, but that doesn’t mean they’re not a great time! Kicksleds (AKA Kicksparks) are Scandanavian lightweight sleds that feature a frame or chair mounted to metal runners. You move the sled by kicking the ground with your foot.

You can rent kicksleds at:

• Friends of Riding Mountain Learning Centre (Winter hours are Tues-Sun 10am – 4pm)

Northern Lights

See the famed Aurora Borealis.

While driving out to Riding Mountain National Park on my most recent trip in November, we were dazzled with displays of the Northern Lights dancing in the sky.

While you can’t exactly “plan” to see the Northern Lights here, they do like to make their presence known in these parts (especially in fall and winter). To up your chances of witnessing them, I recommend downloading the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts App to stay up to date on geomagnetic activity.

Winter Adventure Weekend

Head to Riding Mountain February 1 & 2, 2025 for a weekend of winter festival fun.

Did you know that Friends of Riding Mountain National Park hosts a winter festival every year? It’s true – see, I told ya the park is super winter-friendly!

The 20th annual Winter Adventure Weekend is slated for February 1 & 2, 2025 (at the time of writing this, they haven’t released their events schedule, but I’ll update you when they do!)

The festival is specifically for embracing winter and helping folks to recognize the park for more than just its summer offerings. In the past, the festival has featured guided snowshoeing, fat biking, and cross-country skiing, snow sculptures, maple syrup rolling, bannock making, and the Manitoba Snowshoe Run.

Have a Fire

Stave off the cold by getting cozy around an outdoor firepit.

I mentioned this briefly above, but having a fire isn’t just for the summer in Riding Mountain National Park. Many of the hotels and resorts in Riding Mountain come with firepits that you can use, such as the one pictured above at Arrowhead Resort (where I stayed).

I highly recommend grabbing a hot chocolate, putting on your winter gear, and cuddling up around the fire while you listen to the crackles of wood and watch the stars overhead.

A big thank you to Travel Manitoba for supporting this guide. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Thanks for reading my list of things to do in Riding Mountain National Park in the fall and winter! I definitely recommend reading my full travel guide to Riding Mountain National Park next for a full scope of what to expect.

See you in RMNP!