Planning Your Trip

Accommodations
Stay in your tent, trailer or RV at one of hundreds of private or public campgrounds across Manitoba. Keep it simple and rent a cabin or a yurt. Or choose a deluxe lodge or a sumptuous bed and breakfast. Contact Travel Manitoba for a copy of the Accommodations and Campgrounds Guide.

Weather Conditions
Manitoba typically features winters that are cold and dry, temperate spring and fall, and summers that are hot and dry. For current weather conditions around the province, visit: http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/forecast/canada/index_e.html?id=MB

Average Daily Temperatures in Southern Manitoba
Summer +23 °C (74 °F)
Winter -15°C (5 °F)

Average daily temperatures in Churchill: Summer +12°C (54°F)
Winter -27°C (-16.6°F)
(Wide variations from average values are common in all seasons.)

Metric Conversions
Temperature: Celsius to Fahrenheit- multiply Celsius temperature by 9, divide by 5, add 32
Distance: Kilometres to miles - multiply kilometres by 0.6
Volume: Litres to U.S. gallons - divide litres by 3.8

Getting Around
By plane: Winnipeg International Airport
By rail: VIA Rail Canada Inc.
By ground: Greyhound Canada

Canadian Currency
To ensure the prevailing rate of exchange, visitors are advised to exchange their funds or traveller’s cheques at any Canadian financial institution, bank, trust company, credit union, caisse populaire, or exchange booths at border crossing points. Although U.S. money is readily accepted, using Canadian money while travelling in Manitoba is recommended.

Urban Connections
Destination Winnipeg:
Toll-free 1-800-665-0204
www.destinationwinnipeg.ca
Brandon Tourism: www. toursim.brandon.com

All About Manitoba
Provincial population: 1.16 million
Provincial capital: Winnipeg (pop. 685,500)
Second largest city: Brandon (pop. 42,250)
Time zone: Manitoba is located in the central time zone (CST)
Provincial Bird: Great Grey Owl
Provincial Flower: Prairie Crocus
Provincial Animal: Bison Provincial
Tree: White Spruce

Highest Point: 831 metres (2,727 ft.) Baldy Mountain in Duck Mountain Provincial Park
Lowest Point: sea level on the Hudson Bay coast
Coastline: Manitoba has 645 km (400 miles) of coastline along the Hudson Bay

Parks In Manitoba
Manitoba is home to 52 provincial parks plus two national parks, Riding Mountain in the southwest and Wapusk in the far north. Day, weekend or annual passes are required to enter all parks. For information on the range of national park passes and costs, refer to the websites below.

Provincial/National Park Contacts
Manitoba Conservation, Parks Branch:
Toll-free 1-800-214-6497
(in Winnipeg, 945-6784)
www.manitobaparks.com

Parks Canada: www.parkscanada.gc.ca
Call Travel Manitoba toll-free at 1-800-665-0040 for a copy of the Provincial Parks Guide.

Camping Options
A range of services and camping options, from basic tenting to full service sites, are offered. Call Travel Manitoba for the Accommodations and Campgrounds Guide, which offers detailed information on all public and private campgrounds in the province. Also, visit the Manitoba Parks website listed above for information online. Information on private campgrounds is available through the Manitoba Association of Campgrounds and Parks at www.macap.ca.

If you want to camp but don’t want to haul along your tent or trailer, yurts are available for rent in Nutimik Provincial Park and will soon be available in other provincial parks, including Asessippi, Bakers Narrows, Spruce Woods, and Clearwater. For more information, call Manitoba Parks and Natural Areas (see contact info above).

In general, backcountry camping in provincial parks in southern Manitoba is permitted only at designated sites and fires are permitted only in the firepits that are provided. A provincial park pass is required but not a backcountry permit. Backcountry camping takes place in Grass River, Duck Mountain, Spruce Woods, Turtle Mountain, Nopiming and Atikaki provincial parks.

Riding Mountain National Park offers four campground areas and 22 wilderness campsites. The backcountry sites are equipped with firewood, pit privies, picnic tables and food storage containers. A national park pass and backcountry camping permit is required to camp at any of the wilderness sites.

Backcountry Considerations
- use ropes instead of nails when stowing gear in trees
- clean up your campsite and ensure you pack out all of your garbage
- use all soaps at least 60 metres (200 ft.) from a water source and do not use soap in lakes
- build your fire only in a fire pit and ensure it is completely out
- be sure to purify drinking water by filtering, treating or boiling it
- be thoughtful of yourself, others and the environment
- hike and camp quietly to preserve the peace of the wilderness and to increase your chances of seeing wildlife
- respect the desire of other backcountry users for solitude
- respect all private property

Organizational Contacts
Cross Country Ski Association of Manitoba
204-925-5639
Manitoba Cycling Association
204-925-5686
Manitoba Geocaching Association
Manitoba Lodge Owners & Outfitters Association
204-772-1912 / toll-free:1-800-305-0013
Manitoba Naturalists Society
204-943-9029
Paddle Manitoba
204-338-6722
Prairie Pathfinders Walking Club
Westman Wilderness Club (Brandon)

Snowboarding, Downhill Skiing & Tubing Information
Asessippi Ski Area & Winter Park (Russell)
204-564-2000

Falcon Ridge Ski & Recreation Area (Whiteshell Provincial Park)
204-349-8935

Holiday Mountain (La Rivière)
204-242-2172

Mystery Mountain (Thompson)
204-778-8624

Springhill Winter Sports Park (Winnipeg)
204-224-3051

Stony Mountain Ski Area (Stonewall)
204-344-5977

Ski-Joring, Kicksledding & Dog Sledding Information
Manitoba Dog Sledding Association

Snowkiting & Icebike information
Kiteboarding Manitoba
IceBike & Liquid Ice Winter Tour