Planning a trip to Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba and wondering what you should know before you go? You’re in the right place!
Honestly, Riding Mountain is one of my favorite places to visit in Manitoba. As a local Winnipegger, nothing makes me happier than heading out to Clear Lake Country for a weekend of gorgeous lakes and pines surrounded by bountiful prairie – no matter the season. I’m here to share my love of this park & all my insights with you!
In this article, we’ll cover all the practical info you should know about Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, as well as what to do, where to stay, & tips for visiting.
For later, be sure to bookmark my list of best fall & winter things to do in Riding Mountain National Park.
👉 Jump to: About | How to Get There | When to Visit | Things to Do | Where to Stay | Tips
About Riding Mountain National Park
📍 Address: 135 Wasagaming Dr, Onanole, MB R0J 1N0
✨ Land Acknowledgement: Riding Mountain is located on Treaty 2, the homeland of the Métis Nation as well as the ancestral lands of the Oji-Cree, Dakota, Anishinaabe, and Dene peoples.
🪪 Park Passes: You will need a pass to visit Riding Mountain. The easiest way to purchase is online through Parks Canada. In the summer, you can also purchase your pass at the park gates.
Riding Mountain National Park is one of two national parks in Manitoba—the other is Wapusk National Park. It was officially designated a national park in 1933 and has 2,969 square kilometers of protected area, including grasslands, upland boreal forest, and deciduous forest.
The park, although surrounded by Manitoba prairie land, sits on the Manitoba Escarpment and provides a notable landscape contrast.
Animal-wise, the park is home to bison, fish (including Walleye, white fish, perch, and trout), timber wolves, elk, moose, coyotes, porcupines, deer, hares, lynxes, black bears, and cougars.
📚 Read More: A Travel Guide to Hecla / Grindstone Provincial Park in Manitoba
How to Get to Riding Mountain National Park
Riding Mountain is located about an hour north of Brandon, three hours west of Winnipeg, and four hours east of Regina. No matter which way you’re coming from, the easiest way to get there is to take Highway 10 until you reach the south entrance of the park.
The south entrance is also where you’ll find the town of Wasagming, the main commercial center and hub of the park.
By far, the easiest way to get to Riding Mountain National Park is to drive. If you don’t have a car of your own, then I recommend renting one through Discover Cars.
When to Visit Riding Mountain National Park
Riding Mountain is open year-round and there’s not really a bad time to visit. However, there are better times to visit based on your personal preferences for activities. Also, many businesses are seasonal and don’t operate in RMNP from roughly late September through early May.
I recommend reading my guide to the best time to visit Manitoba if you’re new to the province. Here’s a quick overview:
🏖️ Summer – Summer is the busiest time of year at Riding Mountain. All of the restaurants and activities are open and activities like fishing, swimming, shopping, liking ice cream, and hiking are in full swing. However, because it’s the busiest, it’s also the most expensive. Be sure to book your hotel room in advance!
🍂 Fall – Fall is my personal favorite time to visit the park. The tourist rush slows down and it’s a magical wonderland of foliage and snowfall. There are a few hotels and restaurants that stay open, although this number is drastically reduced from the summer. You’ll find the majority of businesses close around Labor Day weekend. Generally speaking, fall and winter are the best times of year to view the Aurora Borealis in the park.
❄️ Winter – If snow activities are up your alley, then winter is the season for you. RMNP gets absolutely dumped on with the fluffy stuff in the winter. You can rent fat bikes and hit the winter trails, or go sledding, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and skating. Just keep in mind that Manitoba winters can get very cold (like, often -30 🥶) and highway travel is weather-permitting.
🌸Spring – Riding Mountain comes alive again in the spring. Many businesses start back up again for the May Long weekend, so you can more easily socialize with the locals and other travelers. Do plan to experience snow melt on many of the trails (puddle szn, y’all), and factor in everything from snow to rain to sun in regards to weather. Spring in Manitoba can be all over the map.
📚 Read More: Manitoba Packing List (27 Items to Bring)
Best Things to Do in Riding Mountain National Park
Riding Mountain National Park Visitor Centre
📍 Google Map | Website | Open year round
Before you truly get into your RMNP adventure, I recommend going to the Visitors Centre. Here, you can ask any pressing questions you have, grab a brochure, and learn more about the area.
The center also has dioramas and displays, so you can learn more about the local wildlife and history of the park before you set off on your adventure.
Lake Audy Bison Enclosure
📍 Google Map | Website | Open year-round, but there are summer and winter enclosures
If you love animal experiences, then I highly recommend visiting the Lake Audy Bison Enclosure in Riding Mountain. This enclosure is a 500-hectare area that holds a herd of about 40 plains bison. There is one road that you’ll follow as you drive around the enclosure, so no worries about getting lost or off track.
To access the enclosure, you must have a vehicle and stay inside of it at all times. Bison are wild animals and the safety of both you and the herd is the top priority. In fact, if you leave your vehicle while in the enclosure, you may be fined. Think of it as a safari but from the comfort of your own vehicle.
Also keep in mind that, if you visit during the winter, you might want to have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle for this activity. Or, try not to visit if there’s fresh-fallen snow.
I took my mid-size car with winter tires and was fine, but any deeper snow and I may not have gone for it.
👉 Pro Tip: Lake Audy is about a 30-minute drive from Wasagaming. If you visit in the winter, stop in at the Visitor’s Centre before you head out to make sure it’s open and safe to traverse.
Klar So Nordic Spa
📍 Google Map | Website | Open year round
Gosh, there’s really nothing a relaxing day at the spa in a gorgeous national park.
Klar So Nordic Spa (Klar So is Danish for “Clear Lake”) is located at the Elkhorn Resort and is the perfect place to spend a tranquil afternoon. Their facilities include steam saunas and dry saunas, a cold plunge, a temperate pool, and two hot tubs. There is also a relaxation pavilion, lounge areas with fireplaces, and a variety of specialty treatments.
Brian and I had a super relaxing afternoon here in November (colder weather is the best for Nordic spas in my opinion). In between thermal cycle sessions, we enjoyed lunch in the exclusive restaurant – the perfect charcuterie board if I do say so myself!
Hiking Trails
Hikers, rejoice! Riding Mountain National Park is one of the best places to hit the trails in Manitoba. There are a lot of trails, but here are a few of my faves:
Brule Trail – 4.2km, easy – a peaceful, dog-friendly trail
Kinosao Lake Trail – 7.2km, moderate – a wooded trail that links up with Brule Trail and Grey Owl, this will take you to Kinosao Lake.
Ominik Marsh Trail – 1.4km, easy – a boardwalk trail, Ominik Marsh is great for wildlife viewing and learning more about the ecosystem.
Bald Hill Summit – 14.2km, moderate – want some of the best panoramic views in the park? This trail is how to get them.
Clear Lake South Shore Trail – 25.9km, moderate – a beautiful trail on the, you guessed it, shore of Clear Lake. Watch waves crashing as you tread along.
Clear Lake Golf Course
📍 Google Map | Website | Summer only
The Clear Lake Golf Course is a 6,309-yard course that dates back almost 100 years. The course is lush and beautiful – if you’re a golfer, there’s no question this is where you should be on a warm summer day.
I admit, I’m not much of a golfer (nay, not a golfer at all), but I have once driven a golf cart around the Clear Lake Golf Course for an afternoon. Next time, I’ll get photos, I promise!
Bike Riding
Whether it’s summer or winter, renting a bike in Riding National Park is a great way to see the area. You can rent your normal or fat bike from Friends of Riding Mountain National Park (summer & winter) or an e-bike from Clear Lake Marina (summer only).
Where to Stay in Riding Mountain National Park
Arrowhead Family Resort
❄️ ☀️ Open year-round
📍 Google Map | Website
During my most recent trip to RMNP, I stayed at the Arrowhead Family Resort. This resort has the same owners as the nearby Lakehouse Resort, and I found it super comfortable. Having Gustavo in tow (my Morkie) I got a pet-friendly room.
At Arrowhead, you’ll find four 2-bedroom, 2-bath cottages that were custom-designed and outfitted with full kitchens and wood-burning fireplaces.
The property also includes 28 renovated guest rooms in the main building (this is where we stayed). Our room was simple, but had a Nespresso machine (bless) and was clean and comfortable.
The resort is located right in Wasagaming, has ample parking, is open year-round, and is within walking distance of the Visitor’s Centre, lake, and restaurants.
Lakehouse
❄️ ☀️ Open year-round
📍 Google Map | Website
Lakehouse is a boutique hotel located right downtown Wasagaming. The property was originally built in the 1930s as Wasagaming Lodge but has been fully renovated and updated to serve the times. Here, you’ll find a 3-bed, 2-bath guest cottage called the Marigold as well as 15 modern rooms in the hotel.
Additionally, there is an on-site restaurant (my brisket sandwich is pictured above, yum), a cafe, an outdoor hot tub, and an event center.
Elkhorn Lodge Resort
❄️ ☀️ Open year-round
📍 Google Map | Website
If you’re a family with kids in tow or have a large group, then I recommend staying at the Elkhorn Resort. This establishment has a golf course, spa (Klar So), hiking trails, waterslides, bike rentals, an exercise room, saunas, a playground, a campfire area, and a restaurant called the Buffalo Bar & Ten Steakhouse.
For rooms, the property has a choice of hotel rooms or chalets.
Camping
RMNP is one of the best places to camp in Manitoba, and there are campgrounds no matter your style. Notably, you’ll find Wasagaming Campground, Moon Lake Campground, Whirlpool Lake Campground, and Onanole RV Park & Campground. These campgrounds are seasonal and vary from being serviced and busy, to unserviced and off-grid.
OTentiks
Do you like the idea of camping but prefer more creature comforts? Then renting an OTentik may be for you. These structures are simple A-frame cabins with sleeping platforms, mattresses, campfire spots, and picnic tables.
In RMNP, they have electric heat, lights, and outlets, but do not have running water or bathrooms (although there are shared facilities in the campgrounds). Some OTentiks are even pet-friendly.
Plan to bring all camping equipment such as sleeping bags, pillows, and cookware. You can find out more and book here.
Other notable places to stay in RMNP:
The above are just the hotels that I have personally visited, but there are a lot of places to stay in Riding Mountain National Park. Here are a few more of the top-rated.
- Riding Mountain House – an adult-only bed and breakfast in Onanole (open year-round)
- Smokey Hollow Motel & Resort – motel-style rooms and cabins in Onanole with a heated pool (hotel is open year-round)
- Honeycomb Bed & Breakfast – A cute B&B with 11 personally-decorated rooms with private bathrooms (open year round)
- Turtle Village – an off-grid experience with cute accommodations called Turtle Shells (open year round)
Tips for Visiting Riding Mountain National Park
Watch for Wildlife
I mentioned it in the introduction, but wildlife abound in Riding Mountain National Park. I have personally seen bears and moose plus little critters like beavers. There are also wolf packs in RMNP.
While animal incidents are rare, sightings are not. If you hit the trails, always be bear-ready by wearing bells or consistently talking with a friend, and only bring your pets on designated pet-friendly trails. If you camp, don’t leave food out and use bear boxes to stow it away.
📚 Read More: Manitoba Travel Tips (15 Things to Know, By a Local)
Leave No Trace
Riding Mountain is a protected area and it’s important to leave the grounds exactly how you found them. When hiking or camping, use designated bins for waste, or pack everything out with you when you leave. Only bring your furry friends on designated trails and bring poop bags for their waste.
If bringing a boat on the premises, always get your boat checked at a station.
Note that boating in Clear Lake was suspended in the 2024 season, and may be impacted in 2025 due to the presence of invasive Zebra Mussels.
Plan for the Season
Judging by my photos in this post, it should come as no shock that summer is very different from winter in RMNP. The time of year you choose to visit will greatly impact your trip.
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 guide to Riding Mountain National Park! If you’re looking for another great nature spot in Manitoba, check out my guide to Nopiming Provincial Park.
Have a question about RMNP? Drop it in the comments!
