Cross Country Skiing In Manitoba

There are several places in Manitoba to go and do somes cross country skiing, some may be as close as inside the city as windsor park, some a few minute drive out to birds hill park, and others can be a full day trip. Here are some of these places.

Provincial Parks

Birds Hill

  • Birds Hill Park has ~38K of classic trails, and the 5K Group Use Road loop is often groomed for skating. Since 2003-2004 there has been a new heated building at the stable area that is available for Park users during regular Park hours -- it has a common area and two wheelchair-accessible washrooms / change rooms, and there are some vending machines. Birds Hill Park's office phone number is 222-9151.

Grand Beach

Whiteshell

  • South Whiteshell trail (part of the Trans Canada Trail -- 12K, links the town of Falcon Lake to West Hawk ) -- double tracked classic skiing, and has a little of everything -- demanding uphills, technical downhills, and cruising sections.
  • West Hawk classic trail network (heads from West Hawk over to Falcon Ridge ski hill, and then connects to the South Whiteshell Trail).  In total, there is over 40K of trails.



    Central Manitoba

    Springhill Winter Park
    • This snowboard and alpine ski centre charges $5 for a Nordic Pass.  This allows you to use the northern-most (least steep) part of the hill for the best (only) hill climbing and descending workout available near Winnipeg. If snow is scarce early in the season, they may have good human-made snow.
    • Website

    Selkirk Park

    • This trail system is new for 2006. It's a joint project of the City of Selkirk and the Selkirk Canoe Kayak Centre. It features a 2.2K trail inside the dike, and a 2K trail outside the dike. Click here (Adobe PDF -- 530K) for a map.

    City of Winnipeg Parks and Golf Courses

    • City of Winnipeg Cross Country Ski Trails page (descriptions, maps, amenities, grooming schedule)
    • Rob Zanewich, Superintendent of Centralized Park Services, Public Works Department REMOVE_THISrzanewich@winnipeg.ca, Phone 986-5084, Fax 986-3860 writes:
      • The City purchased a snowmobile and new grooming equipment in 2002. We have one staff member who grooms these trails once or twice a week between December and mid-March. We are pleased to offer this service to the citizens of Winnipeg.  The groomed trails are huge incentive for people to get out of the house, enjoy the outside and get some exercise - win, win, win!
      • The six sites we groom are Assiniboine Park, Kildonan Park, Kildonan Golf Course, Harbour View, LaBarriere Park, and St. Vital Park.
      • We have decided where the trails go based on our experience and input from users from the past. We definitely welcome any suggestions from the current users of the trails. We aim to try our best to please the users of these trails. We hope that this winter sport/activity grows now that we have groomed classic ski trails.

    Windsor Park Nordic Centre

    The Forks

    • The River Trail is along the Assiniboine River from The Forks to near the Maryland Bridge. It is 3K long, and there is a classic track alongside the ice skating trail.
    • Website

    Riverview / Churchill Drive

    • There is an 8K long, elongated oval trail along the parkway between Churchill Drive and the Red River. The trail begins at the pumphouse behind the Churchill Drive / Jubilee Avenue / Cockburn Street South intersection, which is ~1block east of the famous BDI (and the Elm Park Bridge). The trail continues along the parkway until it makes a large loop around the community gardens behind the Riverview Health Centre, and then heads back to the trailhead, also along the parkway. Some areas are well-treed while some is open. With more snow, the Riverview Jackrabbits plan on increasing the trails to the Paddling Club by Churchill High School, which would increase the distance by about 1.6K, round trip.
    • These are not professionally groomed trails. The Riverview Jackrabbits have a couple of volunteers with an ancient machine. They get the trails done about twice per week, when conditions, including availability of the machine, permit. The trails serve the Riverview Jackrabbits program, and about 100 community (and other) skiers.

    Wildwood Community Centre / Golf Course

    • The Wildwood trails are groomed for classic and skate. This year, they have added walking trails to encourage physical activity in a variety of ways. As well, signage is a new feature. Access is from the parking lot of the Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club or at the corner of Oakenwald and North Drive. The Wildwood Community Centre and St Johns-Ravenscourt School share tracking costs. Tax deductible donations to the Wildwood Community Centre are gratefully accepted.
    • Contact Harvey Peltz at REMOVE_THISpeltz@shaw.ca for more information.

    Birch Ski Area

    Pumpkin Creek

    • Pumpkin Creek is located just north of the Birch Ski Area, a few K west of Roseisle. After turning south off PTH 245 onto the Birch Ski Area road, turn west (right) at the first road (to go to Birch you'd continue going south). After a K or so, you'll pass the old Snow Valley alpine resort on your left.  A bit further is the Pumpkin Creek trailhead (on your right).
    • Nice rolling terrain for classic skiing.
    • Trail map. (Adobe PDF -- 412K)
    • Morningvale Inn Bed & Breakfast, (204)248-2739

    Boundary Trails / Burwalde Woods Honey Farm

    • 8K classic & 1K skating.  It's located 30K south of Carman on highway #3 (5K north of highway #14), on the west side of the road, directly across from Winkler Bible Camp, and just north of the Dead Horse Creek bridge.
    • Phone 204-325-4591 for trail conditions.

    Shannondale

    • 8K west of Morden on highway #3, turn north at the Thornhill Turnoff -- RR34. Travel 2K north on RR34.  Turn into the yard with the Lumgair Seeds sign. Trail maps are available in the warming shack.
    • 20K of classic trailswith a warming shack at the trail head. There is a donation drop box in the warming shack. If you ski there, please help out with the maintenance of the trails by dropping a few dollars in the box.
    • The Blue trail is medium difficulty, minimum width of 2m, 11K of mostly undulating terrain, and mainly bi-directional. It is the favorite of almost every one.
    • The Orange trail is a 5K circuit with an option to 6K. It has 150m total elevation on 5 major slopes and many smaller slopes in the escarpment -- 30m elevation on that extra 1K, and 3 of the 4 optional slopes are ~30 degrees. It is well-marked, and run-outs are reasonable. The minimum trail width is 2, but it's most 3m or wider.
    • There is a new 1.5K flat skating track. Persons wishing to do skijoring (with dogs towing skiers) will be welcomed on the skating track. Please arrange this with David first.
    • Contact David Lumgair at REMOVE_THISdlumgair@mts.net or (204)822-3735. David often posts his conditions on our Trail Conditions page.
    • David says: "I believe my trails are sufficiently challenging to be of value to those intending skills improvement. My ambitions are that every one should have fun and gain skills. Fresh air is health care! Kyoto compliant too."
    • Dave Stobbe writes:
      "I ski at Shannondale every weekend. Bartley Kives's Free Press article was very helpful, but there is an easy Yellow trails that even beginners will enjoy, and the Blue trail is a moderate 10K workout. The 5K Orange skate trail a real up and down blast. I often add it to my Blue trail ski -- I love the numerous downhill rushes, and the lack of a track on the Orange makes for good speed control. In addition, the numerous uphill climbs are getting me ready for my 3rd annual visit to the fantastic Sovereign Lake trails near Vernon BC. So come on out to Shannondale. If you want a personal guide, drop me an e-mail at REMOVE_THISdstobbe@mts.net.



    Crescent Lake / Island Park (Portage la Prairie)

    • Crescent Lake / Island Park is a 4 square kilometre area just south of Saskatchewan Avenue (the Trans Canada Highway) in Portage la Prairie.
    • In the winter, Island Park has groomed trails on the park itself and on the Portage Golf Club (204-857-6177). It is well-treed and gently rolling in places. Crescent Lake is used for skate skiing.
    • Map of Portage la Prairie.

    Bittersweet

    • The Bittersweet trails are operated and maintained by the Bittersweet Cross Country Ski Club.
    • Situated in the Assiniboine River valley, they are a short 1½ hour drive from Winnipeg, 50 km SW of Portage la Prairie on highway 242 between highways 1 & 2, just north of the Assiniboine River bridge at the top of the hill.
    • With over 20 km of continuously groomed (classic), wooded, and hilly trails, they offer an experience for all levels of skiers, from beginner to expert. The trails range from easy to challenging, and are the equal to any in Manitoba. A wood-heated ski hut is available for your convenience, either as a rest stop or as a lunch spot to meet with your fellow skiers. Well marked trail maps are available at the trail head.
    • New for 2007-2008:
      Bittersweet now has 4K of skate trails! Winding among the wooded hills of the beautiful Bittersweet country, the skate-ski only trails are comprised of Oak Meadows (a green loop), and Ridge Runner (a more challenging blue loop). The skate-ski trails can only be accessed from the new Oak Meadows Trailhead, but classic skiers can access the classic trails from here too! To access the Oak Meadows Trailhead, drive 1 mile north on highway #242 from the existing Hartley Woodward Trailhead, or 1 mile south from the junction of highways #242 and #350, turn west onto Assiniboine Hills Trail, and drive 1 mile to the parking and trail access. To maintain the intimate, woodsy feel of our trails, we have kept the skate and classic trails separate to minimize trail width. Skaters are reminded to respect the grooming for classic skiers and stay on the skating trails. Come and try our new trails!
    • Membership to the Bittersweet Cross Country Ski Club can be purchased on-site, or donations can be made to help the club with it's maintenance.
    • For trail information and ski conditions, phone (204)252-2622 (Hartley Woodward). If conditions, especially hills on the Cottonwood trails, become dangerously icy, trails may be closed. Ardythe McMaster often posts conditions on our Trail Conditions page.

    There are large clear trail maps available at both trailheads.

    LaSalle River

    • From the South Perimeter Highway, turn south on Highway 330 which leads to the town of LaSalle.
    • ~7K later, cross the bridge over the LaSalle River, stop and park (you are still north of the town).
    • Skate-ski on the LaSalle River heading west.  It is packed by snowmobiles. The next bridge (Highway 247) is ~4K away. Conditions beyond that point may not be as good.



      Eastern Manitoba

      Sandilands

      • There are 41K of classic ski trails in the Sandilands Provincial Forest.
      • Sandilands Ski Club website -- see the Trail Maps and Trail Conditions pages.
      • The Sandilands Ski Club will continue to groom the trails in the Sandilands Provincial Forest this winter as they have in the past. However, due to the extra costs they will incur by snow clearing the parking lots for skiers (see the news story dated October 8, 2005), it has become necessary to charge a nominal fee for a trail pass. You may purchase season passes for $45/individual or $60/family, or $5/individual on a daily basis. A drop box is located at the Green trailhead, or you can pay for your seasonal pass at the General Store in Marchand. Snow clearing will occur as follows:
        The two major parking lots will be cleared regularly. These are located across the highway from the Marchand Yard and at the Yellow trailhead. The Black trailhead lot will not be cleared.
      • Also see Provincial Parks.
        map_Sandilands.jpg

        Falcon Ridge 

        • Falcon Ridge Ski Area (the ski hill):
          Skating and classic. The chalet has a cafe and showers. Some basic waxing supplies are for sale.
        • Please also see Provincial Parks.
          map_FalconRidge.jpg

          Whiteshell

          •  Please see Provincial Parks.

            • Whitemouth River

            Seven Sisters

            • The Seven Sisters trailhead is just in front of Jennifer's Restaurant on the main road of the town. The trail was historically 4K long for classic skiing. In 2006 they expanded it, and there are now
              three loops: a short (3K), a medium, and a long (7K) option. It is a fairly easy trail, but it has a variety of terrain and some really fun hills that allow for a long fast glide. The trail is mostly in the bush, but it passes the Seven Sisters dam where the Whitemouth River meets the Winnipeg River, so there is lovely open water to look at. There's also lots of wildlife: white tailed deer, rabbits, and bald eagles. The groomer is very meticulous, and quickly regrooms after a dump of snow or after some snowmobiler has wrecked the trail.

            Pinawa

            Pine Falls

            • The Duck Lake Ski Club maintains a trail that starts across the  street from the hospital in Pine Falls. It is a well-maintained trail goes through a variety of types of forest and has beautiful scenery. The
              interpretive stops go through boreal mixed wood forest, balsam fir forest, lowland black spruce forest, black spruce/ tamarack bog, meadow, and black ash trees. The outside loop (Orange trail) of the trail system is about 9K long and rolling terrain.  There is one climb that can be avoided, but no steep downhills, and there's a warming hut along the trail.

            Wanipigow(Hollow Water First Nation)

            • Info and a map are not yet available.

            Kenora Nordic Trails / Mount Evergreen

            Minaki(north of Kenora Ontario)

            map_Minaki.jpg


            Western Manitoba

            Riding Mountain National Park

            Rivendell
            • Please click on the map for some info about the trails.
            • Isabel & Tim
            		Rivendell map

            Neepawa -- Langford Winter Park
            • The ski trails in Langford Winter Park at Neepawa arelocated 7K east of Neepawa on the south side of Highway 16. There are 5K of trails for classic (double tracked) and 1K for skate skiing. There is a warming cabin and a tobogganing hill. The trail is very sheltered as it winds through the woods.
            		map_NeepawaLangfordWinterPark.jpg (427673 bytes)

            Brandon Rec Centre

            • Located at the corner of 26th Street and MacDonald Avenue, the Centre has a lighted trail on the golf course.

            Brandon Hills

            • The trail is a 7.5K one way classic trail with 5K and 2K turn offs. Trail map (PDF).
            • Directions: 
              From Brandon go south on 18th Street / Highway 10. 
              About 6.7K from the last set of traffic lights at the end of the city, you will see a sign for the ski area. 
              Turn left on High Country Road and proceed east about 3K. 
              When you see the sign for the Brandon Hills WMA, turn right. 
              The parking area is to your left at the top of the hill.



            All information taken from the Cross Country Ski Association Of Manitoba

            For trail conditions, events, and further information please visit their website at
            http://www.ccski.mb.ca/

            For Provincial Park Skiing Conditions Please Visit
            http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/winter_reports/cross_country_skiing_report.html