Ultimate 12-Day Itineray to Northern Manitoba

Reisplan gemaakt door

Diego and Arielle

What you’ll do

Here is our Route Plan for this Epic 12 -Day Road Trip to Northern Manitoba:

Day 1: Depart Winnipeg by 5:00 AM

Winnipeg → Little Limestone Lake (quick 1.5-hour stop)
Little Limestone Lake → Paint Lake Provincial Park
Overnight stay at Paint Lake Provincial Park or Paint Lake Lodge

Day 2: Depart Paint Lake Lodge by 5:00 AM

Paint Lake Provincial Park → Pisew Falls Provincial Park (Pisew & Kwasitchewan Falls)

Note: Only attempt the Kwasitchewan Falls hike if you're an experienced hiker. If attempting it in one day, plan for at least 12 hours. A 2-day backpacking hike is usually recommended to fully experience Kwasitchewan Falls.

Overnight stay: Pisew Falls Provincial Park or Sasagiu Rapids Lodge

Day 3: Depart Sasagiu Rapids Lodge by 8:00 AM (we stayed at Sasagiu Rapids Lodge)

Pisew Falls → Snow Lake (Wekusko Falls) – Quick stop and short hike to the Falls
Snow Lake → Herb Lake Landing – Quick stop and short hike to Ted & Taylor Snowball Trail
Herb Lake Landing → Iskwasum Campground
Overnight stay: Iskwasum Campground, Viking Lodge (40 minutes from Iskwasum), or Wekusko Falls Lodge (50 minutes from Iskwasum). We recommend staying at Iskwasum Campground or Viking Lodge for convenience.

Day 4: Depart Iskwasum Campground by 7:00 AM

Iskwasum Campground → Gyles Campground (Gyles Beach – Quick stop)
Gyles Campground → Bakers Narrows Provincial Park (Bakers Narrows Scenic Tower – Quick climb and stop for sunset)
Bakers Narrows Provincial Park → Flin Flon
Overnight stay: 3 nights in Flin Flon (Spend Days 5 & 6 exploring Flin Flon)

Day 7: Depart Flin Flon by 8:00 AM

Flin Flon → Cranberry Portage (Museum, Athapapuskow Lake, Mistik Creek)
Cranberry Portage → Rocky Lake North
Rocky Lake North → Rocky Lake East
Rocky Lake East → Clearwater Lake Provincial Park
Overnight stay: 3 nights at Clearwater Lake Provincial Park (Camper’s Cove or Pioneer Bay Campground). Spend Days 8 & 9 exploring the area.

Day 10: Depart Clearwater Lake Provincial Park by 7:00 AM

Clearwater Lake Provincial Park → East Blue Lake (Duck Mountain Provincial Park)
Overnight stay: 2 nights at Duck Mountain Provincial Park (Stay in a Yurt on Childs Lake Campground). Spend Days 10 & 11 around Duck Mountain Provincial Park.

Day 12: Depart Duck Mountain Provincial Park by 7:00 AM

East Blue Lake → Steep Rock (Quick stop)
Steep Rock → Winnipeg (End of road trip)

Day Total

928,3 km (576,8 mi)

10 uur 18 min

Totale route te lang om naar Google te exporteren

Introduction

You’ve probably heard the claim that Manitoba, this province in central Canada, is boring and not worth visiting. Trust us, we’ve heard it too since we moved to Manitoba. But fortunately, we didn’t let that statement stop us from exploring what this fascinating province in the heart of Canada truly has to offer.

What if we told you that Manitoba has places that will remind you of Greece, the Caribbean, Iceland, or the Canary Islands? Would you believe it? Well, keep reading because by the end of this guide, you’ll understand why Manitoba is a destination worth visiting, with spots that will transport you to places around the world!

Best Canada Road Trip Itineraries

Northern Manitoba is full of untouched wilderness, crystal-clear lakes, and epic outdoor adventures. Whether you're into hiking, camping, or spotting wildlife, this itinerary will take you to some of the most breathtaking and underrated spots in the province.

This travel guide is packed with essential travel tips (please refer to the Travel Tips section), must-see locations, hidden gems, and key details on where to stay. From some of the bluest and crystal-clear lakes in Canada that will make you feel like you’ve been transported to the Caribbean to landscapes you’d have never thought existed in Manitoba, every stop on this Epic 12-Day Northern Manitoba road trip has something special to offer.

Northern Manitoba Road Trip

This epic road trip from Winnipeg to Northern Manitoba will take you through a stunning variety of landscapes, including waterfalls, crystal-clear lakes, and unique natural phenomena like the turquoise waters of Little Limestone Lake and breathtaking caves . The journey offers a perfect blend of nature and adventure, ideal for solo travelers, couples, and families with kids. To fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Northern Manitoba, we recommend setting aside at least 12 days for this road trip.

Northern Manitoba Road trip Budget

The beauty of this road trip is that it can be tailored to fit any budget. You can opt for a more affordable experience or indulge in comfort—it's entirely up to you. Our trip blended both budget-friendly and comfortable options, and we spent a total of CAD $1,851.26 for 2 people, broken down as follows:

Campgrounds (Yurts & traditional tent campsites): $432.86
Food (groceries + eating out): $334
Hotels/Lodges/Unique Stays: $608.90
Annual Manitoba Park Vehicle Permit Fee: $44.50 (2024 rate). Note: in 2025 Park Entry is FREE. No Park entry permit is required, so you don't have to worry about this expense in 2025.
Activities: $113 . If you love nature, most of your activities—like hiking and beach visits—will be outdoors, so your activity costs should remain low.
Gas (for a 2023 Toyota Corolla): $318

If you're traveling in a group, the cost per person can be significantly reduced as accommodations and gas costs can be shared. To save even more, consider traveling during the camping season and staying exclusively at Manitoba Parks-designated campgrounds instead of hotels and lodges. For reference, the 2024 nightly rate for a comfortable Yurt was CAD $56, and a traditional tent campsite costed just CAD $13.65 per night.

When to Take This Road Trip

Based on our experience, the best times to take this Manitoba road trip are in the Spring (late May to early June) or late Summer (late August to early September). You can also venture out during the height of summer (mid June-mid August), but be prepared to face swarms of mosquitoes and black flies, which can make it harder to fully enjoy the experience. This road trip can also be taken in the winter to admire the beauty of these spots in a winter wonderland setup, but of course, you won’t be able to do much beside starring at them in a freezing cold weather. Throughout this incredible road trip, you’ll mostly be traveling through Treaty 5 and Treaty 2 lands, which we acknowledge and ask you to show respect for these lands.