Tourism North Visitor Guide
Transcription
Tourism North Visitor Guide
Visitor’s Guide 2014 Northern Discover how your heart beats in M A N ITO B A An official publication of Tourism North www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca about us Tourism North Manitoba was established in 1999 as a regional tourism association with the goal of promoting northern Manitoba as a priority visitor destination and acting as a liaison between Travel Manitoba and the North. Today, the association also coordinates tourism product development initiatives with industry partners. Tourism North receives operating funding by way of an annual grant from the Province of Manitoba, Department of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection and is coordinated by Community Futures North Central Development. Tourism North is composed of the following organizations: Community Futures North Central Development (www.northcentraldevelopment.ca) Community Futures Greenstone (www.cfgreenstone.ca) Community Futures Cedar Lake (www.cedarlakecfdc.com) The Town of The Pas (www.thepasarea.com) Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Thompson Unlimited (www.thompsonunlimited.ca) Download a Northern Manitoba Guide Tourism North Manitoba and The Winnipeg Free Press have partnered to publish this edition of our all-inclusive Northern Manitoba Guide. It includes detailed descriptions of destinations, with maps, photos, events and practical information for tourists and residents alike. It’s available to download at www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca or www.winnipegfreepress.com Tou r is m N ort h Photo: The Pas Community Development Corp. 3 Camping Fishing Golfing Canoeing Sightseeing Festivals Sporting EVents CultuRal Events Museums Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Ice Fishing Dog Sledding HuNting Photography Skiing Snowboarding Northern Experience M A N ITO B A Unspoiled wilderness, pristine lakes, endless summer days and shimmering northern lights. Explore this unique landscape and you’ll create memories to last a lifetime. Watch polar bears and beluga whales in their natural habitat. Keep a lookout for wolves, moose, caribou and Arctic fox. Reel in a trophy fish and savour the aroma of fresh-baked bannock over a crackling campfire. Enjoy city fun and festivals or head for the great outdoors and follow in the wake of Aboriginal forebears, fur traders and Arctic explorers. This is life North of 53. Come on up and see what you’re missing. www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca Visit our website for information on accommodations, outfitters, events, attractions and more www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca Summer Adventures 4 FUN in the northern SUN Drop a line off a dock, launch a canoe, go hiking to rushing waterfalls in scenic parks, celebrate at fairs and festivals and explore the historic sites and natural wonders. Days are long — there might be five hours or less between a spectacular sunset and dawn in midsummer — but when night falls, the northern lights are visible year-round. Bare feet on hot sand, the scent of woodsmoke and the soothing sound of water lapping at the lakeshore — these are just some of the joys of summer in northern Manitoba. The fishing is more than fine and the landscape south of the tundra is lush with new life as wildflowers bloom, evergreens sprout fresh growth and birch and poplar trees come into leaf. Summer is the time to commune with beluga whales as they gather in Hudson Bay estuaries. Polar Gone Fishin’ Fish grow big around here. Bring a tape measure and see if you can match a 53-inch northern pike caught in the Burntwood River near Thompson a few years back, or set your sights on trophy-size walleye, lake trout, Arctic char, perch, sauger or rainbow trout. bears return to land after Northern pike have a reputation as fighters a winter of feeding on the and they have the size to back up their bay, and the living is easy bravado. Walleye (pickerel) are another big for moose, caribou, wolves treat, especially for shore lunches and fish and lynx. fries around the campfire. trophy-fishing capital and anglers flock to provincial parks, rivers and lakes in and around towns across the North. Turnbull Lake is just four kilometres south of Leaf Rapids, and Leaf Lake is a mere 200 metres from town. The Pas has Clearwater Lake on its doorstep, and you can drop a line in the Saskatchewan River or head an hour or so north to Rocky Lake and Cormorant Lake. Wabowden residents just have to cross Hwy 6 to enjoy the pleasures of Setting Lake, and Thompson is minutes away from Paint Lake Provincial Park and other fishing hotspots. Fishing Licences & Regulations You must have a Manitoba Angling Licence to fish in this province. Residents under 16 years of age and Status Indians are exempt. Annual fees range from $19.25 ($37.95 for non-residents) for a conservation licence — which more strictly limits the number of some species of fish you can catch — up to Snow Lake offers easy road access to Snow, $47.65 ($62.35 for non-residents) Wekusko, Herblett, Korman’s, Tramping and for a regular licence. Licences are Osborne lakes, and you can hike or ride an sold at sporting goods stores, ATV to favoured fishing holes in every neck fishing centres and lodges and of the northern woods. can be ordered by mail from Join the fun at a fishing derby, enjoy peace Manitoba Conservation and Water and solitude at a quiet hike-in backwater or take advantage of services at a drive-in lodge such as Bakers Narrows Lodge (www.bakersnarrowslodge.com) near Flin Flon or Caribou Lodge Outfitters Stewardship at 200 Saulteaux Cres., Winnipeg, Man., R3J 3W3. Call 1-800-214-6497 or download the Anglers’ Guide at www.manitobafisheries.com (www.huntnfish.ca) at Cranberry Portage. for details. There’s no shortage of fly-in lodges for Fishing season closures vary those who want a more exclusive guided across the province. In northern experience. Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Manitoba, fishing is typically (www.mloa.com) can help you find closed for the first three weeks an ideal match. in May, and restrictions vary at For complete information on fishing spots, specific lakes. You must carry rules and regulations, check out Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship’s annual Anglers’ Guide. It’s available to download at www.manitobafisheries.com. your licence while fishing or risk a $175 fine. The fine for fishing without a licence is $300. Summer Adventures 5 Lynn Lake prides itself on being a Summer Adventures 6 Paddle Your Own Canoe Step on the Grass Dip your oars in calm waters for a gentle The historic Grass River canoe route paddle on a picturesque lake, or get draws paddlers from around the world. wet and wild on rushing river rapids. Aboriginal canoeists have traversed the Whatever floats your boat, you’ll find legendary route for some 5,000 years, magnificent views and endless canoe and you can follow in their wake while routes throughout the North. Brave enjoying modern benefits such as well- large — and potentially rough — marked portages and camp sites. Head expanses of water on Reed, Wekusko to Grass River Provincial Park or launch and Clearwater lakes, or stick close to a canoe west of the park at Cranberry shore at wayside beaches and parks. Portage and take a 176-kilometre run Rent a canoe or kayak at Paint Lake to Wekusko Falls. Admire the Aboriginal Resort (www.mysterycountry.ca) pictographs at Tramping Lake along south of Thompson, or at Bakers Narrows the way — it’s believed the artists were Lodge (www.bakersnarrowslodge.com) seated in canoes when they used red near Flin Flon. ochre to paint images of people, animals and objects on rock faces not far above the waterline. Expect to spend a week on the route, or take two or three weeks for epic treks to Paint Lake and Split Lake. You can enter the river from several sites and take side trips to scenic lakes along the way. Find a route map at Canada Map Sales (www.canadamapsales.com) and check out first-hand trip reports at Paddle Manitoba (www.paddle.mb.ca). NORTHERN WILDERNESS AND MODERN CONVENIENCES, EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE. 1-204-473-2436 www.townofleafrapids.com COME SEE THE SUNRISE! Thanks to Wistoba Connections LLC Grass River Provincial Park Vacation Rentals Wapusk National Park Get Wise to the Owl River You could be among the first modernday canoeists to experience the Owl River route with a Parks Canada excursion through Wapusk National Park. Offered for the first time in 2013, the trips along a 100-kilometre route are limited to a few weeks in June. It’s a rare opportunity to see the park’s wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and archeological sites that hint at thousands of years of human history. The adventure starts with a VIA Rail (www.viarail.ca) ride from Gillam or Churchill to the Herchmer railway stop, about 30 kilometres west of the park. Depending on conditions, it should you must arrange for a helicopter pickup at your expense. Parks Canada recommends using pakboats — collapsible canoes with aluminum skeletons and a hardy, flexible skin — since a regular canoe will be difficult to transport out of the park. The fee is $25 per day for adults, $6 for school groups and students under 18. Owl River fees are included in the cost of a Northern Park Backcountry Excursion/ Camping annual pass. Only experienced back-country paddlers with whitewater experience should consider the trip, and travelling with an experienced guide would be ideal. For an additional $290 per day, a Parks Canada interpreter will accompany you. take four to seven days to reach Parks For information, call Parks Canada’s Canada’s Owl River camp, five kilometres Churchill office at 204-675-8863 or from the Hudson Bay coast. From there, email [email protected]. Summer Adventures 7 Summer Adventures 8 Camp It Up of ATV trails at Cook’s Campground, Tuck in under the northern lights and minutes of Grand Rapids. Just head wake up to the sound of waterfalls north on Hwy 6 and follow the signs and bird calls. Camping is the ultimate down North Cross Bay Road. experience when you want to get away from it all, and you can have it your way. Hike to a no-frills back-country site on a riverbank or lakeshore and start your day with a cool dip and a cuppa joe perked over a campfire. Park your RV or pitch a tent at a serviced site in a provincial park or resort, where you’ll typically find showers, electrical hookups, beaches and modern washrooms. Or stick close to a town or city and treat yourself to hot breakfast at a full-service restaurant. on the shores of Cedar Lake within You’ll find provincial park campgrounds near Snow Lake, Flin Flon, The Pas and Thompson. See www.manitobaparks.com to check out park amenities that might include everything from boat launches to beach volleyball courts and nearby convenience stores. In some cases, you don’t even need a tent to enjoy a camping experience. Equipped with skylights and solar lighting, yurts sleep up to six people. They’re available at Bakers Narrows Flin Flon Tourist Bureau and Campground Campground and Clearwater Lake’s is just across from Flinty’s Mall. Camper’s Cove and will soon be offered at It can accommodate all sizes of RVs and Paint Lake Provincial Park. The eight-sided you can pick up souvenirs, maps and shelters, made of canvas stretched over a other travel information right on site. wood frame, have windows, a wood floor Pet-friendly McCreedy Campground is and a lockable door that opens on to a conveniently located on the northern porch or patio. Basic furniture includes edge of Thompson on Hwy 6. Along with futons, bunk beds, a table and chairs storage and shuttle service for Churchill- and an armoire, with an outdoor picnic bound tours, campground amenities table and easy access to campground include RV sites, tenting, washroom facilities. picnic tables, a playground and group camping sites. The Setting Lake Wayside Park is a popular destination for group Connecting Businesses & The Community: camping as well. It has spacious Promoting and improving trade & commerce and the economic, civic and social welfare of the district. Location: #235-35 Main Street, Flin Flon, MB R8A 1J7 (tel) 204-687-4518 • (fax) 204-687-4456 (email) [email protected] President: Tom Therien General Meetings: held on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month. basic and electrically serviced sites, barbecues, a boat launch and nonmodern washrooms, just across Hwy 6 from the town of Wabowden. Rent a boat and take a ride on a network Summer Adventures 9 Snow Lake Photo: Tanis Grandmont Swimming & Beaches There are literally hundreds of swimming holes and beaches at provincial and wayside parks, back-country waterways and lodges, but you don’t have travel far from shopping, restaurants, museums and art galleries to enjoy a dip and a relaxing afternoon at the water’s edge. You’ll find a sandy beach, playground and picnic tables at Turnbull Beach, just four kilometres south of Leaf Rapids. Swim in one of the world’s few true-blue lakes at the well-serviced Clearwater Lake beach at The Pas. Sunset Beach in Snow Lake has tennis courts, washrooms and change rooms, along with playground facilities and a long dock. Gillam’s Pumphouse Beach is within easy walking distance — a mere two kilometres from town — and Flin Flon has a wealth of beaches within 30 minutes of downtown. Channing Beach is three kilometres from the town centre and Blondies Beach, near Flin Flon airport, is an excellent swimming spot, with change rooms and picnic tables. Flin Flon also has an Aqua Centre that boasts a 25-metre pool with five lanes, a one-metre diving board, saunas, weight room and change area. And Thompson’s Norplex Pool is a destination in itself, with a 25-metre, six-lane pool, sauna, gym and Big Splash waterslide, with acres of recreational options, including tennis courts, nearby. Summer Adventures 10 Norseman Float Plane at Lions Club Park – Thompson Take a Hike Slip into a comfy pair of shoes and hit from a sketch by famous wildlife artist Robert Bateman. the Millennium Trail in Thompson. The In The Pas, head to Devon Park to 15-kilometre hiking, biking, snowshoeing access a 10-kilometre path that skirts and cross-country ski trail loops around around the city. Or join Sam Waller the city, passing through boreal forest Museum staff for a historical walking as well as urban areas. Take a selfie with tour of the downtown area, where the King Miner Statue and drop by you’ll discover fascinating facts about the Heritage North Museum to peruse “Millionaire’s Row” and an 1896 exhibits and pick up visitor information. church with a connection to a Franklin Thompson’s 2.5 kilometre Spirit Way (www.thompsonspiritway.ca) overlaps with the Millennium Trail. Explore points of interest along the way, including a reproduction of a Norseman float plane at Lions Club Park. Just watch out for expedition search party. You can also book a walking tour of Flin Flon and learn about its unique history, or just stroll on Flinty’s Boardwalk and Flinty’s Trail, a 4.2-kilometre jaunt around Ross Lake and on to the uptown area. wolves. There’s a series of painted wolf Leaf Rapids has several paths and bush sculptures along the path, as well as trails that wind through the forest and Canada’s largest rock-face sculpture — a across ancient eskers and sinkholes, scene of wolves howling at the moon — and Snow Lake is another great spot and a 10-storey-tall wolf mural produced for happy feet. Meander along three Summer Adventures 11 groomed trails outfitted with interpretive signs that introduce you to some of the birds you might encounter, including the common raven, downy woodpecker and pine grosbeak. You’ll find more challenging trails at Wekusko Falls Provincial Park, just 10 minutes south of town. Venture across two suspension bridges and view the falls Karst Spring Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com from walking trails along the shore. miss Pisew Falls, about 75 kilometres south of Thompson. From there, you can View the falls from an observation platform and cross a carry on another swinging bridge to reach the trail to Manitoba’s highest 27 kilometres waterfall, Kwasitchewan Falls. See www.manitobaparks.com to Grass River for more provincial park hiking information. Provincial Park and take a self-guided 3.2-kilometre roundtrip hike to Karst Spring — a stream of water that surges out of solid rock. Near The Pas, take a self-guided tour of Clearwater Lake Provincial Park’s caves, and don’t Pisew Falls Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Summer Adventures 12 Flin Flon Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Cache Out Geocaching is a great way to explore the country. Flin Flon is a hot spot and there are virtual caches at Snow Lake and Wekusko Falls. One of the oldest sites is in The Pas, off the Rosie Mayne Trail, and there are caches in Churchill, Wabowden and Thompson, where Spirit Way wolves are popular sites. Find coordinates on the geocaching page at www.travelmanitoba.ca. Spirit Way Amazing Spirit Way! actual mural scale Spirit Way is one of the “Top 20 Places to Visit in Manitoba”! It’s a 2.5 km walkway... be wowed! It all starts at the Heritage North Museum. Photo yourself in front of stunning 10 storey high Robert Bateman wolf mural. Do the GPS Wolf Hunt for beautiful wolf statues. Also, fish or golf on beautiful summer evenings. Have fun at our hotels, cabins, & camp sites, and just enjoy the rugged splendour of the North! www.thompsonspiritway.ca For Info: 1 866-WOLF-FUN (1-866-965-3386) Official Guide Book & GPS Wolf Hunt Passport available at Museum & Thompson Trading. Hunting Licences & Regulations If you are not a Canadian resident, you must book your hunt through a registered lodge or Photo: Eva Muswagon, Cross Lake Band Happy Hunting outfitter to hunt big game — deer, moose, black bear and caribou. Along with world-class fishing, northern If you’re bringing a firearm to Manitoba offers hunters an adventure Canada, you must contact the they’ll never forget. Canadian Firearms Centre Fly, drive or travel by boat with one of many experienced outfitters, such as Thompson’s All Terrain Bear Hunts (www.atbh.ca). All Terrain offers (www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ cfp-pcaf/index.htm) for information on permits, transportation and storage. black bear hunts, timber wolf hunting Manitoba Conservation and and fall moose hunts. Water Stewardship produces Out of The Pas, River Country Outfitters (www.huntingtop10.com/Manitoba/ Black-Bear-Hunting-Guide/ Outfitter/247/) offers black bear hunts from its camp along the Saskatchewan River. Tradition Outfitters (www.traditionoutfittersnorth.com), based in Cross Lake, specializes in black bear hunting in more than 1,000 square miles of bear habitat, with all hunters travelling exclusively by boat. See the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters website (www.mloa.com) to find an outfitter in your preferred area. an annual Hunting Guide that contains information on licence requirements, seasons and regulations for big game, wolves and waterfowl. The guide is available to download at www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/ wildlife/hunting. Summer Adventures 13 Summer Adventures 14 Rock Climbing Climbing is increasingly popular at Snow Lake and the surrounding area, where Precambrian rock offers even veteran climbers a challenge. One of the best spots can be accessed from PR 393 near the airport. Or brave the limestone cliffs at the south end of Wekusko Lake at Herb Lake Landing (www.herblakelanding.ca), a former gold-mining town off Hwy 39. There’s a marked trail, but the ghost town’s website warns climbers to be vigilant for extreme drops and crevices that may be hidden under vegetation. At Mid Lake, just off Hwy 6 in Paint Lake Provincial Park south of Thompson, thrill-seekers climb rocks and then go cliff-jumping into the lake. Wildlife Viewing Polar bears, whose massive paws help them Polar bears are the undisputed most popular time to see the bears is in monarchs of the North, but October and November, when they gather beluga whales are a close second. on the Hudson Bay coast to wait for the Thousands of belugas congregate ice to freeze on their winter seal-hunting in the Churchill, Nelson and Hayes grounds. But eco-tour operators offer river estuaries to give birth and feed summer tours that combine beluga whale in July and August. and polar bear viewing excursions. Called canaries of the sea because Frontiers North Adventures of their songs and chirps, belugas (www.frontiersnorth.com) offers summer are curious and surprisingly social. packages that include whale watching and Take a whale-watching tour aboard Tundra Buggy tours to the Churchill Wildlife a Zodiac boat or kayak and the Management Area (WMA), where bears rest whales will swim up to look right over the summer. Churchill Wild back at you. Slip into a dry suit and (www.churchillwild.com) operates you can even swim among them. secluded fly-in lodges for bird, beluga and swim for more than 100 kilometres at a stretch, are often seen swimming too. The Summer Adventures 15 bear watching, including its Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge near York Factory, where staff have logged 400 or more bear sightings in August and September. Near Hudson Bay, visitors might see seals as well as bears, along with more than 250 species of birds, including Arctic terns, gulls, Canada geese and snowy owls. The best time to see birds in the Churchill WMA is from June through September. But starting in May, you can take a boat tour with Wapusk Adventures (www.wapuskadventures.com) on the Churchill River to look for the rare Ross’s gull, bald and golden eagles, osprey and tundra swans. The Saskeram WMA, northwest of The Pas, and Tom Lamb WMA, northeast of The Pas, include much of the Saskatchewan River delta. Part of the Canadian Important Bird Areas program, they’re among Manitoba’s most significant breeding areas and habitats for waterfowl and other wildlife, including lynx, moose, black bears, muskrats and wolves. Summer Adventures 16 Swing, for the Your game may suffer for it, but the scenery is such a spectacular distraction you won’t mind adding a few strokes at golf courses throughout northern Manitoba from mid-May to mid-October. Challenging holes, environmentally friendly designs and warm hospitality are the rule. Hit the links at every major centre, and take your time — long days at the height of summer mean you can tee off as late as 9:30 p.m. trees Halcrow Lake Golf & Country Club The Pas Public / 9 Holes Charming log construction goes with the scenic territory. Relax in the licensed clubhouse, enjoy hearty daily restaurant specials, hit a few balls at the driving range and drop by the pro shop to ask the golf pro for course tips. p: 204-627-2300 w: www.halcrowlakegolf.ca Leaf Rapids Golf Course Leaf Rapids Public / 9 Holes Stay and play as long as you like at Manitoba’s most northerly course. Just a 15-minute walk from the Town Centre Mall, the course is open 24/7 in summer and you can’t beat the green fee — it’s absolutely free. There’s no on-site clubhouse, but you can borrow clubs free of charge at the town office. p: 204-473-2436 ext 5 w: www.townofleafrapids.com Halcrow Lake Golf & COuntry Club – The Pas Phantom Lake Golf Club Flin Flon Public / Private / 9 Holes Enjoy the view from the clubhouse deck overlooking the ninth hole at this semi-private club on the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border between Flin Flon and Creighton, Sask. In play since 1952, the challenging course is fully licensed and has a pro shop. Power carts are available. p: 306-688-5555 w: www.phantomlakegolfcourse.com Phantom Lake Golf Club – Flin Flon Thompson Golf Club Thompson Public / 9 Holes You might spot Canada geese, along with the odd bear or fox at this picturesque course located three kilometres north of Thompson off Hwy 391. Check out the pro shop, get tips from the Canadian Professional Golf Association golf pro and follow through with a visit to the licensed clubhouse. p: 204-778-5537 w: www.thompson.ca Snow Lake Golf & Country Club Snow Lake Public / 9 Holes Lake views, a licensed clubhouse, restaurant and patio are among the attractions here. The well-maintained course is graced with scenic rocky outcroppings and it’s the site of several golf tournaments each summer. p: 204-358-2744 w: www.snowlake.com Snow Lake Golf & Country CLub – Snow Lake Summer Adventures 17 Winter Adventures 18 Let it snow! Forget about those lazy days of summer — winter is all about exhilarating action, and nobody embraces the season like northern Manitobans. When evergreen trees and forest trails and ice-covered lakes are blanketed in fresh, white snow it’s time to get out and play. Race down a hill on a toboggan or snowboard, lace up the skates and go for a spin, throw a few rocks at the curling rink or drop a line Mush Life in an ice-fishing hole. Ski As a mode of transportation, dog sledding is or snowshoe on a town unique to the North. loop or head for the hills and frozen streams to drink in fresh air and views of picture-perfect landscapes. Getting there is more than While horsepower has replaced paw-power in daily life, hardy mushers still compete in annual races and show guests the ropes on recreational runs. half the fun when you hop Meet some of the characters — both the two- on a snowmobile or bundle legged and four-legged kind — who keep up for a ride on a dog sled. the tradition alive when you join a team for an authentic dog-sledding experience. 19 Winter Adventures In Thompson, third-generation musher Clinton Morrisseau offers custom tours in Paint Lake Provincial Park and other scenic locales with his Wolf Pack Sled Dog Trail Rides. Call Clinton at 204-677-2760 and he’ll hook you up with an unforgettable ride. In Churchill, Blue Sky Expeditions (www.blueskymush.com) offers “fur-wheeling” tours year-round (wheels replace sleds in summer). Ask about local heroine Isobel, a blind dog who came out of retirement to run with her pack, and hero Thunder, who led owner Gerald Azure and his team to safety through a severe snowstorm during the 2006 Hudson Bay Quest race. Go for a far less gruelling mush and stick around for tea and bannock after the run. Heck, you Ice Time can even spend a day or two getting to Lacing up a pair of skates and gliding know your canine companions when you across the ice on outdoor rinks in stay at Blue Sky Bed & Sled. parks, schoolyards and backyards is a At Wapusk Adventures (www.wapuskadventures.com), you can treasured winter tradition, and you’re never too old to join the fun. get the inside track on traditional Métis and In Thompson, skate indoors at the sledding life with owners David and Valerie C.A. Nesbitt Arena (www.thompson.ca), Daley, then find out what it takes to care for or head to outdoor rinks at a dog team when you ride on the Ididamile Eastwood Park, Juniper Park and — a one-mile trail ride through the Southwood Park. boreal forest. Churchill River Mushing offers winter There’s great skating on Paint Lake in Paint Lake Provincial Park, 35 camping, igloo-building, trapline runs and kilometres south of Thompson at the other one-of-a-kind adventures you won’t junction of Hwy 6 and PR 375. Log- find in southern climes. Call Kelly Turcotte cabin warmup shelters are equipped at 204-675-8176 or 204-675-0080, or with wood stoves, firewood and email [email protected] to picnic tables, and they’re open to the customize your trip. public at no charge. Winter Adventures 20 Game of Stones Flin Flon’s Whitney Forum (www.cityofflinflon.ca/ whitney-forum.html) has indoor Throw a few rocks, pick up a broom and arena ice from Aug. 1-April 1, hurry hard on local curling sheets. The with set times for public skating sport is increasingly prominent thanks to and more hockey than you can Canadian men’s and women’s gold medal shake a stick at. Check out the wins at the Sochi Winter Olympics. But the history of Saskatchewan Junior social side of curling is a major draw in rinks Hockey League team the Flin Flon across the province. Junior Bombers. Formerly the The Whitney Forum in Flin Flon Flin Flon Bombers, the legendary (www.cityofflinflon.ca/ team has produced more than whitney-forum.html) and The Pas its share of NHL greats, including Curling Club (www.kelseyrec.ca) each Philadelphia Flyers’ star-turned- have busy six-sheet curling rinks. executive Bobby Clarke. There are sheets in Gillam and Wabowden, There’s more indoor ice in The Pas and The Cranberry Portage Curling Club at RHJ Arena (www.kelseyrec.ca), (www.cranberryportagecurlingclub. and at Gordon Lathlin Memorial weebly.com) has four sheets of natural ice Centre at nearby Opaskwayak and hosts three bonspiels each year. Snow Cree Nation, or you can hit the Lake Curling Club (www.snowlake.ca) is a outdoor rink at Ralls Island hive of activity, hosting several bonspiels Community Park east of town. on five artificial ice sheets at its modern facility. Get swept up in the action at Thompson’s Burntwood Curling Club (www.burntwoodcurlingclub.com), and enjoy a meal at Madeline Poirier’s concession — home of locally famous home-made cinnamon buns. Discover Manitoba Manitoba has so much to offer, you’ll want to explore all of our province’s scenic regions. For a comprehensive overview of places to go and things to do in every area — from the Whiteshell in the east to the Parkland in the west and the Pembina Valley in the south — check out videos and a wealth of tourism information on the Travel Manitoba website at www.travelmanitoba.com. And be sure to pay a visit to our regional colleagues online: Eastern Manitoba: Eastman Tourism www.eastmantourism.ca Western Manitoba: Tourism Westman www.tourismwestman.ca Interlake Tourism: www.interlaketourism.com Central Plains and Pembina Valley Tourism: www.centralplainsmanitoba.ca Parkland Tourism: www.parklandtourism.com Winter Adventures 21 Cross-country Skiing: Your Ticket to Glide Frozen lakes, picturesque forest trails and handy urban paths are an endless delight for cross-country ski enthusiasts in every corner of the North. range from easy to challenging, including the 7.5-kilometre Race Trail and the 2.3-kilometre Valley Loop, which has outdoor lighting until 10 p.m. nightly, when weather permits. A new ski chalet offers ski rentals and there’s a small Clearwater Lake Provincial Park has eight concession. scenic kilometres of looped cross-country At Thompson’s Jack Crolly Cross ski trails that are easily accessible from the parking lot, and there are many kilometres of groomed trails right in the city of The Pas. Country Ski Trail, on Hwy 6 north of the Miles Hart Bridge, you can take a short, one-kilometre jaunt or tackle trails up to six kilometres. Spend a The Snow Lake Cross Country Ski Club day exploring 25 kilometres of trails (www.snowlake.com) grooms and at Mystery Mountain Winter Park maintains several kilometres of trails. north of the city, or head south on And the Flin Flon Ski Club Hwy 6 to Paint Lake Provincial Park, (www.flinflonskiclub.com) has where you’ll find a range of trails 28 kilometres of groomed trails that from two to five kilometres. Winter Adventures 22 Mystery Mountain Mystery Mountain Winter Park Alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and snowshoeing — Mystery Mountain has it all, and there are new improvements with every passing year. Go cross-country skiing or rent a set of snowshoes to tackle more than 25 kilometres of groomed trails, zoom down 18 alpine ski runs and catch some air at the terrain park and snowboarding half-pipe. There are two Poma lifts, a rope tow and a The non-profit recreation site, which T-bar with a brand new lift shack. At is owned and operated by Thompson the end of the day, warm up by the Ski Club, is just 22 kilometres north of wood stove or fireplace at the fully Thompson and it’s open for family fun from serviced chalet and lounge. See around mid-December until mid-April. www.mysterymountain.ca. Now That’s a Fishing Hole! Drill a hole in lake or river ice and you’ll fall hook, line and sinker for ice fishing. Northern Manitoba is a year-round destination for trophy fishers who flock to hundreds of lakes and streams to catch walleye, northern pike, lake trout and other species. Fly-in lodges abound, but you can drive or ride a snowmobile to dozens of popular spots. The Incorporated Community of camp chair and take in the crisp winter air. Nelson House hosts an annual Aim for solitude or join the fun at a fishing fishing derby on Foot Print Bay. The derby — just make sure your fishing hole is event has attracted as many as 1,000 big enough to accommodate a whopper. people, which is mighty impressive Near Lynn Lake (www.lynnlake.ca), head for Burge Lake or Zed Lake, both in provincial parks within 20 kilometres from town. Wekusko Falls Lodge (www.wekuskofallslodge.com) offers prime ice-fishing opportunities at Snow Lake. Take a Bombardier excursion at Flin Flon’s Bakers Narrows Lodge (www.bakersnarrowslodge.com), considering the entire population stands at 100 or less. And the Rotary Club of The Pas organizes one of the biggest derbies in Manitoba — the Bill Bannock Fishing Derby on Clearwater Lake, which offers an instant prize of $25,000 for the angler who catches a tagged fish dubbed Lonesome Mary. and head for Paint Lake Resort Just north of The Pas, the Jimmy (www.mysterycountry.com) near Jackfish Ice Fishing Derby is Thompson, where your hosts will shuttle held at Rocky Lake in March. See you to rental huts and ensure you’re www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca completely outfitted for a day on the ice. for more events. Photo: Murray Kissick Winter Adventures 23 Stay cozy in a fishing shack or pull up a Winter Adventures 24 On the Wild Side Even Noah would be hard pressed to squeeze all the wildlife in northern Manitoba into one boat. Polar bears, black bears, wolves, foxes, muskrats, beavers and lynx are just a few of the dozens of mammals that thrive in northern Manitoba’s diverse habitats. And don’t forget the huge herds of caribou, massive moose, otters and wolverines — not to mention Arctic fox, Arctic hare, seals and great white beluga whales. The subarctic transition zone encompasses everything from rocky flats, Precambrian Shield, boreal and alpine forest, freshwater lakes, whitewater rivers, coastal dunes, tundra and mud flats. While Churchill is the polar bear capital of the world, Thompson boasts that it’s the wolf capital, and eco-tourism Lynx Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Easy Riders Snowmobile trails go the distance Joy rides don’t come any sweeter than this. A vast network of groomed snowmobile trails allow for epic rides in northern Manitoba. Cruise from The Pas to Flin Flon and on to Snow Lake, or ride from Wabowden to Thompson and on to the Kelsey Generating Station, with jaunts through provincial parks along the way. is a growing industry along with It’s possible to reach The Pas on a continuous trail traditional big-game hunting at from the U.S. border, and you can take your pick drive-in and fly-in lodges that dot of scenic routes through pristine forests, across the northern landscape. ice-covered lakes and along rocky shores in the The North is home to the largest Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in the province. The Churchill WMA covers almost 850,000 hectares North. Snowmobiling season lasts until April some years, and local clubs maintain more than 1,500 kilometres of trails that are part of Manitoba’s Snoman network. and protects polar bear summer The Thompson Trailbreakers resting areas and maternity denning (www.thompsontrailbreakers.org) club takes grounds. Snowy owls and snow care of six trail systems spanning almost 700 geese are abundant, along with glorious kilometres that run as far south as ptarmigan and hundreds of other Ponton — which connects to the Snow Lake bird species. trail system — and north to Kelsey. Thompson Trailbreakers Snowmobile Club Photo: Thompson Trailbreakers Snowmobile CLub Trails are mapped and there’s signage along Flin Flon’s Border Explorers Snowmobile the routes, along with warmup shelters for Club (www.flinflon.net/flinflon/ which the club supplies firewood. community_groups/skidoo.htm) Volunteer snowmobile clubs host special events, including rallies, poker derbies and group rides, and riders might see wolves, moose and other wildlife along the trails. maintains about 240 kilometres of trails. Take circular loops to ice-fishing lakes and snowmobile-friendly lodges such as Caribou Lodge Outfitters (www. huntnfish.ca) at Cranberry Portage or Bakers Narrows Lodge (www. Setting, Ospwagan and Moak lakes, bakersnarrowslodge.com), south of Flin Mystery Mountain Winter Park Flon. Variety spices up longer rides — and Paint Lake Provincial Park are you can head to Snow Lake on one trail popular destinations, and My’s Place and return to Flin Flon via a different restaurant opens on Saturdays to serve route. There are designated trails within snowmobilers who pull in to Wabowden the Snow Lake town site, and The Pas to fuel up. At Sasagiu Rapids Lodge and Thompson also have routes that let (www.sasagiurapids.com), between riders access restaurants, gas stations Wabowden and Thompson on Hwy 6, and hotels within the snowmobile- guests can rent a snowmobile and ride friendly communities. right up to their door. Kelsey Trail Sno-Riders club (www. Gillam Snowmobile Club (www. freewebs.com/kelseytrailsnoriders/) townofgillam.com) maintains 295 maintains 421 kilometres of trails in The kilometres of groomed trails, including Pas and Clearwater Lake areas, and you’ll popular routes to ice-fishing spots on find warmup shelters along trails that Atkinson, Wilson and Kettle lakes. include runs to Atik and Rocky lakes. Winter Adventures 25 Winter Adventures 26 snowmobile Clubs & Passes Snoman Inc. Province Wide Snoman is a non-profit organization that works with local clubs throughout Manitoba to help develop and maintain trails, protect the environment and promote snowmobile safety. Provincial maps are updated annually and are available online. Note: The 2013-14 map may not be valid for the 2014-15 season. w: s noman.mb.ca Border Explorers Snowmobile Club Snopasses Flin Flon Maps are available at Flin Flon Insurance, Standard Insurance, the Petro-Canada station, Victoria Inn North and other businesses. w: www.flinflon.net/flinflon/community_ groups/skidoo.htm Gillam Snowmobile Club Gillam Pick up a map at Gillam Insurance. You can check for trail updates on the recreation section of the town website and email the club for more information. e: [email protected] w: www.townofgillam.com Kelsey Trail Sno-Riders The Pas Snowmobile maps can be found at the Visitor Information Centre at 1559 Gordon Ave., or at dealerships throughout the North. They’re also available online. w: www.freewebs.com/kelseytrailsnoriders Province Wide You must have a valid Snopass to ride on designated trails maintained by Snoman Inc. and its member clubs. Riders can buy annual or seven-day passes at any insurance office where Autopac is sold. Seven-day passes cost $60.50 per snowmobile in 2013-14. For more information, visit the Snoman Inc. or Manitoba Public Insurance websites at www.snoman.mb.ca or www.mpi.mb.ca. Snow Lake Sno-Drifters Snow Lake Maps are available at the Town Office. w: www.snowlake.com Thompson Trailbreakers Thompson Download a map online or pick one up at City Hall, Heritage North Museum, Thompson Unlimited or insurance agencies. w: www.thompsontrailbreakers.org Snow Lake Trails Photo: Brenda Forsyth Trail Guide 27 Winter Adventures Northern Manitoba OU TDOOR Pa r ks 28 the park side! You could spend an entire summer — and a good chunk of the winter — exploring the natural wonders in northern Manitoba’s provincial parks and Wapusk National Park. Discover ancient Aboriginal history and follow in the wake of fur traders on monumental canoe routes. Hike to majestic waterfalls, explore cave formations that were millions of years in the making and marvel at spectacular Some experiences can’t be captured on film. But when you hear the mournful call of a loon or the call-and-response howls of wolves in the night, they’ll leave an indelible imprint on your memory. wilderness scenery at every Camp out under the northern lights and turn. Cross-country ski, ride a you’ll understand why they’re called dancing snowmobile or don a pair of spirits. You can rough it at back-country sites snowshoes for a winter romp. or enjoy the relative luxury of a rented yurt Spend long summer days or drive-through RV site in a campground on a sandy beach, brave a equipped with all the amenities, including whitewater canoe trip or enjoy hot showers and electrical hookups. some of the best trophy fishing anywhere — just don’t forget Need help planning your park adventure? to snap a photo to prove you Visit www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/mb/wapusk/ caught the big one. index.aspx and www.manitobaparks.com. OU TDOOR Pa r ks 29 Owl River Rapids – Wapusk National Park Front row seats © Earl gravois Be one of the few that gets this close and experiences a true arctic adventure. JOIN THE ADVENTURE Visit us online frontiersnorth.com Phone us for more information 1 800 663 9832 Email us [email protected] OU TDOOR Pa r ks 30 Owl River – Wapusk National Park Wapusk National Park Wapusk is a Cree word for white bear, and this pristine national park has them in abundance. Situated within the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, the park is home to one of the world’s biggest polar bear mother-and-cub denning areas. A protected summer resting place, it also hugs a long expanse of shoreline along Hudson Bay, the white bears’ winter seal-hunting ground. Prairie Helicopters (www.prairiehelicopters.com) offers tours out of Churchill, and two eco-tour companies are licensed to operate within park boundaries. Wat’chee Lodge (www.watchee.com) is located just outside the park at a former navy communications base. It’s open for a few weeks each spring, when armed guides escort professional photographers and other guests on viewing expeditions as mothers and cubs emerge from their dens. Wapusk’s eastern boundary is only about 45 kilometres southeast of Churchill, but the 11,475-square-kilometre wilderness area is not accessible by road. Adventurous types can access Wapusk from Gillam by hitching a ride aboard VIA Rail to the remote Herchmer railway stop, about 30 kilometres west of the park boundary, but most passengers continue on to Churchill. While males and non-breeding females congregate on the shores of Hudson Bay in October in November to wait for pack ice to form, pregnant females remain about 70 kilometres inland. They give birth in November or December and normally stay in the dens until February or March, when they head to the bay to end an eightmonth fast. OU TDOOR Pa r ks 31 Owl River – Wapusk National Park Frontiers North Adventures (www.frontiersnorth.com) offers overnight tours in October. Guests stay in the Tundra Buggy Lodge, a train-like setup equipped with sleeping berths, a café and lounge. The lodges can accommodate 40 guests, who split into smaller groups during the day to take Tundra Buggy tours in the Cape Churchill area. Polar Bears International (PBI) works with Frontiers North to operate two polar bear webcams from its Tundra Buggies, and in 2012, PBI set up a webcam at Cape Churchill to broadcast live from Nov. 5-26, generating thousands of views each day. The footage is available for viewing at www.explore.org. Home to Arctic hare, foxes, wolverines, lemmings, great herds of caribou and a few dozen other mammals, along with hundreds of species of birds, the park is an important area for conservation, research and education. To that end, Parks Canada maintains two compounds, one each on the Owl River and the Broad River. Each camp is surrounded by a bear-proof fence and has a small cabin and space to set up tents. The Broad River compound has water and waste services, and Parks Canada anticipates the Owl River camp amenities will grow as it adds new visitor activities such as hiking in the future. Learn more about Wapusk National Park at www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/mb/wapusk/ index.aspx OU TDOOR Pa r ks 32 The Bear Facts from Parks Canada • Polar bears are the largest land carnivore in North America. • Adult males average 300-450 kilograms. The largest ever recorded in Wapusk National Park weighed just over 700 kilograms (about 1,500 pounds). • At birth, cubs are about the size of their mother’s paw and weigh less than one kilogram. Polar Bear • Females have cubs every two or three years in Wapusk. The oldest female known to have had cubs in the park was 29 years old. Photo: Michael Poliza • The fastest human sprinters can run at just over 35 kilometres per hour (kmh). A polar bear trots at 30 kmh and can sprint at nearly 50 kmh. SOME DIG UP SOME AWE rvEIllES DétErrEz DES ME Hands on History Reach back in time alongside Parks Canada archealogists as you dig up the secrets buried in a northern wilderness. parkscanada.gc.ca/princewalesfort Sur les traces de l’histoire Remontez dans le temps avec les archéologues de Parcs Canada pendant que vous déterrez les secrets cachés dans une zone nordique sauvage. parcscanada.gc.ca/fortprincegalles OU TDOOR Pa r ks 33 Little Limestone Lake Provincial Park Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Bakers Narrows Provincial Park Just 20 kilometres south of Flin Flon on Hwy 10, this popular destination has plenty of elbow room for campers and day trippers — along with an unbeatable view. The well-serviced campground is chock full of amenities — showers, modern washrooms, electrical hookups, playgrounds, picnic areas and a boat launch among them. Climb the campground lookout tower to get a spectacular 360° view of mixed-wood forest, Precambrian rock outcroppings and the crystal clear waters of Athapapuskow Lake — along with a glimpse into the area’s history courtesy of the tower’s interpretive signage. Athapapuskow is a Cree word meaning rocks all around, but there are three beaches where you can enjoy a leisurely day of sand, sun and swimming. Park your RV, pitch a tent or rent a comfortable lakeside yurt and stay a while. The 145-hectare park offers endless recreational opportunities. Launch a motor boat or canoe and explore the shoreline, or drop a line to fish for walleye, lake trout or northern pike. Go for a hike and keep your eyes peeled for blue herons, doublebreasted cormorants and other wildlife. You might want to pack your camera — the park is popular with mink, moose and beaver too. OU TDOOR Pa r ks 34 Clearwater Lake Provincial Park Burge Lake Provincial Park Minutes away from Lynn Lake off Hwy 394, Burge Lake is a great spot to bask in a natural setting and enjoy a little serenity. The campground is small and scenic, with eight walk-up, non-electrical sites, some of which can accommodate large RVs. Amenities include a rustic pit privy, a hand water pump, free firewood and a group-use picnic shelter, which could come in handy after a day of fishing. There’s a dock, boat launch and even a fish-cleaning shed where you can prepare your catch of the day — the walleye and pike always seem to be biting. Not into fishing? Lounge on the sandy beach, take a swim or spend some time with the kids at the playground. Caribou River Provincial Wilderness Park West of Hudson Bay, this 7,640-square-kilometre park butts up against the Nunavut border. Few people set foot on this expanse of boreal forest and tundra since there’s no direct road into the park, which includes Round Sand and Caribou Lakes. The Caribou River system is a challenge for experienced canoeists, with sandbars, rapids and waterfalls and campsites are in the rough, marked only by fire rings. About 100 kilometres west, the fly-in Lodge at Little Duck (www.thelodgeatlittleduck.com) offers hunting, fishing and eco-adventures. OU TDOOR Pa r ks 35 The Caves (left) and the Yurts at Clearwater Lake Clearwater Lake Provincial Park Take a scenic drive 20 kilometres north of The Pas on Hwy 10 and spend some quality time exploring this spectacular wilderness park. The spring-fed Clearwater Lake lives up to its name and then some. Look down and you might see clear to the bottom — lake clarity has been measured at 10 metres (33 feet), while the average depth is 13 metres and the maximum depth is 39 metres. The lake takes up almost half of the 593-square-kilometre park, which also contains spruce bogs along with boreal forests and a fantastic collection of deep crevices known as “the caves.” Formed when massive rocks split from cliffs along the shoreline, the caves are incredibly cool — they may contain snow in July, along with unique plants that manage to grow with little sunlight. Follow a short self-guided hiking trail on the south shore and explore the caves at leisure from the trail, viewing platforms and stairways. There’s plenty of room for campers on the south shore. Pioneer Bay has 27 electrically serviced sites — all of which boast lake views — and Camper’s Cove has 70 serviced sites, along with eight basic sites for tents and tent trailers. At Camper’s Cove, you can rent one of six yurts, each of which sleeps up to six people. Both campgrounds and the Sunset Beach day-use area have beaches, beach volleyball courts, changing houses and picnic areas. Go swimming, windsurfing or boating and fish for the lake trout that thrive in Clearwater Lake’s cool temperatures. In winter, the park is ideal for snowmobiling, and there’s access to an eight-kilometre cross-country ski loop near Pioneer Bay. OU TDOOR Pa r ks 36 Grass River Provincial Park Several packs of wolves roam in this park, along with wolverines, moose and caribou — which wisely calve on lake islands where they’re safe from predators. If you’re lucky, wolves will serenade you on moonlit nights while you tell tall tales around the campfire. Located about 45 kilometres east of Flin Flon, the park contains several designated back-country camp sites along canoe routes. And there are three large campgrounds that each have more than 50 sites equipped with gravity-flow solar-heated Grass River Provincial Park showers, hand water pumps and privies. Gyles campground on Simonhouse Lake has a great sand beach, along with a beach volleyball court and playground. For quiet camping, hiking and superb walleye fishing, head to Iskwasum Landing campground, on the Grass River between Iskwasum and Loucks lakes. Those who prefer lake trout and northern pike head to Reed Lake campground on Reed Lake. Little Limestone Lake Provincial Park This protected area is notable for its spectacular turquoise lake. Just north of Grand Rapids, west of Hwy 6, it’s one of the world’s best marl lakes — a mineral-rich body of water that changes colour when dissolved limestone bedrock reacts to the heat of the sun. There are no park campgrounds or amenities, but the lake supports fishing and there’s plenty of wildlife, including double-breasted cormorants, lynx and black bears. Numaykoos Lake Provincial Wilderness Park Situated west of the Churchill River and Wapusk National Park and east of Sand Lake Provincial Wilderness Park, Numaykoos has no direct road access. It contains the whitewater portion of the Little Beaver River and camp sites are marked only by fire rings. You can hook up with an air charter company or outfitter to fly into Numaykoos Lake. OU TDOOR Pa r ks 37 Paint Lake Marina in Winter Paint Lake Provincial Park An outdoor paradise on Thompson’s doorstep, Paint Lake offers everything from trophy fishing to back-country camping and beach volleyball, just 32 kilometres south of town on Hwy 6. The Paint Lake Resort (www.mysterycountry.ca) has a marina with 170 boat slips, a restaurant, convenience store and gas station, along with a lounge and patio overlooking the lake. The resort’s rental cabins have spectacular lake views, and there are more than 190 camp sites in the park. The Paint Lake campground has 76 sites with both basic and electrical services, modern washrooms, a shower building and water taps. Lakeview campground is nearby, and there are many camp sites on the islands of Paint Lake, which is on the Grass River canoe route. Day-use amenities include picnic sites, a baseball diamond, a beach with horseshoe pitch and hiking trails. Moose, bears, foxes and wolves roam in the forests, and the park is a year-round playground for human visitors. In winter, hit the snowmobile and cross-country ski trails, slide on the toboggan hill and skate on the lake. OU TDOOR Pa r ks 38 Pisew Falls Provincial Park Pisew Falls Provincial Park It’s a short drive from Paint Lake to Pisew Falls, about 75 kilometres south of Thompson on Hwy 6. Pisew is the Cree word for lynx and the park is home to plenty of wildlife, along with forests of spruce, pine, tamarack and poplar trees. Within the park, the Grass River drops 13 metres and spills through a gorge, creating a rushing waterfall. You can get a view of Pisew Falls from observation platforms accessible VIA a short boardwalk, and LOCAL 6166 19 Elizabeth Drive Thompson, MB R8N 1S7 204-677-1700 follow a short trail to a swinging bridge that crosses the river below the falls. From there, you can tackle a hiking trail to Manitoba’s highest waterfall, Kwasitchewan Falls. The return trip is about 22 kilometres and it’s not for the faint of heart, but you don’t have to do the entire hike in one day. There are back-country campsites at the end of the trail loop above Kwasitchewan Falls where you can spend the night and savour the experience. Sand Lakes Provincial Wilderness Park There’s no road access to Manitoba’s largest provincial park. Encompassing 8,310 square kilometres, the park contains an important Caspian tern breeding area and ancient esker formations — ridges made up of sand and gravel that formed beneath glacial ice thousands of years ago — that few people ever see. Camp sites are marked only by fire rings, and even the most experienced canoeists will be challenged by its waterways. But arrangements can be made with a charter air company or outfitter to fly in to Big Sand Lake. Wekusko Falls Provincial Park Wekusko Falls Provincial Park Encompassing Hudson Bay Lowlands and Precambrian Shield, this park just south of Snow Lake was part of a vital fur-trade route for hardy voyageurs in the 1700s, and a few hundred years later, gold mining brought a fresh influx of adventurers. Today, it draws photographers, nature lovers and canoeists who brave the Grass River canoe route. Just 27 kilometres from Grass River Provincial Park, this is where the river makes a dramatic plunge almost 12 metres through the rapids and falls that make up Wekusko Falls. You can feel the spray as you walk across two suspension bridges over the falls, enjoy hiking paths and camp on the river’s shore. Wekusko Falls campground has 88 camper sites and 25 tenting sites. Launch a boat and head seven kilometres south to see the Tramping Lake pictographs, Aboriginal images painted in red ochre on rock faces more than 1,000 years ago. Visible only from the water, it’s believed the paintings could have been painted by artists who were seated in canoes. OU TDOOR Pa r ks 39 OU TDOOR Pa r ks 40 Zed Lake Provincial Park Like Burge Lake, Zed Lake provides a peaceful getaway for anglers, swimmers and hikers who appreciate relative solitude — and the camping is free. The lake is about 20 kilometres from Lynn Lake off Hwy 394, and the park campground is a quiet spot with no electrical hookups but all the amenities you need — a pit privy, free firewood, a hand water pump and a groupuse picnic shelter. There are 10 walk-up sites, some of which can accommodate large RVs. Go for a hike and check out the eskers. Along with a sand beach and playground, the park has a fish- U nwind – Touch eskers of sand and gravel crafted by the powers of retreating glaciers millennia ago; be mesmerized by the incredible northern lights; breathe the fragrant purity of the northern boreal forest; taste the delicacy of fresh pan-fried walleye; listen to the enchanting sunset calls of loons. Once you arrive in Lynn Lake, there is no mistaking that you are in Canada’s true north; free, rugged, and breathtaking. Experiencing the pristine lakes and rivers surrounded by the rugged northern boreal forest provide memories to treasure for a lifetime. Majestic wilderness in an untouched setting offers solitude and an opportunity to become Zed Lake Provincial Park cleaning shed, dock and boat launch — just what you need to head out on the lake to fish for pickerel, northern pike and lake trout. one as a family, and with nature. This is the Land of Little Sticks, where spruce trees have adapted to cope with the forces of nature – the forest’s final hurrah before giving way to the barren North. Lynn Lake is the regional service centre in northwest Manitoba with a hospital, paved 5,000 ft. runway, k-12 school, Manitoba Hydro, provincial Conservation and Transportation offices, Canada Post, local and regional RCMP services, ambulance and fire protection. Serving residents, visitors and out-of-town workers alike, the selection of businesses here include lodges, short– and long-term accommodations; restaurants and licensed establishments; automotive services and fuel; and a variant of stores offering groceries, general merchandise, gifts and jewellery, hardware, hunting/ fishing supplies, convenience and healthcare/pharmacy. Lynn Lake is your portal to true northern adventure. Whether you are looking for a relaxing day as the only fisherman on a tranquil lake or the challenge of white water canoeing, you will find it here. Annual caribou migrations to the north, abundant moose, bear and wolf populations, extreme snowmobiling, hiking along eskers and of course, unparalleled affordable and road accessible sport fishing; It’s all here. www.lynnlake.ca C a mp i n g 41 Campgrounds Call Manitoba Parks reservation line and visit the website for camping information. p: 204-948-3333 Toll Free: 1-888-482-2267 e: [email protected] w: www.manitobaparks.com Bakers Narrows Campground (Athapapuskow Lake) Burge Lake Provincial Park (Lynn Lake) Camper’s Cove (The Pas) Grand Rapids Wayside Park (Grand Rapids) Iskwasum Campground (Grass River Provincial Park) Lakeview Campground (Paint Lake Provincial Park) Paint Lake Campground (Thompson) Pioneer Bay (The Pas) Reed Lake Campground (Grass River Provincial Park) Simonhouse Lake (Gyles) Campground (Grass River Provincial Park) Wekusko Falls Provincial Park (Snow Lake) Zed Lake (Zed Lake Provincial Park) Au rora B o r ea lis 42 Northern light SHOW The northern lights shimmer in the night skies year-round, creating green and red-tinged swirls that stretch to the heavens — and perhaps beyond. In Aboriginal lore, the lights are dancing spirits of ancestors, creating a spectral path for souls to follow to another realm. The explanation provided by Churchill Northern Studies Centre is a bit less romantic: When gases and solar wind particles collide in the atmosphere, their energy produces light. Photo: Frontiers North Magnetic fields near the North Pole create conditions that pull solar wind into Earth’s atmosphere more than 300 nights each year. But summer nights are so short, lingering daylight obscures the view. Some people say the lights create a swishing sound, and the centre has an explanation for that too. The sound is caused by electrical impulses in the nerves of your eye: When there’s a disconnect between what you see and what you hear – which is probably nothing on a quiet night — your brain produces the illusion of sound all on its own. The best times to see the northern lights are from late January through April, and in late August and September. The lights, however, are real. Bring a camera and capture the spirits on film. While the aurora borealis is visible on clear nights throughout northern Manitoba, Churchill is a prime viewing spot, sitting directly beneath the Auroral Oval in the Northern Hemisphere. Artwork By: Thompson Artist Jasyn Lucas Au rora B o r ea lis 43 lively gatherings Northern Manitobans love to party, and why not? There’s a lot to celebrate, from fur-trade and mining heritage to cultural diversity and national pride — not to mention winter. February and March bring some of the biggest parties of the year. Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival The mother of all trappers’ festivals, this five-day February frolic in The Pas recalls the days of hardy pioneers whose survival depended on mastering a unique set of skills. Wood splitting, canoe packing, muskrat skinning, bannock baking, snowshoe racing and moose calling are among the events for competitors vying for King and Queen Trapper crowns. Mushers compete in the three-day World Champion Dog Sled Race, unique in that it’s a spectator event, running in heats along a town loop. Dating back to 1916, Manitoba’s oldest festival offers everything under the northern sun on the entertainment front — a rollicking rendezvous, beer festival, torchlight parade, talent shows and a Fur Queen pageant. And of course, ice worms make an appearance. A scavenger hunt for the fabled furry worms — made famous by an oft-cited Robert Service poem — has been part of the fun since 1949. See what’s in store next February at www.trappersfestival.com. Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival Photo: The Pas Community Development Corp. L i v e ly G at h e r i n g s 44 Hudson Bay Quest L i v e ly G at h e r i n g s 45 Thompson Winter Festival Thompson Winterfest One weekend isn’t big enough to contain Thompson’s celebration of northern life. The entire month of February is given over to slates of events that run the gamut from dog sled races to trappers’ competitions and family activities. A talent show, hockey, curling, and fireworks might be on the bill on any given weekend, along with a bannock bake-off, sponge hockey, kid-zone playland, sleigh rides and a pancake breakfast. A kickoff bonfire with live entertainment gets the party started. Bookmark www.thompson.ca. Hudson Bay Quest Hardy mushers pack their sleds with enough supplies to last two days on a gruelling 320-kilometre race between Gillam and Churchill each March. That includes food for eight to 10 dogs who can burn up to 10,000 calories a day on a trail that hugs the boundary of Wapusk National Park. An adventure race that pays homage to the fur trade and traditional dog sledding culture, this one is not for the faint of heart. Keep up with the action at www.hbqrace.com. Cross Lake Annual Winter Festival This week-long celebration held in late February is packed with traditional and non-traditional events. Along with King and Queen Trapper competitions, jigging, bannock making, dog sled and snowshoe races, participants can try their hand at poker or take in a volleyball game, among other amusements. See www.crosslakeband.ca. L i v e ly G at h e r i n g s 46 Gillam Annual Winter Carnival This annual party doubles as a sendoff for Hudson Bay Quest mushers in 2015, with jigging, a pizza-and-pool tournament, games, live entertainment and a hunt for that ever-elusive ice worm. See www.townofgillam.com. Churchill Aurora Winterfest Churchill Aurora Winterfest This party starts where the Hudson Bay Quest ends in 2015. And there’s more dog sledding at the town’s biggest annual festival. Kids compete in mutt races with the family dog — and sometimes a borrowed sled dog. King and Queen Trapper competitions, Aboriginal drumming and square dancing, snow sculpting and igloo building are part of the celebration of northern culture and heritage, along with hockey, dances, a children’s carnival, snowmobile races, workshops, fiddling and more. Check it out at www.everythingchurchill.com. Snow Lake Winter Whoot Festival The mascot is an owl, and the festival is a hoot — and that adds up to Whoot, a weekend of March merriment that includes road hockey, horse-drawn sleigh rides, curling, indoor games and, naturally, a scavenger hunt for those pesky ice worms. Read all about it at www.snowlake.com. Cranberry Portage Bombardier Rally Bombardier owners and enthusiasts meet up on a snowy trail during a weekend in March for what amounts to a show and shine of their sweet, bulky rides — cabin-equipped track vehicles that were the original motorized snowmobiles. See www.cranberryportage.net. THOMPSON NICKEL DAYS Photo: Tamy Burton Thompson Nickel Days Rock stars descend on Thompson in droves during Nickel Days on the third weekend in June. The National King Miner contest draws miners from across the country to compete in 11 events, including drilling, pipe fitting and ladder climbing. And this year, pop-rock stars The Trews are the headline musical act at the festival set for June 19-22. Along with a midway, slo-pitch tournament, vendors, a parade and games, there’s wall-to-wall entertainment with Elvis impersonator Daylin James, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band and Boy Band Mania, which performs One Direction and The Wanted tunes. See www.nickeldays.ca. Canada Day Celebrations Canada Day Flags, fireworks and festivities are the order of the day on July 1. The Pas holds a flagraising ceremony and parade, and the Kinsmen Club hosts a barbecue at Devon Park with free hot dogs and cake. A parade in Flin Flon follows a Rotary Club breakfast at Creekside Park. And in Churchill, an 11-day Celebrate Canada party starts on National Aboriginal Day June 21 and winds down on July 1, with a parade and the Hudson Bay Dip — a bone-chilling romp in the bay. The party at the Thompson Regional Community Centre includes a community brunch, children’s games and activities, ethnic food vendors, live music and a grand fireworks finale. Thanks to a continuing partnership with Folklorama, multicultural performance groups contribute to a vibrant stage show that includes everything from traditional Aboriginal entertainment to a Korean fan dance. L i v e ly G at h e r i n g s 47 Immersive Culture 48 immersive culture Aboriginal settlement dates back thousands of years from taiga to tundra. As hunters, artists, herbalists, trappers and traders, First Nations played a vital role at each step in northern development. Annual celebrations throughout the North embrace Aboriginal and Inuit culture and reaffirm a commitment to sustaining it as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow. Photo: National Aboriginal Day Planning Committee National Aboriginal Day When the summer solstice rolls around on June 21, northern communities mark National Aboriginal Day, and Thompson holds the biggest celebration of all. A sunrise ceremony in MacLean Park welcomes a day filled with free family entertainment, authentic learning experiences in a tipi, and, of course, feasting at a community barbecue. Traditional teachings and activities include displays and descriptions of medicinal plants, jigging, beading and hand-drum sessions. Chiefs, grand chiefs and representatives of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Keewatin Tribal Council, the Manitoba Métis Federation, provincial and federal governments and the City of Thompson demonstrate their solidarity with a Grand Entry in the afternoon. Cree, Dene and Métis flags fly and O Canada is sung in both English and Cree. The longest day of the year ends with live entertainment and presentations of Soaring Eagle Honours to outstanding First Nations citizens. For information, call Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corp. at 204-677-0760. Aboriginal settlement dates back thousands of years from taiga to tundra. As hunters, artists, herbalists, trappers and traders, First Nations played a vital role at each step in northern development. Annual celebrations throughout the North embrace Aboriginal and Inuit culture and reaffirm a commitment to sustaining it as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow. Fox Lake Cree Nation Pow Wow Cross Lake Annual Treaty and Indian Days & Cross Lake Annual Campout The adrenaline flows at the end of July when the Cross Lake Band (www.crosslakeband.ca) hosts an action-packed weekend of fun for all ages, featuring a canoe marathon, York boat races, foot races and a voyageur race. Just try to keep up. The Incorporated Community of Cross Lake (www.crosslakemanitoba.ca) joins the fun with a celebration of culture and heritage that draws hundreds of campers to the shores of Sand Bay for a weekend of family games, horseback rides and concerts. Fox Lake Cree Nation Powwow Fox Lake Cree Nation and the town of Gillam pull out all the stops July 11-13, 2014 for their first annual powwow – the northernmost such event in Manitoba. A grand entrance on July 11 precedes the premiere performance of the Aboriginal School of Dance touring company’s Neemu-Egwah, an expression of multiculturalism through music and dance. Vibrant costumes and intricate movements are the order of the day when traditional dance groups from across the province compete, and weekend learning experiences include Aboriginal art, powwow and hoop dancing, beading and making drums and hand drums. See www.foxlakepowwow.com or www.townofgillam.com Immersive Culture 49 Immersive Culture 50 Treaty & York Boat Days Photo: Eddie Albert Opaskwayak Indian Days Treaty & York Boat Days Northern Manitoba’s biggest Aboriginal festival has been going strong for almost 50 years at Opaskwayak Cree Nation (www.opaskwayak.ca). Celebrating Cree traditions and culture, the festival is held during the third week in August, with canoe races, a Miss Opaskwayak pageant, moose and goose calling competitions, a scavenger hunt, poker derby, socials, relay races and more. Fuel up on moose stew and bannock and enjoy a packed program of live entertainment and dancing — including fiddling, jigging and the Western Canadian Square Dance Championships. The population of Norway House Cree Nation (www.nhcn.ca) explodes for one week in August when dozens of competitors hit the water for the World Championship of York Boat Rowing. A celebration of culture and the community’s role in the fur trade, when it served as a hub for traders en route to York Factory, the week-long event features a country talent showcase, voyageur canoe races and a boat load of family games and activities. HISTORIC places The fur trade was key to Canada’s economic development and colonization, and you’ll find historic sites throughout northern Manitoba. A warehouse and jail built in the 1850s still stand at Norway House, and the remains of a tram system built to bypass rapids on the Saskatchewan River can be found at Tramway Park in Grand Rapids. The Pas is home to several historic buildings, including the 1896 Christ Church and the Lido Theatre — Western Canada’s first theatre built specifically to accommodate “talkies” in 1929, the Lido is still a first-run movie house. North of Gillam, take a boat tour with Nelson River Adventures (www. nelsonriveradventures.com) to explore the ghost town of Port Nelson. Once designated as the end of the line for the Hudson Bay Railway, the port was abandoned in 1918, but a shipwreck and ruins of a railway bridge still attract sightseers. On the way, stop at Button Island, where a plaque recognizes Sir Thomas Button, the first European to explore the Nelson River in 1612. Near the Hudson Bay coast, there are several National Historic Sites (NHS) related to the fur trade. Hands-on History in Churchill Churchill’s Historic Railway Station Photo: Heidi den Haan Staff at the Parks Canada Visitor Reception Centre in Churchill’s VIA Rail Station provide information about visiting Prince of Wales Fort, Cape Merry and York Factory National Historic Sites. Phone 204-675-8863, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.pc.gc.ca. H i s t o r i c P l ac e s 51 H i s t o r i c P l ac e s 52 Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site Cape Merry Battery Photo: Dan Harper Photography Prince of Wales Fort NHS Hands-on archeological learning experiences let you explore the lives of fur traders, labourers and officers at the ruins of this massive stone fort at the mouth of the Churchill River. Parks Canada and the Churchill Northern Studies Centre (CNSC) have partnered to offer limited packages. They include daily excavation trips to the site aboard boats that cross paths with beluga whales and offer spectacular views of Eskimo Point, where you might just spot a polar bear. Built to defend Hudson’s Bay Company interests from French fur-trade rivals, the fort took 40 years to complete, starting in 1732. Its outer walls were 6.5 metres high and 11 metres (36 feet) thick. It was fortified with star-shaped bastions and 42 cannons positioned to cover every entry point. That should have done the trick, but in 1782, French warships sailed into the bay and the fort fell without a single shot from its cannons. Tour operators offer helicopter or boat trips to the site, and Parks Canada offers Night at the Fort adventures. For information on learning experiences contact Parks Canada or the CNSC at 204-675-2307, email [email protected] or visit www.churchillscience.ca. Cape Merry NHS While construction continued on Prince of Wales Fort, the Hudson’s Bay Company added a second stone battery on the east shore of the Churchill River in 1746 — belatedly realizing it would be a great place from which invading enemies could fire on the main fort. Named for Captain John Merry, who was deputy governor of the company from 1712-1718, the battery had six cannon emplacements. Today, one of the original canons from Prince of Wales Fort is located at the site, where one of the batteries was rebuilt in 1959-60. H i s t o r i c P l ac e s 53 York Factory National Historic Site In summer, visitors can watch beluga whales entering the Churchill River and it’s a great place for birdwatching. Private tour operators and Parks Canada offer guided tours. Sloop Cove NHS Four kilometres upriver from Prince of Wales Fort, the cove was once a safe harbour for wooden ships. But postglacial land uplift has transformed it into a meadow. Check out iron mooring rings and rocks where Hudson’s Bay Company men carved their names. Tour operators take visitors to the site, which is only accessible by boat or helicopter. York Factory NHS A bustling Hudson’s Bay Company trade centre from 1684 until 1957, York Factory once contained more than 50 buildings on a peninsula between the mouths of the Hayes and Nelson rivers, about 250 kilometres southeast of Churchill. So many traders passed through the depot that York boats were named after their most frequent destination. York Factory became the company’s main depot in 1810, and from 1812 to 1850, it was Western Canada’s main entry point for European immigrants. Today, polar bears and other wildlife are the main inhabitants, although there’s still a cemetery and an intact depot built in 1832. The oldest and largest wooden structure standing on permafrost, the depot stands over important archeological remains of a fort built in the 1700s. Contact Parks Canada to find out about interpretive tours and programs. The remote site is only accessible by air or boat. Nelson River Adventures (www.nelsonriveradventures.com) offers jet boat tours from Gillam. A rt & A Rt s 54 inspiring places Some of the world’s most unique public art is on display in the North. A few thousand years ago, Aboriginal artists used red ochre to paint images on rock faces that are only visible from the water at Tramping Lake, and you can see the Molson Lake pictographs on rock faces along Paimusk Creek north of Norway House. Several murals adorn buildings in Snow Lake, The Pas and Flin Flon, and Thompson boasts the world’s largest lighted mural — the 10-storey painting of famed wildlife artist Robert Bateman’s wolf print that watches over Spirit Way. There’s no shortage of traditional galleries, studios and arts centres either. Arctic Trading Company Churchill & Thompson – Find traditional artwork ranging from caribou hide tufting and beading to soap stone sculptures at locations on Kelsey Boulevard in Churchill and at Thompson’s City Centre Mall. The eclectic Churchill outlet also offers workshops in traditional Aboriginal and Inuit art forms. See www.arctictradingco.com. Molson Lake Pictographs Flin Flon Arts Council Flin Flon – Artists might specialize in birch bark biting, caribou hair tufting or multimedia in this creative hotbed. Northern Visual Arts Centre NorVA (www.norvacentre.com) exhibits and sells original works and provides studio space for artists. The Flin Flon Community Choir — which has performed at New York City’s Lincoln Centre and Carnegie Hall — presents concerts and musical theatre productions. Other council members include quilters, potters, the Ham Sandwich Theatre troupe and a film group. See www.flinflonartscouncil.com. A rt & A Rt s 55 Stacks – Home Routes COncerts The Pas Arts Council The Pas – An active music club, live theatre troupe and visual artists present popular and original works. Watch for Gallery in the Garden, a day-long event featuring music, arts and artisans who set up shop in several local gardens. Visit www.sites.google.com/site/ artscouncilthepas. Musical Routes Flin Flon, The Pas & Thompson – Home Routes concerts feature touring folk, classical, roots and rock acts who perform in spaces small and large along The Borealis Trail to The Pas, Thompson and Flin Flon from September to April. Check out the schedule at www.homeroutes.ca. Blue Heron Stained Glass Mosaics Northern Buffalo Art Gallery Cranberry Portage – Cranberry Portage is another hotbed of artistic activity, hosting an arts festival and harbouring several small galleries. Shop for soapstone and wood carvings by artist Irvin Head and check out works by guest artists in his studio on Portage Road. See www.irvinhead.ca. Blue Heron Stained Glass Mosaics Cranberry Portage – Connie Jo Smith incorporates wildlife images — and sometimes pebbles and schist rock — into custom stained glass mosaic tables, trays, windows and signs that are displayed outdoors. Find examples of her work at www.blueheronstainedglass.net. A rt & A Rt s 56 Jasyn Lucas Art STudio Jasyn Lucas Art Studio Thompson – The landscape and natural northern wonders are twin muses for Jasyn Lucas, a 2008 Youth National Aboriginal Achievement Award recipient in visual arts. National Exhibition Centre Leaf Rapids – The centre features local and travelling exhibitions. Shop for artwork, crafts and books in the gift shop at the Town Centre. Phone 204-473-8682. His art studio is open by appointment and he’s happy to show off his new works and original prints of wildlife and nature scenes. He may even be available for a commissioned work. See www.jasynlucas.ca. Sweet Nothings Art Gallery Snow Lake – Snow Lake is home to many artists and as well as the Aurora Borealis Arts Council. Browse through a selection of local creations at this Elm Street gallery near the lakeshore. Phone 204-358-7659. Eskimo Museum Eskimo Museum CHurchill – Explore the museum and find unique works of Aboriginal and Inuit art in this must-see emporium on Laverendrye Ave. Phone 204-675-2030. Discover museum TREASURES Northern museums don’t just preserve artifacts and historical archives. They’re the places where local heritage is passed from one generation to the next, sort of like heirlooms that are handed down over time. Peek inside and you’ll see that they hold a lot of fascination for visitors too. Heritage North Museum Thompson – A Manitoba Star Attraction, this museum has operated in partnership with the City of Thompson since it was built in 1989, and it plays a large role in the community. The only designated Travel Manitoba Visitor Centre in northern Manitoba, the museum’s two log buildings anchor the Spirit Way walkway. It’s a place where local artists display and sell their works and it contains important archives as well as a gift shop. Explore a boreal forest diorama, learn about local wildlife and check out a caribou hide tipi and other Aboriginal artifacts, along with ancient fossils, a blacksmith shop and exhibits related to mining. Get a preview at www.heritagenorthmuseum.ca. Heritage North Museum Mu s eum s 57 Mu s eum s 58 Eskimo Museum Sam Waller Museum Eskimo Museum Flin Flon Station Museum Churchill – Along with a collection of Inuit artifacts and carvings that are among the oldest in the world — dating back to 1700 BC — the museum contains taxidermied animals, art, books and artifacts related to local history and the fur trade. Phone 204-675-2030. Flin Flon – Housed in a Canadian National Railway Station built in 1934 and moved to its present site in 1983, this museum showcases mining and pioneering history — along with a 63-pound lake trout some lucky angler caught in these parts. Located at the Tourist Bureau Park on Hwy 10, the museum is open from about mid-May until Aug. 31. See www.cityofflinflon.com for more information. Lynn Lake Mining Town Museum Lynn Lake – This museum on Cobalt Street preserves artifacts that recall the town’s colourful history. From June through August, see Linn tractors and cat trains that are relics of “the great move” — when the town of Sherridan was hauled part and parcel to the Lynn Lake site. See www.lynnlake.ca. Mu s eum s 59 Snow Lake Mining Museum Sam Waller Museum The Pas – An astounding collection of oddities, historical artifacts, art and archives, this star attraction is housed in The Pas Community Courthouse — the oldest brick building in northern Manitoba. Built in 1916, it’s a Provincial Heritage Site, and a worthy home for eclectic collector Sam Waller’s treasures. Explore a vast array of exhibits related to natural history and culture, check out the hands-on children’s discovery centre and view oddities including a collection of costumed fleas. A naturalist, teacher and taxidermist, Waller called the original museum his “Clutter-torium.” Open year-round, the museum hosts art exhibits, special events and a wide range of educational programs. Learn more at www.samwallermuseum.ca. Snow Lake Mining Museum Snow Lake – This museum contains drills, rescue equipment, miners’ clothing and other gear, along with photos, mineral samples and artifacts. Guided tours during the summer explain the daily lives of underground miners. The museum is expanding to include an experiential tourism component that will see exhibits displayed outdoors in the community. See www.snowlake.com. Nueltin Lake Regional MAP & Communities 60 Caribou River Provincial Wilderness Park Seal River Chu • Churchill River Sand Lakes ProvincialWilderness Park Big Sand Lake •Kinoosao Burge Lake Provincial Park Zed Lake Provincial Park Numaykoos Lake ProvincialWilderness Park McClintok • Southern Indian Lake • Lynn Lake • South Indian Lake Amisk Park Reserve • Leaf Rapids Sickle Lake Pukatawagan • • Nelson House Fox Lake First Nation Moak Lake • Thompson • Paint Lake Provincial Park 6 Kelsey • • Split Lake • York Landing • Ilford • Gillam • Pikwitonei •Sipiwesk • Thicket Portage Pisew Falls Provincial Park Sasagiu Rapids Provincial Park Flin Flon • Bakers Narrows Provincial Park Grass River Provincial Park 10 • Snow Lake • Wabowden Wekusko Falls Provincial Park Gods Lake • Ponton • Cross Lake • Wekusko Jenpeg • •Cormorant • Cranberry Portage Clearwater Lake Provincial Park • • The Pas Opaskwayak Cree Nation Clearwater Lake Cedar Lake Lake Winnipegosis 10 • Go Na 39 60 6 Little Limestone Lake Provincial Park • Norway House • Grand Rapids • Poplar River 10 • Pelican Rapids 6 Lake Winnipeg Berens River • Island to our Communities urchill Wapusk National Park Port Nelson • Towns and cities in the North offer the best of two worlds — all the conveniences you expect to find in a modern urban centre, and all the advantages of the great outdoors. They’re gateways to a vast wilderness playground of pristine lakes and rivers, Precambrian rock outcropping and cliffs, green boreal forests, wetlands and tundra. Explore archeological sites and museums, play a round of golf and enjoy warm hospitality. The welcome mat is always out. • York Factory Nelson River • Sundance Hayes River • Gods River • Gods Lake ods Lake arrows d Lake Gods River Churchill Cranberry Portage Cross Lake Flin Flon Gillam Grand Rapids Leaf Rapids Lynn Lake Norway House Opaskwayak Cree Nation Snow LAke The Pas Thompson Wabowden Regional MAP & Communities Welcome 61 Chu rchill 62 Welcome to Population: 914 Municipal Government: Mayor and Council MAIN EMPLOYER: Health Centre, Port of Churchill, Tourism Churchill Savour the thrill of a close encounter with a polar bear, commune with beluga whales and marvel at the spectacle of the northern lights at this eco-tourist destination on Hudson Bay. Churchill offers a host of magical experiences. Go mushing with a dog sledding team, immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind learning vacation and pay a visit to the polar bear jail, where bears who roam too close to town cool their heels until they can safely be released. Chu rchill 63 Photo: Heidi den Haan Canada’s only Arctic seaport has no road access, but it’s well served by private and commercial airlines and rail passenger service. The VIA Rail Station houses the Parks Canada Visitor Reception Centre, where you can learn about wildlife and historic sites in the area. Discover Inuit culture and explore the history of Arctic settlement at the Eskimo Museum, and visit the massive stone Fort Prince of Wales, built in the 1700s to defend Hudson’s Bay Company interests against French fur-trade rivals. Henry Hudson was the first European explorer to arrive here in the early 1600s and the company was established in 1670, headquartered at York Factory. Photo: Frontiers North Adventures Chu rchill 64 Churchill Northern Studies Centre The Churchill Northern Studies Centre (www.churchillscience.ca) is a model of eco-friendly construction. Built to LEED Gold standards, the newly renovated research station offers unique learning vacations built around studies of polar bears, beluga whales, winter ecology, archeology, history and the northern lights. There’s no shortage of tour operators in summer and fall, when you can commune with belugas, bears and rare birds. Take a helicopter tour of the coast and Churchill Wildlife Management Area or go for a wild, multi-day boating excursion on the Seal River. From December to April, you can take a snowshoe or snowmobile tour with Churchill Subarctic Tours (www.macriphoto.ca). Photos: Churchill Northern Studies Centre Churchill Northern Studies Centre 65 Chu rchill There are several lodges, bed and breakfasts and hotels. Enjoy a pint of brew and dinner at the Tundra Inn. Gather around the massive fireplace at the Lazy Bear Lodge, where you can dine on muskox rouladen and Arctic char, and join the crowds at Gypsy’s Bakery & Restaurant for hearty breakfasts and provincial specialties such as pickerel and perogies. Community events include Celebrate Canada events that run from National Aboriginal Day on June 21 through to Canada Day July 1. And March brings the Churchill Aurora Winterfest, with mutt races for the kids and celebrations to welcome mushers who race in the Hudson Bay Quest between Gillam and Churchill. Photo: Sheldon Grantenoffski www.everythingchurchill.com Walk with us among the polar bears... ...on the world’s next great safari TM Enquiries: [email protected] 1-866-UGO-WILD www.churchillwild.com C r a n b e r ry P o rtag e 66 Welcome to Cranberry Portage Population: 659 Municipal Government: Reeve and councillors RM of Kelsey MAIN EMPLOYER: Frontier School Division Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Cranberry Canoe Monument This pretty lakeside community is named for its location and for the low-bush cranberries that grow in abundance. Located on the trail fur traders once used as a portage between Cranberry and Athapapuskow lakes, the town is just 50 kilometres south of Flin Flon on Hwy 10. With access to all the larger centre’s amenities, the town also offers some of the world’s best trout fishing. Logging is an economic driver, but tourism is the main event here. Athapapuskow Lake and Grass River Provincial Park attract fishers, campers and canoeists, and there are plenty of biking and hiking trails, beaches, boat launches and campgrounds. C r a n b e r ry P o rtag e 67 Northern Buffalo Sculptures Gallery – Cranberry Portage The town has a full slate of annual events, including fishing derbies and the Cranberry Portage Winter Festival. There are many attractions to see on a daily basis. Along with the all the conveniences you need — a gas station, grocery and convenience stores and restaurants — the town is home to several artists, and in summer, the town hosts a northern arts festival. www.cranberryportage.net Cranberry Portage Museum La k e Cross 68 Welcome to Population: 5,800 Municipal Government: Pimicikamak Councils; Chief and Council; Mayor and Council MAIN EMPLOYER: Cross Lake Band Cross Lake Two adjoining communities share the name of Cross Lake — the Incorporated Community of Cross Lake and Cross Lake First Nation. Named for the original site’s location on the shores of the Nelson River — where the river enters Cross Lake — the area was a trade centre for Swampy Cree travellers long before it became a stop for pioneers and fur traders. PhotoS: Eva Muswagon, Cross Lake Band www.crosslakeband.ca www.crosslakemanitoba.ca Cross There are plenty of recreational opportunities — swimming at the public beach in summer and fishing at any time of year. The Incorporated Community holds an annual campout in July, with live entertainment, games, horseback rides and other events, and the Cross Lake Band hosts Treaty Days each summer with a week of entertainment, canoe races and other activities. The winter festival includes ice fishing and dog sled races and there’s year-round action at the skate park and baseball diamonds, which are equipped with night lights. Known as Nikickonakos — a Cree word meaning otter people — the Cross Lake Band also operates the Ponton Service Station, motel and restaurant. La k e 69 Flon Fl in 70 Welcome to Population: 6,000 (Flin Flon); 1,502 (Creighton) Municipal Government: Mayor and Six Councillors MAIN EMPLOYER: Hudbay Flin Flon Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com To say Flin Flon has a unique and colourful history would be an understatement of epic proportions. Flintabattey Flonatin One of Canada’s richest mining communities, with deposits of zinc, copper, silver and gold, the city straddles the Saskatchewan border, and part of Flin Flon is actually in Saskatchewan. 100-step Staircase Photo: Prairie Pathfinders Fl in Flon 71 In 1915, a pair of prospectors named the site after Josiah Flintabattey Flonatin, a character from the science fiction novel The Sunless City by Preston Murdock. American cartoonist Al Capp, of Li’l Abner fame, donated his talent to create the image of Flinty. Known for “his small stature and huge perspective,” Flinty’s statue overlooks the perimeter on Hwy 10, near the Flin Flon Station Museum. Formerly the Canadian National Railway Station, the museum has artifacts from pioneering days along with mining tools and minerals and items related to Flin Flon’s unique history. Ask about the 100-step staircase built in 1935 (and refurbished in 1993) to provide a shortcut from Third Avenue to downtown. Then ask about the 140-metre tunnel that was almost built in 1947 to replace it — so citizens wouldn’t have to climb those 100 steps. The tunnel was almost complete before it was abandoned, but it wasn’t a complete waste, since residents figured they might use it as a bomb shelter during the Cold War. A dynamic, vertically integrated and highly productive mining and metal production business, with a well established capacity to mine, process and sell metals, including copper, zinc, gold, and silver. 1 Company Rd, P.O. Box 1500 Flin Flon, Manitoba R8A 1N9 Phone: 1.204.687.2385 Fax: 1.204.687.3983 Fl in Flon 72 Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Discover how an abandoned mine shaft was transformed into an underground greenhouse to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers — and, for a time, medical marijuana. And note that you can walk on sidewalks that are really above-ground sewer and water lines, built in boxes when the city’s bedrock proved to be impenetrable. Within 20 kilometres of Creighton and Denare Beach, Sask., Flin Flon is minutes away from Bakers Narrows Provincial Park. Surrounded by spectacular scenery, forests and lakes, it’s home to several lakes with sandy beaches and walking paths, a beautiful golf course and a boardwalk and walking trail that will take you around Ross Lake and uptown. The city offers fine restaurants, nightspots and a thriving arts scene — its choir has performed Flin Flon Choir Photo: Crystal Banting Fl in Flon 73 at Carnegie Hall and Flin Flon has become a hot spot for visual and performing arts. North of 53 Consumers Co-operative Ltd. #29-31 main street Flin Flon phone 204-687-7548 www.cityofflinflon.ca NiCkel Days Location: Thompson Regional Community Centre June 19 - 22, 2014 The 2014 Dance Headliner is: • In-store Smokehouse • Full - service Deli • Gourmet Fresh Meat Case • Bakery • Custom Cake Decorating THe TRews Pancake Breakfast Parade National king Miner Contest Midway Family entertainment saturday Night Dance Store HourS: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm Sun 12pm-6pm (closed Holidays) Please check out our Website: www.nickeldays.ca or visit us on Facebook: Nickel Days for more information. Come on down to NiCkel Days G illa m 74 Welcome to Gillam Population: 1,269 Municipal Government: Mayor and Four Councillors MAIN EMPLOYER: Manitoba Hydro Long Spruce Power Station Near Gillam Photo: Tim Kelly A nature-lover’s dream in winter and summer, Gillam is surrounded by pure lakes and forest trails. It’s also a thriving hub of economic activity thanks to a trio of Manitoba Hydro generating stations on the Nelson River. Main Store: Groceries, fresh produce & Fresh meat counter Convenience Store: Snacks & Lotto Cardlock: Fuel, vehicle supplies Gilliam CO-OP Accessible by all-weather PR 280, about 300 kilometres northeast of Thompson, Gillam is the last populated VIA Rail stop for passengers en route to Churchill, and it’s a gateway to the vast wilderness of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area and Wapusk National Park. G illa m 75 Limestone River in Fall Photo: Tim Kelly A mere two kilometres from town, the Pumphouse Beach is an ideal spot to spend a sunny afternoon. Camp at Stephens Lake Municipal Park, just south of town, and spend long summer days boating on several lakes and rivers and streams. The fishing is excellent and the selection is too, with walleye, northern pike, perch, sauger, whitefish, silver bass, brook trout, sturgeon and more species. Hunters are in their glory and hikers can watch for everything from ptarmigan and Canada geese to bears and wolves. Check out the eskers — ridges of sand and gravel left behind when ancient glacial ice receded — and zip around the bush trails on an ATV. Snowmobilers ride on hundreds of kilometres of groomed trails right up to the end of April some years, and there are plans to extend the trail system all the way to Thompson. Go cross-country skiing and mark your calendar for annual Gillam Winter Carnival, which features an ice worm scavenger hunt, games, jigging and a host of other activities each March. The festival is also a sendoff for mushers in the Hudson Bay Quest sled dog race to Churchill. The recreation centre is a hive of activity in all seasons. Go bowling, skating or curling. Take in a hockey game or go for a swim in the pool. The centre also houses the public library and it serves as a social hall for weddings and other celebrations. www.townofgillam.com G ra n d Rap ids 76 Welcome to Grand Rapids Population: 2,000 Reserve, Town, Hydro Village Municipal Government: Mayor and Councillors; Chief and Council MAIN EMPLOYER: Manitoba Hydro Grand Rapids has a long and storied history as a gateway to points north and west from Lake Winnipeg. Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Situated between the north shore of the big lake and the west shore of Cedar Lake, it was once on the main canoe route to Western Canada. Its namesake rapids on the Saskatchewan River made it a natural portage site for fur traders and other travellers headed north to Cross Lake and beyond. At one time, the site was ripe for skirmishes between Hudson’s Bay Company and North West Company fur traders who found themselves forced into close proximity at the bottleneck the rapids created on the northern route. In the 1780s, a log roller road was built to move Hudson’s Bay Company York boats past the rapids, and a century later, a 5.5-kilometre tramway was built to replace the portage. The tramway was closed in 1909, but parts of it are still visible at Tramway Park. 77 Across the river from Misipawistik Cree Nation, the town hosts an annual powwow in July to celebrate Aboriginal culture. G ra n d Rap ids Manitoba Hydro’s Grand Rapids Generating Station was built in the 1960s to harness the power of the rapids. When the dam is open, the walleye are biting on the Saskatchewan River, thanks to the influx of cool water. And there are plenty of excellent fishing spots on the river and nearby lakes. Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca Camp at the Grand Rapids Wayside Park, close to services, including grocery and liquor stores, a bowling alley, restaurant and a boat and vehicle repair shop. The town also has a skating rink and curling rink, and there’s plenty of room to enjoy cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Cook’s Campground & Cabins, about 10 kilometres north of town on Cedar Lake, offers several kilometres of ATV trails in summer, and there are a couple of fishing and hunting resorts on Cedar Lake as well. Hobbs Resort (www.hobbsresort.ca) and Moak Lodge (www.moaklodge.ca) are both within 20 kilometres of town. and Cabins • Serviced Camp Sites • Central Showers • Ice & Fish Freezing • Seasonal & Year Round Cabin Rentals • Rental Boats & Canoes P.O. Box 336 Grand Rapids, MB R0C 1E0 1-204-639-2014 email: [email protected] website: cookscampgroundandcabins.com L e a f Rap ids 78 Welcome to Leaf Rapids Population: 567 Municipal Government: Mayor and Councillors MAIN EMPLOYER: Government Set down in the middle of an outdoor paradise on the Churchill River, Leaf Rapids is also a model of urban development, with circular residential bays that are all within walking distance of forested trails and the town centre. L e a f Rap ids 79 About 220 kilometres northwest of Thompson on Hwy 391, the town has tennis courts and a nine-hole golf course where players tee off free of charge. You can even borrow golf clubs at the town office, where you can also pick up free souvenirs and tourist information. Stroll along walking paths and trails that weave through the town and boreal forest and past scenic river rapids. Pick wild blueberries in August and cranberries in fall, and watch for wild mint and mushrooms. The Churchill River and dozens of surrounding lakes are prime spots for northern pike, walleye and trout fishing. The sandy Turnbull Beach is just four kilometres from town and there are more like it within a 30-minute drive. Water ski, jet ski, zoom around lakes on a motor boat or paddle a canoe in a gentle stream. You can hunt for black bear, bull moose, timber wolf and waterfowl or just enjoy looking for rare birds and wildlife in the unspoiled wilderness. National Aboriginal Day is an annual occasion for celebrating First Nations culture. And the annual Leaf Rapids Winter Carnival is packed with fun and games for all ages. In winter, cross-country ski trails wind through the forest and you can set up an ice-fishing shack and drop a line on Turnbull Lake. There’s plenty of fresh snow for snowmobiling in the surrounding area and there are even designated trails to make snowmobiling a practical transportation option within town. www.townofleafrapids.com La k e Lyn n 80 Welcome to Population: 700 Municipal Government: Mayor and Six Councillors MAIN EMPLOYER: Government Lynn Lake Lynn Lake Museum Surrounded by untamed wilderness and dozens of lakes and rivers, Lynn Lake boasts that it’s the sport fishing capital of Manitoba. Trophy-size walleye, northern pike and lake, rainbow and speckled trout abound in crystal-clear waters near the town, about 322 kilometres northwest of Thompson at the end of Hwy 391. There was no road at all when Lynn Lake was founded in 1950, following the discovery of a massive nickel deposit. Since a mine had closed in the town of Sherridan, some 240 kilometres south, the entire town moved to Lynn Lake — and the people even brought their houses with them. Lyn n La k e 81 Using a winter trail that crossed frozen lakes, Linn tractors and Cat trains pulled sleighs loaded with building materials, general supplies and homes to the new town. It took six winters to move 146 buildings and more than 50,000 tons of equipment and other goods, but perseverance won the day. Pay a visit to the Lynn Lake Mining Town Museum to see exactly how it was done. The museum has a display of a Linn tractor towing a house, along with many artifacts related to the mining industry. Named in honour of the first mine’s chief engineer, Lynn Smith, the town has seen its ups and downs since the original mine closed, but tourism has helped fill in some of the economic gaps. The Churchill, Hughes, Keewatin, Laurie and Lynn rivers are accessible by road for fishing, and they’re favoured canoe and kayak routes for experienced whitewater canoeists. Follow in the wake of Aboriginal forebears and explorers who traversed the same majestic waterways a few hundred years ago and you’ll find the wilderness in the same pristine condition they enjoyed. www.lynnlake.ca N o r wa y H o u s e 82 Welcome to Norway House Population: 6,214 Municipal Government: Mayor and Councillors; Chief and Council MAIN EMPLOYER: Government Photo: Bruce Folster Canoe and York boat races recall the fur-trade era when Norway House holds Treaty and York Boat Days each summer. The week-long celebration held during the first week of August draws crowds to celebrate Aboriginal and fur-trade culture and history at one of Manitoba’s biggest First Nations communities. N o r wa y H o u s e 83 Named for the Norwegian labourers hired to build the post in the early 1800s, Norway House is proud of the vital role it played in Canada’s early economic development, as a busy crossroads on the Hudson’s Bay Company trade route. Cree hunters, trappers and fishers worked as mushers for dog sleds and manned canoes that carried as many 12 men and 2,400 kilograms of cargo. York boats — named for the trading hub of York Factory — replaced canoes to carry even more cargo north to York Factory and Hudson Bay. Located on the Nelson River about 190 kilometres south of Thompson, Norway House Cree Nation is adjacent to the offreserve community of Norway House. Commercial fishing and trapping are still important to the local economy. The Sasquatch Ice Fishing Derby is held in February, and in March, the Pipoon Festival salutes trappers and their traditions. Just 29 kilometres north of Lake Winnipeg, the area boasts several small lakes and picturesque islands, along with a shopping centre, medical centres, a recreation centre and accommodations including the York Boat Inn. Historic buildings include the log Archway Warehouse, built in 1840-1841, a jail built in 1855-56 and the ruins of the stone Powder Magazine built in 1837-38. Stroll on the grounds and dock and read the plaques that tell their stories. Along with canoe and York boat races, games and live entertainment, York Boat Days features the Joe Keeper Memorial Marathon, in honour of local athlete Joe Keeper, who represented Canada at the 1912 Olympic Games in Sweden. www.nhcn.ca Opaskwayak C r ee Nat i on 84 Welcome to Population: 4,652 (2,850 on reserve) Municipal Government: Chief and Council MAIN EMPLOYER: Opaskwayak Cree Nation Opaskwayak Cree Nation Opaskwayak Cree Nation HeadDress A gateway to the northern wilderness, Opaskwayak Cree Nation is a progressive, thriving community just across the Saskatchwen River from The Pas. Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) owns and operates the three-level Otineka shopping mall, the OCN Shell and the Aseneskak Casino (www.aseneskak.ca), which boasts almost 200 slot machines, table games, a fine restaurant and a 3 ½-star hotel, the Kikiwak Inn. Opaskwayak C r ee Nat i on 85 Go fishing or ice-fishing at Cormorant Lake or Rocky Lake, where the shore is lined with coloured limestone, and take advantage of the community’s proximity to Clearwater Lake Provincial Park, about 20 kilometres north. Opaskwayak Indian Days celebrate Cree traditions and culture each August with canoe races and a full slate of games and entertainment at one of three scenic parks in the community. A summer powwow competition draws crowds from across North America every four years, and each February, OCN shares in the Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival with The Pas. The Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre hosts hockey for eight months of the year, and it’s also a venue for concerts and celebrations. Opaskwayak Indian Days www.opaskwayak.ca S n ow La k e 86 Welcome to Snow Lake Population: 1,280 Municipal Government: Mayor and Six Councillors MAIN EMPLOYER: HudBay Minerals Wekusko Falls Provincial Park Snow Lake is experiencing a boom, thanks to a copper mining operation that’s attracting new businesses and services. Centrally located between northern Manitoba’s three cities — east of Flin Flon, northwest of The Pas and about 250 kilometres southwest of Thompson — Snow Lake is also rich in breathtaking natural beauty. About 20 kilometres north of Hwy 39 on Hwy 392, the town is surrounded by boreal forest, unspoiled wildlife habitat and pristine rivers and lakes, including its namesake Snow Lake. Wekusko Falls Provincial Park is just 10 minutes south, with its majestic falls, walking trails and picturesque suspension bridges. S n ow La k e 87 Within Snow Lake, follow a trio of interpretive walking trails to go birdwatching, pick berries and wildflowers and take in scenic views. Swim at Sunset Beach or Purple Sandy Beach, go trophy fishing, golfing, boating and camping in summer. And follow endless groomed snowmobile and crosscountry ski trails in winter, when ice-fishing, curling and skating are added to the recreational menu. The Snow Lake Mining Museum is a Manitoba Star Attraction. It contains zinc, gold and other minerals, along with exhibits that explain the daily lives of underground miners, and it’s adding a photo-op area complete with costumes, as well as new outdoor exhibits in the community. The town also has a memorial to miners who’ve lost their lives in mining accidents, and it holds an annual ceremony in their memory. Check out several indoor and outdoor murals, visit the Snow Lake art gallery and treat yourself to home-fries at the Diamond Willow restaurant, where you can often buy moccasins and gauntlets made by local artists. Each March, the community comes out to play at the Snow Lake Winter Whoot Festival, when scavenger hunters seek out fabled ice worms and everyone enjoys live entertainment, sports tournaments and games. www.snowlake.com The Pas 88 Welcome to The Pas Population: 6,000 Municipal Government: Mayor and Six Councillors MAIN EMPLOYER: St. Anthony’s Hospital, University College of the North, Tolko Industries Clearwater Lake Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com The oldest community in the region, The Pas offers something for everyone, from arts and cultural events to outdoor living at its best. The city is home to many historic buildings, including the Sam Waller Museum, which is a must-see for every visitor. Located in the oldest brick building in The Pas, a former courthouse constructed in 1916, the museum (www.samwallermuseum.ca), contains an eclectic collection of artifacts and curiosities, thanks to late naturalist, taxidermist and teacher Sam Waller. The Pas 89 Sam Waller Museum Visit the Canadian National Railway Station, a brick building constructed in 1928, and tour the city’s first Catholic Church, the Charlebois Chapel, built from logs in 1897, a few decades after The Pas became a harbour for steamboats transporting goods for the Hudson’s Bay Company on the Saskatchewan River. This town’s oldest building, Christ Church, was built in 1896 and it’s a monument to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cooperation. Established by Henry Budd, the first Aboriginal man ordained by the Anglican ministry, it contains a walk with the Lord’s Prayer and 10 Commandments in Cree, as well as furnishings made by men who were part of an 1847 search party for the lost Franklin expedition. The Lido Theatre is one of Western Canada’s most historic movie houses. Family-owned and operated for four generations, it was built in 1929 to accommodate “talkies” and it’s been fully upgraded with a digital system to show first-run movies today. The theatre is just a stone’s throw from Clearwater Lake, one of only three true-blue lakes in the world. The Kikiwak Inn is located on Opaskwayak Cree Nation adjacent to The Pas. (NOW WITH ON LINE RESERVATIONS). Our Conference facility features the Phone: latest technology and catering to 204-623-1800 groups from 8 to 240. or toll free Our guest rooms offer choices for 1-888-545-4925 everyone from Mini Suites, Standard WE TAKE gROuP bOOKINgS Room, Vip or Executive Suites. Website: www.kikiwakinn.ca Explore the rich heritage of the Town of The Pas and region. Experience the eclectic collection of Mr. Sam Waller. Discover the Discovery Room where children play and learn. 306 Fischer Ave., The Pas, Manitoba Open Daily 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm; July/August 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Adults $4.00; Students/Seniors $2.00; Children Under Five, Free Historic Walking Tours Available Web: www.samwallermuseum.ca Tel: 204-623-3802 The Pas 90 Clearwater Lake Provincial Park The Caves Clearwater Lake PhotoS: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Clearwater Lake Provincial Park is just 20 kilometres north. A destination for fishing, camping and recreation, one of the park’s features is a self-guided trail to “the caves” — deep crevices in cliffs along the shore that are so cool you might see snow in their depths in midsummer. The Pas 91 trappers’ Festival Visit the Important Bird Areas at the Saskeram and Tom Lamb Wildlife Management Areas and enjoy fishing and outdoor pursuits at Rocky and Cormorant lakes north of the city. There are several walking, hiking and cross-country ski trails within and around The Pas. The city hosts an agricultural fair and rodeo each summer and it’s famous for the weeklong Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival (www.trappersfestival.com). The oldest festival in Manitoba, dating back to 1916, it features the World Championship Sled Dog Race and competitive king and queen trapper events. Drop by The Pas Visitor Centre at 1559 Gordon Ave. to pick up a tourism guide and check out souvenirs. www.townofthepas.com Free SuperStart® breakfast • Free wireless internet Pool, waterslide & hot tub • Guest laundry In-room coffee & hair dryer • Large vehicle parking ................................................ S. Hwy. 10 • 1717 Gordon Avenue The Pas, MB (204) 623-1888 SUPER8.COM | 1.800.800.8000 Thom p s on 92 Welcome to Thompson Population: 13,123 Trading ARea: 34,000 Municipal Government: Mayor and Eight Councillors MAIN EMPLOYER: Vale, Northern Regional Health Authority, Government, Manitoba Hydro Spirit Way Wolves Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com Don’t miss a chance to walk on the wild side in Canada’s wolf capital. Take in cityscapes and traverse picturesque stretches of forest when you hike, bike or cross-country ski on the 15-kilometre Millennium Trail in the North’s largest city. The path winds along the Burntwood River and overlaps with the 2.5 kilometre Spirit Way, a scenic walk that passes by 16 points of interest. Thom p s on 93 Heritage North Museum Photo: Tanna Teneycke Stop by the four-metre tall King Miner statue that salutes Thompson’s mining history, and explore the Heritage North Museum, a beautiful log building where you can peruse exhibits related to Aboriginal culture, natural history, mining and wildlife. The museum also houses a gift shop and the North’s only Travel Manitoba Visitor Centre. Surrounded by eternally green boreal forest, the city has grown by leaps and bounds since it sprouted up in the 1950s as a nickel mining townsite. Today, it’s a regional commercial hub and home to the Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Environmental Research, where two of the world’s biggest jet engine manufacturers conduct cold-weather testing. snowmobiling Photo: Richard Saucier Take in a concert at the Letkemann Theatre, enjoy restaurants, concerts in the park and other cultural attractions, and get some retail therapy in the shopping malls. Just remember to bring a bag. Following the lead of Leaf Rapids, which banned non-recyclable plastic grocery bags in 2007, Snow Lake and Thompson banned the bags in 2010. The environment is important to people who spend so much time outdoors. Hop on a snowmobile and explore hundreds of kilometres of trails to popular destinations such as Paint Lake Provincial Park and Sasagiu Rapids Lodge, south of the city on Hwy 6. Or head to Mystery Mountain Winter Park for alpine skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing. Just north of the Miles Hart Bridge, a 10-kilometre trail network is ideal for cross-country skiing in winter and running and mountain biking in summer. And fishing is fine on the Burntwood River and nearby lakes. Thom p s on 94 Thompson Golf Course Club House Photo: Dave Turpie The Thompson Regional Community Centre and other recreational facilities provide skating and curling rinks, an indoor swimming pool and waterslide, skateboard park, racquetball and tennis courts, baseball diamonds and a running track. 183 Cree Road, Thompson Manitoba R8N 0C2 1-800-565-2401 Join us on Facebook at Keyword “MeridianHotelMotel” Our Unique Rooms Feature 9 In Room Coffee Also Available 9 On Site Lone Wolf Café Restaurant 9 Refrigerator 9 Conference Room 9 Free Wi-Fi 9 In House Guest Laundry Facilities 9 Flat Screen Cable TV’s 9 Pet Friendly Rooms Available 9 Air-Conditioners 9 Free Freezer Space Available located approximately 45 minutes south of Thompson. A 0.5 kilometer trail brings you to a viewing platform, perfect for snapping shots of the 13 meter high falls. A suspension bridge that spans the lower falls and is the starting point of a sevenmile hike to the highest waterfalls in ManitobaKwasitchewan Falls. promoting and preserving the heritage and history of Thompson and area. Visit: www.heritagenorthmuseum.ca is a great place to live, work, and play, but did you know it is a great place to visit. Camping, fishing, and boating opportunities abound in summer. Come play our golf course – you can play extra late! In winter the community boasts cross country and downhill skiing as well as snowmobile trails and the chance to see Northern Lights. A good selection of stores and lots of accommodation will make your trip fun and comfortable – CoMe See uS SooN! an award-winning pathway and biking route highlighting 16 unique points of interest, wolf statues, and the world’s largest lighted mural of a Robert Bateman painting. Rated as one of the “Top 20 Places to Visit in Manitoba”. To learn more about Spiritway, visit www.thompsonspiritway.ca www.thompsonunlimited.ca 1-866-WOLF FUN (965-3386) ONLY... the best snow, best terrain, steepest runs, longest season, most variety, best scenery, friendliest people, and MOST FUN is at Mystery Mountain Winter Park this winter! DESIGN NORTH•THOMPSON • 18 Runs. 4 Lifts. X-C Trails. • Concession. Lounge. Rentals. Lessons. • December to April. Weekends & Holidays. • Details at www.mysterymountain.ca. Thompson Nickel Days (www.nickeldays.ca) are held in June and include a midway, the National King Miner Contest, a parade and more. National Aboriginal Day celebrations on June 21 feature live entertainment and activities for all ages. And Winterfest runs throughout the month of February with live entertainment, dog-sledding, a children’s festival and a host of fun events every weekend. Thompson Nickel Days Photo: Nickel Days Archives Thom p s on 97 A nine-hole public golf course has a great clubhouse where you can wind down at the end of the day, and the city’s annual winter and summer festivals are something to celebrate. www.thompson.ca Complete your Northern Adventure with an Authentic Unique Experience Visit the personal Artstudio of Canadian Widlife & Landscape Artist JASYN LUCAS www.jasynlucas.ca Meet the artist See latest orginal works The mission of the Thompson Gas Bar Co-op is to provide petroleum and related products and return earnings to it’s member-owners within a democratically controlled, environmentally responsible organization. 722 Thompson Drive, Thompson, MB R8N 1Z9 Phone 204 778-7649 Fax 204 778-5139 Email: [email protected] Shop inventory of orginals and prints Get autograph & photos Place custom order Get inspired “Enjoy a wide variety of options: from personal custom orders. to corporate bulk orders.” Jasyn Lucas studio visits are available by appointment only, Ask your guide for a map and call Jasyn at 204-679-6143 Wa b o w d e n 98 Welcome to Wabowden Population: 550 Municipal Government: Mayor and Councillors MAIN EMPLOYER: Construction & logging industries Wabowden is sitting pretty when it comes to scenic lakeshores. Located about 110 kilometres southwest of Thompson off Hwy 6, the town is nestled between Bowden, Bucko and Rock lakes on the east side of the highway, with Setting Lake on the west. Fishing on Setting Lake Setting Lake Wayside Park is managed by the community council and it’s a popular destination for campers from Thompson and other locales. Open from the May long weekend until the Thanksgiving weekend, its large sites and common greenspaces make it an ideal spot for family and community gatherings. The park has a boat launch, barbecues and electrically serviced sites as well as basic sites. In midsummer, when sunsets may come as late as 11:30 p.m., it’s a great time to stop by the town’s Ice Cream Parlour for a cool treat. Wa b o w d e n 99 SnowShoeing Pisew Falls in Winter A traditional meeting place for trappers, the town is on mile 137 of the Hudson Bay Railway and is named for early Dept. of Railways chief engineer W.A. Bowden. Its Cree name, Mescanaganeek, means steel road. The Mescanaganeek Winter Festival is held each February, when junior king and queen trappers compete for crowns and families take part in an ice worm scavenger hunt and other social activities. Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, curling and hockey are among winter pursuits, and summer brings out the green thumbs, thanks to the town’s location in a remarkably fertile agricultural zone known as the Wabowden clay belt. Wild rice is also grown in the area and trapping is still part of the local economy. Along with beaches, the town has ball diamonds, a recreation complex and a museum where you can check out exhibits related to fishing, mining, logging and trapping. Explorers can search for the remains of a chimney that marks the spot of the first outpost built on Setting Lake in 1795. Look for the limestone rock quarry, where you can take a dip in waters so clear you can see all the way to the bottom. And enjoy a meal at My’s Place, a beautiful two-storey log building that houses a restaurant, convenience store and gas station. Cross Lake Band operates Ponton Service Station at the Junction of Hwy 6 and Hwy 39, with a restaurant, motel and store where you can shop for convenience items as well as moccasins, sweetgrass, dreamcatchers and CDs made by local recording artists. www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca A n n ua l E V E N T S 100 What’s going on? February February l Cross Lake First Nation Cross Lake Annual Winter Festival Cross Lake First Nation w: www.crosslakeband.ca February l Wabowden Thompson Winterfest – Feb – Thompson w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca March February l Thompson Churchill Aurora Winterfest Mescanaganeek Winter Festival Munn Cup Hockey Tournament March l Churchill p: 204-679-8087 w: www.thompsonminorhockey.ca p: 204-675-2022 w: www.churchillchamberofcommerce.ca/ winterfest.html February l The Pas March l Cranberry Portage Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival p: 204-623-2912 w: www.trappersfestival.com Cranberry Portage Bombardier Rally p: 1-877-249-8886 w: www.northerntracks.com February l Thompson March l Gillam p: 204-677-7952 w: www.thompson.ca p: 204-652-3150 w: www.townofgillam.com February l Norway House Cree Nation March l The Pas Thompson Winterfest Annual Sasquatch Ice Fishing Derby w: www.nhcn.ca Gillam Winter Carnival Bill Bannock Classic Ice Fishing Derby p: 204-623-1617 w: www.billbannock.com March l The Pas Jimmy Jackfish Ice Fishing Derby w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca A n n ua l E V E N T S 101 Snow Lake Whoot Festival – Feb – Snow Lake Photo: Brenda Forsyth-Flamand March l Gillam to Churchill Hudson Bay Quest Gillam to Churchill p: 204-675-2022 w: www.hbqrace.com March l Snow Lake Snow Lake Whoot Festival p: 204-358-2551 w: www.snowlake.com March l Paint Lake APRIL April l Flin Flon CFAR Trade & Leisure Show e: [email protected] MAY May l The Pas Snowmobile Drag Races The Pas & District Chamber of Commerce Trade Show w: www.thompsontrailbreakers.com w: www.thepaschamber.com March l Split Lake May l Thompson Tataskweyak Annual Ice Fishing Derby CHTM Trade Show w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca March l Norway House Cree Nation Pipoon Winter Festival w: www.nhcn.ca/pipoon/home.php See www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca for complete event listings. A n n ua l E V E N T S 102 Flin Flon Trout Festival – June – Flin Flon JUNE Thompson Nickel Days – June – Tho June l Thompson Pride North of 55 Rally June l Flin Flon w: www.facebook.com/pridenorth w: www.flinflontroutfestival.com Nelson River Firefighters Rodeo Flin Flon Trout Festival June l Thompson National King Miner Contest Thompson Regional Community Centre p: 204-677-7952 w: www.nickeldays.ca June l Thompson Thompson Nickel Days Thompson Regional Community Centre p: 204-677-7952 w: www.nickeldays.ca June 21 l Thompson National Aboriginal Day Celebrations p: 204-677-7952 w: www.thompson.ca June 21-July 1 l churchill Celebrate Canada p: 204-675-2491, 204-675-2022 w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca June l Gillam w: www.townofgillam.com JULY July 1 l Various Communities Canada Day Celebrations w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca July 1 l Churchill Canada Day p: 204-675-2491, 204-675-2022 w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca July 1 l Thompson Canada Day Celebrations MacLean Park p: 204-677-7952 w: www.thompson.ca July l Gillam/Fox Lake Cree Nation Fox Lake Cree Nation Powwow w: www.foxlakepowwow.com August l Opaskwayak Cree Nation Opaskwayak Indian Days p: 204-627-7100 w: www.opaskwayak.ca August l Norway House Treaty & York Boat Days p: 204-359-4729 w: www.nhcn.ca/yorkboatdays August l Wabowden Setting Lake Fishing Derby w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca September mpson September l Gillam July l Incorporated Community of Cross Lake Cross Lake Annual Campout Welcome Back Weekend w: ww.townofgillam.com Incorporated Community of Cross Lake w: www.crosslakemanitoba.ca November July l Cross Lake First Nation November l Thompson Cross Lake Annual Treaty and Indian Days w: www.crosslakeband.ca July&AUGUST July-August l Thompson Concerts in the Park MacLean Park (rain location TRCC) Fridays, noon-1 p.m. w: www.thompson.ca Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting w: www.thompsonunlimited.ca November l Flin Flon Santa Claus Parade w: www.cityofflinflon.ca December December l Wabowden Wabowden Santa Parade w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca AUGUST August l Cranberry Portage Cranberry Portage Trout Challenge w: www.cranberryportage.net See www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca for complete event listings. A n n ua l E V E N T S 103 T r a n s p o rtat i o n 104 getting here Manitoba’s North is closer than you think. Take a scenic one-day drive or bus trip, hop on a fast plane or ride the rails and drink in spectacular views. by AIR Bearskin Airlines (Throughout the North) Founded in 1963, Bearskin Airlines offers more than 100 departures daily to 18 destinations in Manitoba and Ontario, including Flin Flon and Winnipeg. p: 1-800-465-2327 e: [email protected] w: www.bearskinairlines.com Calm Air (Throughout the North) Operating in the North for over 40 years, Calm Air has a proud history of service and a solid reputation as central Canada’s regional airline. Calm Air has scheduled flights to over 20 communities throughout Manitoba and Nunavut, including Churchill, Flin Flon, Gillam, Shamattawa, South Indian Lake, The Pas, Thompson and Winnipeg. p: 1-888-225-6247 or 1-800-839-2256 e: [email protected] w: www.calmair.com Cranberry Air & Wilderness Outfitters (The Pas) p: 204-623-7276 or 204-472-3088 e: [email protected] w: www.cranberryair.com Wings Over Kississing (Flin Flon & Thompson) Serving northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nunavut's Kivalliq region with a large, modern fleet of aircraft equipped with floats and wheel skis. The main bases are in Flin Flon and Thompson, with others in Lynn Lake, Leaf Rapids, Churchill and Steinbach. p: 204-687-8247 or 1-866-323-4210 e: [email protected] w: www.wingsoverkississing.com T r a n s p o rtat i o n 105 Photo: Eva Muswagon, Cross Lake Band by BUS Greyhound Bus Lines (Throughout the North) p: 1-800-661-8747 w: www.greyhound.ca by RAIL VIA Rail (Throughout the North) VIA Rail Canada operates the national passenger rail service on behalf of the Government of Canada. Trains 693 and 692 service northern Manitoba. p: Departure and arrival times northern hotline at 1-888-842-6348 Reservations and fares: 1-888-VIA RAIL (842-7245) w: www.VIArail.ca outfitters & Tours 106 tour operators & outfitters Northern Manitoba is made for adventure. Whether you're looking for an invigorating canoe trip on crystal blue waters, an opportunity to view and photograph wildlife, or an exciting fly-in fishing or hunting vacation, our outfitters and tour operators can provide you with a memorable experience. All Terrain Bear Hunts Aurora Canada Tours We specialize in black bear, moose and timber wolf hunts. Add to that fantastic fishing and you are in for the all-terrain adventure of a lifetime. Call for season dates for spring and fall bear hunts and fall moose hunts. p: p: 204-677-1109 or 204-679-0735 e: [email protected] w: www.atbh.ca Offering beluga whale watching, birdwatching and wildflower tours of one day to two weeks in duration. Northern lights tours are also offered in February and March. p: 204-942-6617 f: 204-943-1971 e: [email protected] (Thompson) Arctic Nature Tours (churchill) Arctic Nature Tours provides interpretive nature and wildlife viewing tours of Churchill and area. Experience the northern lights, build an igloo, and photograph the flora and fauna. p: 204-675-8878 or 1-877-765-2733 f: 204-675-2647 e: [email protected] w: www.polarinn.com (churchill) Aurora Domes & Taiga Tours (churchill) Providing aurora borealis viewing. The Aurora Domes were specifically constructed for viewing the northern lights and were used when the Churchill Research Range was in operation. Available tours include trips by boat to see Fort Prince of Wales and beluga whales, walking and canoeing tours, birdwatching tours, polar bear sightseeing tours, bus and air tours. The company operates a track vehicle that can accommodate seven-16 passengers for wildlife photography tours. p: 204-675-8831 or 1-800-265-8563 f: 204-675-2764 e: [email protected] w: www.tundrainn.com outfitters & Tours 107 Bakers Narrows Caribou Lodge Lodge Outfitters (Flin Flon) (Cranberry Portage) Guide services for scenic tours of historic sites, fishing tours, snowmobiling, ice fishing, dog sledding and Bombardier excursions. Boat and motor rental, pontoon boat, canoes, kayaks, walking trails, float plane excursions to wilderness lakes. The lodge has 15 log cabins, with banquet and meeting facilities for up to 150 people. Now offering a tent with seating for up to 200, with dance floor; great for weddings, reunions or corporate events. Located on Hwy 10, one kilometre from Flin Flon airport. p: 204-681-3250 or 1-866-603-6390 f: 204-687-8691 e: [email protected] w: www.bakersnarrowslodge.com The lodge sits on a private, 10-acre peninsula on West Cranberry Lake and offers easy access to five different lakes for fishing. The lodge also specializes in bear hunts and can customize a variety of packages for up to 50 people. Open year round and also cater to snowmobilers and work crews. p: 204-472-3351 or 1-877-472-4868 e: [email protected] w: www.huntnfish.ca Burntwood Lake Lodge Churchill Nature Tours serves diverse groups with everything from expert birdwatching to general interest tours. Staff leaders offer an array of expertise from ornithology and wildlife research (including polar bears) to horticulture, history and nature photography. p: 204-636-2968 f: 204-636-2557 e: [email protected] w: www.churchillnaturetours.com (Snow Lake) Fly-in fishing and outcamps with main lodge located on Burntwood Lake. p: 204-358-2259 or 204-358-7114 e: [email protected] w: www.burntwood.com Churchill Nature Tours (Churchill) outfitters & Tours 108 Churchill Northern Studies Centre (churchill) The Churchill Northern Studies Centre is an independent, non-profit research and education facility, which serves as a base for researchers and offers a wide variety of quality educational programs to the general public. Sub-arctic learning vacations include beluga whales, polar bears, wildflowers, birding, northern lights, summer and winter ecology. Tours of the centre are also available. p: 204-675-2307 f: 204-675-2139 e: [email protected] w: www.churchillscience.ca Churchill River Lodge & Campground (Leaf Rapids) Campground, cabins, boats and motors, gas, angling licenses, docking and extras. Situated on the Churchill River. Fishing for walleye and northern pike. Corporate and government rates available. Open year-round. p: 204-473-2362 f: 204-473-8680 e: [email protected] w: www.churchillriverlodge.com Churchill Wild (churchill) The true Arctic Safari, Churchill Wild provides a variety of wildlife adventures, including walking with polar bears at the Seal River Heritage Lodge, Dymond Lake Lodge or Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. Choose from The Great Ice Bear, Birds, Bears & Belugas, Arctic Safari, Polar Bear Photo Safari and Mothers & Cubs packages. p: 204-878-5090 or 1-866-846-9453 e: [email protected] w: www.churchillwild.com Dymond Lake Lodge (churchill) Remote, fly-in lodge just north of Churchill on the Hudson Bay coast. Meals & guides included. p: 1-888-932-2377 e: [email protected] w: www.webberslodges.com Frontiers North Adventures (Churchill) Frontiers North offers life-changing wildlife adventures in Canada’s North. Tours include: Tundra Buggy® Lodge and Churchill Town & Tundra Polar Bear Adventures; Belugas, Bears & Blooms; Big Five Safari; Churchill Summer Explorer; Northern Lights, Winter Nights; Arctic Expedition Cruises; Elu Lodge and Foxe Basin of Nunavut; Grizzly Bears of the Great Bear Rainforest. p: 204-949-2050 or 1-800-663-9832 f: 204-667-1051 e: [email protected] w: www.frontiersnorth.com Hobbs Resort (Grand Rapids) Enjoy beautiful sunsets and superb fishing at one of Canada's longest-operating hunting and fishing resorts. Three cabin rental units, each with two bedrooms , sleep six-eight with a fully equipped kitchenette. Campsites include firewood and showers. We open when fishing season opens. Cabin rentals, boats, gas, fishing. Located 19 kilometres north of Grand Rapids off Hwy 6. p: 204-639-2266 f: 204-639-2645 e: [email protected] w: www.hobbsresort.com outfitters & Tours 109 Lazy Bear Lodge Nelson River Adventures (churchill) Lazy Bear Lodge offers a variety of tours and expeditions, including its Ultimate Polar Bear Tour, Beluga Whale Dream Tour and Wilderness Expedition. The cozy, handcrafted log hotel has spacious rooms with private bath, cable TV and 24-hour phone service. Free shuttle to airport and train station. Room rate includes a hearty breakfast. Restaurant boasts a beautiful two-way stone fireplace and the menu includes northern specialities, with a screened outdoor attached eating area. p: 204-663-9377 or 1-800-687-2327 f: 204-675-2408 e: [email protected] w: www.lazybearlodge.com Nature 1st (churchill) Be part of the ecosystem and explore the Churchill area during half-day or full-day tours. Tours available from beginning of June to end of November. p: 204-675-2147 f: 204-675-2103 e: [email protected] w: www.nature1sttours.ca (Gillam) Nelson River Adventures offers guided tours of the York Factory National Historic Site of Canada. Visitors to York Factory can experience the diverse history of the Hudson’s Bay Company and the fur trade of the 1600-1800s. p: 204-573-7942 e: [email protected] w: www.nelsonriveradventures.com Neso Lake Adventures (Cranberry Portage) Offering guided wilderness canoe trips on the Grass River, Neso Lake and Mistik Creek. Flyout fishing for northern pike and walleye, duck hunting and spring bear hunts. p: 204-687-0798 or 1-877-641-0104 w: www.nesolakeadventures.com outfitters & Tours 110 North Star Tours (Churchill) Historical bus and hiking tours. p: 204-675-2356 f: 204-675-2852 e: [email protected] Outland Outfitting (Grand Rapids) Specializing in black bear hunts and some of the best pickerel, pike and rainbow trout fishing in Manitoba. With a combined area of more than 2,000 square miles, record-size bear and outstanding colour phase is common with the Outland experience. p: 780-870-1269 e: [email protected] w: www.outlandoutfitting.com Paint Lake Resort (Thompson) Paint Lake Resort is a full-service outfitter offering American plan moose and bear hunting as well as guided fishing and icefishing excursions. We have four outpost camps as well as a main lodge with six guest cabins and one group-use bunk house. We offer canoe, boat and dock rental as well as propane, fuel, convenience store, restaurant and lounge open year-round. Located at Paint Lake Provincial Park, which offers fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, skating, swimming, camping and hiking. p: 204-677-9303 or 1-888-246-9749 e: [email protected] w: www.mysterycountry.ca Prairie Helicopters (churchill) Sightseeing tours by helicopter of the Churchill area and Wapusk National Park with the longest-operating helicopter company in the Canadian sub-Arctic. p: 204-642-4841 e: [email protected] w: www.prairiehelicopters.com Rail Travel Tours (Churchill) Rail tour packages travelling northern Manitoba’s rail passenger routes round trip from Winnipeg to Churchill year-round, with an emphasis on beluga whale packages in summer and polar bear migration tours in fall. p: 204-897-9551 or 1-866-704-3528 e: [email protected] w: www.railtraveltours.com Red River Outfitters (Throughout Manitoba) Canoe trips on the Hayes River system. p: 204-878-3570 or 1-886-425-9430 e: [email protected] w: www.redriveroutfitters.ca River Country Outfitters (The Pas) p: 204-623-2212 e: [email protected] w: w ww.huntingtop10.com/Manitoba/ Black-Bear-Hunting-Guide/Outfitter/247/ Sea North Tours Ltd. (Churchill) Sea North Tours provides tours to view beluga whales, Prince of Wales Fort, polar bears, seals and birds. Sea tours are aboard the Sea North II, a 32-passenger tour boat. Zodiac inflatable boat charters are also available. p: 204-675-2195 or 1-888-348-7591 f: 204-675-2198 e: [email protected] w: www.seanorthtours.com Tawow Lodge Ltd. (Snow Lake) Fishing and hunting lodge with five cabins. Outcamp at Woosey Lake. Accessible by road on Hwy 392 just five minutes from Hwy 39. Located at the south end of Wekusko Lake. Open yearround. Boat rentals and meal plans are available. p: 204-358-2485 e: [email protected] w: www.tawowlodge.com (Note: Tourism North Manitoba Inc. does not recommend or endorse specific tour operators. This listing is provided for information only. You are encouraged to confirm the information with individual tourism operators.) Photos: Clint Sawchuk, Nelson River Adventures The Great Tradition Canadian Outfitters Travel Company (Cross Lake) (Churchill) The Great Canadian Travel Company offers personalized individual or group tours to Canada’s north. Luxury or on a budget, we can help you design your perfect holiday. p: 1-800-661-3830 f: 204-949-0188 e: [email protected] w: www.greatcanadiantravel.com Thompson Northern Experiences (Thompson) We offer guided tours of the city of Thompson and connect visitors with things to do in Thompson and surrounding area. p: 204-679-8388 f: 204-677-8226 e: [email protected] We specialize exclusively in black bear hunting in over 1,000 square miles of prime habitat in northern Manitoba. All black bear hunts are by boat along the beautiful, majestic northern waterways surrounded by the boreal forest. Tradition Outfitters is native to the area, with a lifetime experience in hunting and fishing. Our guides are extremely knowledgeable of the landscape and guarantee all your needs are met. p: 204-778-5233 e: [email protected] w: www.traditionoutfittersnorth.com Wekusko Falls Lodge (Snow Lake) On the Grass River system midway between Tramping and Wekusko lakes, 10 minutes south of Snow Lake. Six two-bedroom cabins each accommodate up to eight people, with full bathrooms, stoves and refrigerator. Two one-bedroom cabins sleep four. Fully winterized with running water. Pre-booked meal plans, boat and canoe rentals. Guide service available. p: 204-358-2341 or 1-877-358-2341 e: [email protected] w: www.wekuskofallslodge.com outfitters & Tours 111 where to stay Ac c om m o dat i o n s 112 Bring your fishing rod and hole up in a remote cabin, cozy up to a bed & breakfast, go camping or relax in a full-service hotel or lodge. Wherever you go in northern Manitoba, you’ll find warm hospitality and all the comforts of a home away from home. Athapapuskow Lake Constable’s Lakeside Lodge p: 204-472-3241 or 780-895-2014 f: 780-895-2014 Paradise Lodge p: 204-687-8175 (summer) 204-687-3070 (winter) e: [email protected] CHurchill Aurora Inn Churchill Motel p: 204-675-8853 f: 204-675-8228 Toll Free: 1-877-675-8853 e: [email protected] Iceberg Inn p: 204-675-2228 w: www.iceberginn.ca f: 204-675-2228 Lazy Bear Lodge p: 204-663-9377 Toll Free: 1-800-687-2327 f: 204-675-2408 e: [email protected] w: www.lazybearlodge.com Mike & Mykelen Bed & Breakfast p: 204-675-2773 Polar Bear Bed & Breakfast p: 204-675-2071 Toll Free: 1-888-840-1344 f: 204-675-2850 e: [email protected] w: www.aurora-inn.mb.ca p: 204-675-2819 e: [email protected] w: polarbearbb.web.fc2.com Bear Country Inn Polar Inn & Suites p: 204-675-8299 or 204-949-BEAR (2327) e: [email protected] w: www.bearcountryinn.com Bear’s Den Bed & Breakfast p: 204-675-2556 f: 204-675-2361 Blue Sky Bed and Sled p: 204-675-2001 e: [email protected] w: www.blueskymush.com p: 204-675-8878 f: 204-675-2647 Toll Free: 1-877-765-2742 e: [email protected] Seaport Hotel p: 204-675-8807 Toll Free: 1-877-558-4555 f: 204-675-2795 e: [email protected] w: www.seaporthotel.ca The Traveller’s Touchstone p: 204-675-2117 or 204-675-2676 e: [email protected] The Tundra Inn p: 204-675-8831 Toll Free: 1-800-265-8563 f: 204-675-2764 e: [email protected] w: www.tundrainn.com Cranberry Portage Athapap Lodge p: 204-472-3140 or 204-472-3995 f: 204-472-3140 e: [email protected] Caribou Lodge Outfitters p: 204-472-3351 Toll Free: 1-877-472-4868 e: [email protected] w: www.huntnfish.ca Cranberry Portage Park p: 204-472-3219 e: [email protected] f: 204-472-3115 McKenzie’s RV Park and Campground p: 204-472-3660 or 204-472-3528 e: [email protected] w: www.mckenziervpark.com Northern Spirit Lodge p: 204-472-3285 Toll Free: 1-888-472-3285 f: 204-472-3875 e: [email protected] w: www.northernspiritlodge.ca Viking Lodge p: 204-472-3337 e: [email protected] w: www.mts.net/~viking/ f: 204-472-3337 Clearwater Lake P. P. Coyne’s New Vickery Lodge p: 204-624-5429 Toll Free: 1-888-624-5429 f: 204-624-5147 e: [email protected] Cormorant Cormorant Community Campground p: 204-357-2050 e: [email protected] f: 204-357-2224 Nootin Resort p: 204-480-8386 or 204-480-8940 e: [email protected] w: www.greatfishingcanada.com Simon Nabess Wayside Park p: 204-480-8386 or 204-623-6842 f: 204-480-8940 e: [email protected] w: www.greatfishingcanada.com Cross Lake Cross Lake Inn p: 204-676-3333 f: 204-676-2274 Flin Flon Aberdeen Lodge p: 204-623-6710 or 204-687-0495 e: [email protected] w: www.aberdeenlodge.net Bakers Narrows Lodge p: 204-681-3250 Toll Free: 1-866-603-6390 f: 204-687-8691 e: [email protected] w: www.bakersnarrowslodge.com Flin Flon Tourist Bureau and Campground p: 204-687-7502 w: www.cityofflinflon.ca f: 204-687-7530 Legacy Bed & Breakfast p: 204-687-4101 Ac c om m o dat i o n s 113 Ac c om m o dat i o n s 114 Oreland Motel p: 204-687-3467 Toll Free: 1-866-687-8178 f: 204-687-8178 e: [email protected] w: www.polarinn.com Royal Hotel p: 204-687-3437 f: 204-687-5354 Toll Free: 1-800-308-2224 p: 204-687-7555 Toll Free: 1-877-707-7555 f: 204-687-5233 w: www.vicinn.com Westwood Lodge p: 204-687-6307 e: [email protected] w: www.westwoodlodge.ca Yo Ho Bay Bed & Breakfast f: 204-687-8397 p: 204-639-2014 p: 204-639-2266 e: [email protected] w: www.hobbsresort.com f: 204-639-2645 Pine Grove Cabins p: 204-639-2331 f: 204-639-2331 Herb Lake Landing Tawow Lodge p: 204-358-2485 f: 204-358-2485 e: [email protected] w: www.tawowlodge.com Gillam Ace Gillam Bed & Breakfast p: 204-383-5628 Toll Free: 1-888-286-0433 e: [email protected] w: www.manitobahunts.com Aurora Gardens Motel & Dining p: 204-652-6554 Cook’s Campground & Cabins Hobbs Resort Victoria Inn p: 204-687-3051 Grand Rapids f: 204-652-2182 Gillam Motor Inn p: 204-652-2670 Moak Lodge & Campground p: 204-639-2351 (summer) e: [email protected] w: www.moaklodge.ca Stephens Lake Municipal Park p: 204-652-2121 f: 204-652-2338 e: [email protected] w: www.townofgillam.com Leaf Rapids Almost Arctic Inn p: 204-473-8822 f: 204-473-2283 e: [email protected] Churchill River Lodge & Campground p: 204-473-2362 f: 204-473-8680 e: [email protected] w: www.churchillriverlodge.com Leaf Rapids Community Development Corp. p: 204-473-2978 e: [email protected] w: www.townofleafrapids.ca f: 204-473-2308 Wistoba Connection LLC p: 608-356-0243 or 204-473-8268 f: 608-356-0203 e: [email protected] w: home.centurytel.net/wistoba Lynn Lake The Bronx p: 204-356-2471 f: 204-356-8328 Norway House York Boat Inn p: 204-359-6550 f: 1-204-359-6444 Toll Free: 1-888-355-YORK Opaskwayak Cree Nation Kikiwak Inn (Opaskwayak Cree Nation) p: 204-623-1800 Toll Free: 1-888-545-4925 f: 204-623-1812 e: [email protected] w: www.kikiwakinn.com Rocky Lake Kum-Bac-Kabins p: 204-682-7489 (summer) 204-623-7385 (winter) e: [email protected] w: www.kumbackabins.com f: 204-356-8297 Rocky Lake Cabins p: 204-682-7423 Toll Free: 1-866-254-3020 e: [email protected] Sherridon Sherridon Kississing Lake Campground p: 204-468-2026 e: [email protected] Bluenose Bed & Breakfast p: 204-358-2520 e: [email protected] Diamond Willow Inn/Lodge p: 204-358-2842 e: [email protected] f: 204-358-2216 Snow Lake Motor Inn p: 204-358-2331 e: [email protected] Sunset Bay Bed & Breakfast p: 204-358-2145 e: [email protected] Wekusko Falls Lodge p: 204-358-2341 Toll Free: 1-877-358-2341 e: [email protected] w: www.wekuskofallslodge.com the pas Carpenter’s Clearwater Lodge & Outfitters p: 204-624-5467 Toll Free: 1-866-881-5467 f: 204-624-5467 e: [email protected] w: www.carpenterslodge.com/ Kum-Bac-Kabins p: 204-356-2418 SNOW Lake f: 204-468-2110 Evergreen Resort p: 204-624-5750 f: 204-623-4686 e: [email protected] w: www.evergreenthepas.com Golden Arrow Motel p: 204-623-5451 f: 204-623-5457 Super 8 Motel - The Pas p: 204-623-1888 f: 204-623-4488 Toll Free: 1-800-800-8000 Watchi Bay Bed and Breakfast p: 204-623-4548 e: [email protected] w: www.bedandbreakfast.mb.ca Ac c om m o dat i o n s 115 Ac c om m o dat i o n s 116 Wescana Inn p: 204-623-5446 Toll Free: 1-800-665-9468 f: 204-623-3383 e: [email protected] w: www.wescanainn.com Thompson Best Western Thompson Hotel & Suites Mystery Lake Motor Hotel p: 204-778-8381 f: 204-778-4193 Toll Free: 1-800-442-0429 Northern Inn & Steakhouse p: 204-778-6481 f: 204-778-7601 Paint Lake Resort p: 204-778-8887 f: 204-778-8884 w: www.bestwesternthompson.ca p: 204-677-9303 Toll Free: 1-888-246-9749 e: [email protected] w: www.mysterycountry.com Burntwood Hotel Quality Inn p: 204-677-4551 Toll Free: 1-800-442-0635 f: 204-778-6219 e: [email protected] w: www.burntwoodhotel.com Thompson Inn Days Inn & Suites p: 204-778-6000 Toll Free: 1-800-DAYS-INN f: 204-778-6999 e: [email protected] w: www.daysinnthompson.com Friuli Suite Rentals / Extended Stay p: 204-677-3516 or 204-679-0159 e: [email protected] w: friulirentals.com Interior Inn p: 204-677-5600 p: 204-677-2371 Toll Free: 1-800-803-3182 f: 204-778-8442 e: [email protected] w: www.thompsoninn.com Thompson Lodge & Ecotourism Centre p: 204-677-5909 Wabowden Sasagui Rapids Lodge Ltd. p: 204-778-5535 Toll Free: 1-866-778-5535 f: 204-778-6658 e: [email protected] w: www.interiorinn.ca p: 204-677-9351 e: [email protected] w: www.sasagiurapids.com Lakeview Inn & Suites Setting Lake Wayside Park p: 204-778-8879 Toll Free: 1-800-355-3500 f: 204-677-3225 e: [email protected] w: www.lakeviewhotels.com/hotels/thompson/ McCreedy Park p: 204-778-8810 or 204-677-4837 e: [email protected] f: 204-677-8755 p: 204-689-2362 wanless Forest Grove Motel Meridian Hotel p: 204-682-7458 p: 204-778-8387 f: 204-677-4087 For more information on all accommodations in northern Manitoba, see www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca Toll Free: 1-800-565-2401 e: [email protected] f: 204-682-7002 2 4 H o u r G as S tat i o n s 117 24 hour gas stations Michael’s Corner Store & Esso (The Pas) 702 Gordon Ave. p: 204-623-7888 Grand Rapids Esso Northway Gas/ Petro-Canada (Thompson) 50 Selkirk Ave. p: 204-778-8555 Thompson Shell (Thompson) 745 Thompson Dr. p: 204-677-2023 Ponton Service Station (Ponton) Junction of Hwy 39 & Hwy 6 p: 204-689-9900 Penner Oil Cardlock (Wabowden) Junction of Hwy 6 & Fleming Dr. 24-hour access (any card) Pinisew Energy/Shell (Grand Rapids) Junction Hwy 6 & Hwy 60 p: 204-891-7266 (Grand Rapids) Hwy 6 p: 204-639-2459 Pelican Landing/ Shell (Grand Rapids) Hwy 6 p: 204-639-2402 OCN Shell (The Pas) Hwy 10 p: 204-623-4995 Flin Flon Co-op Cardlock (Flin FLon) 13 Timber Lane p: 204-687-7548 Leaf Rapids Consumers Co-op Cardlock (Leaf Rapids) Muhekun Rd. & Wuchusk Bay p: 204-473-2411 Dining Photo: Adventurer’s North Dining Room 118 Churchill Churchill Motel & Restaurant 152 Kelsey Blvd. p: 204-675-8853 Gypsy’s Bakery & Restaurant Soups, desserts, sandwiches, ribs, burgers, pizza. 153 Kelsey Blvd. p: 204-675-2322 Lazy Bear Café Fish, caribou, sandwiches, wraps, desserts, pasta. 313 Kelsey Blvd. p: 204-675-2969 Seaport Hotel 299 Kelsey Blvd. p: 204-675-8807 Cranberry Portage Coffee Shop 210 Portage Rd. Bison, elk, caribou, burgers, sandwiches, wings. 32 Franklin St. p: 204-675-8831 The Wong Kee Tundra Dining Room & Lounge p: 204-675-2827 p: 204-472-3520 CRoss Lake Kipapanow’s Restaurant Beardy Point p: 204-676-3536 R ‘n’ J’s Pizza & Restaurant Natamic Road Tundra Inn Open June-November. 24 Franklin St. Cranberry Portage p: 204-676-3328 Rosey’s Diner Settee Cres. p: 204-939-1694 Flin Flon Amigos Pizza & Tacos 308 Green St. p: 204-687-6241 Canton Restaurant 550 Creighton Ave. p: 204-688-7259 Chicken Chef Chicken, poutine, sandwiches, burgers, salads, desserts. Route 10 p: 204-687-3779 Crepes N Grapes 44 Main St. p: 204-687-3784 Hong Kong Restaurant & Take Out Burgers, noodles, rolls, rice, soups. 85 Main St. p: 204-687-4941 KFC 69-3rd Ave. p: 204-687-6078 Mike’s Ice N Burger Hut Burgers, desserts, subs, ice cream. 1 Island Dr. p: 204-687-8600 Gillam Motor Inn 119 Railway Ave. Happy Jack’s Canteen Gillam Recreation Centre, 235 Mattonabee Ave. p: 204-652-3162 w: www.townofgillam.com Lynn Lake Route 391 Bar & Grill 546 Sherritt Ave. Soups, sandwiches, subs, coffee. 114 Main St. p: 204-687-7676 Pizza Hut Express p: 204-356-8050 Norway House Roadhouse Restaurant 302040 Lakeside Dr. p: 204-359-4411 OPASKWAYAK CREE NATION Kikiwak Inn Niska Dining Room Hwy 10, Consol Tim Hortons Mugsy’s Deli p: 204-652-2670 Hwy 10 p: 204-623-1800 p: 204-623-1480 Snow Lake Soups, sandwiches, subs, coffee. 75 Church St. p: 204-687-8522 Angilina’s Pizza The Royal Rib & Steak House Diamond Willow Inn 93 Main St. p: 204-687-7966 Subway 137 Main St. p: 204-687-5558 Gillam 200 Lakeshore Dr. E p: 204-652-5026 p: 204-358-2611 p: 204-358-2842 Split Lake Morris Chicken 159 GD Gillam D’Lite 235 Railway Ave. 112 Elm St. p: 204-342-2004 Dining 119 Dining 120 The Pas A&W 1226 Gordon Ave. Burger King 125-2nd St. Thompson p: 204-623-2246 p: 204-623-6440 Burger Ranch Burgers, wraps, onion rings, desserts. Main St. p: 204-623-7153 Dairy Queen Brazier Store 333 Edwards Ave. Golden Star Chinese Food 404 Fischer Ave. p: 204-623-6322 p: 204-623-7879 McDonalds Open 24/7 – 212-1st St. p: 204-623-2120 p: 204-623-3431 p: 204-623-7025 Miss the Pas Restaurant Pasta, steaks, seafood, sandwiches. 158 Edwards Ave. p: 204-623-3130 Smoothies. 40 Seal Rd. p: 204-677-9642 p: 204-677-0111 Chicken Chef Chicken, pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads, poutine. 31 Selkirk Ave. p: 204-677-2331 Salads, soups, chili, sandwiches, ice cream. City Centre Mall p: 204-677-3997 Cruisin Fried Chicken City Centre Mall p: 204-623-7827 p: 204-778-8438 Domino’s Pizza Grapes Grill 146 Selkirk Ave. p: 204-677-4567 p: 204-677-3333 Hub of the North Steaks, salads, chicken, crab. 111 Churchill Dr. p: 204-778-5630 I Scream Shack 38 Berens Rd. KFC 240 Cree Rd. Subway 254 Fischer Ave. p: 204-778-4444 The Balance Bar 301-79 Selkirk Ave. The Lav Restaurant 1333 Gordon Ave. 721 Thompson Dr. p: 204-778-6500 Corner Deli Wings, ribs, pizza, poutine, burgers, pasta. 1607 Gordon Ave. p: 204-623-2412 1260 Gordon Ave. Baaco Pizza 4 Moak Cres. p: 204-623-6249 Good Thymes Restaurant & Bar KFC 77 Thompson Dr. Boston Pizza Fat Boy Restaurant 329 Fischer Ave. A&W p: 204-677-8010 p: 204-677-4664 McDonalds Venus Pizza Open 24/7. 217 Mystery Lake Rd. Wescana Inn Meridian Hotel Lone Wolf Cafe Salads, pasta, ribs, wings, pizza. 224 Fischer Ave. p: 204-623-6673 Burgers, poutine. 439 Fischer Ave. p: 204-623-5446 Breakfast & bannock. 183 Cree Rd. p: 204-778-7779 p: 204-778-8387 Mystery Lake Hotel Burgers, sandwiches, fish, steaks, chops, chicken, waffles, omelets. 58 Cree Rd. & Selkirk Ave. p: 204-778-8331 Northern Inn & Steak House 104 Hemlock Cres. p: 204-778-6481 Paint Lake Resort Hwy 6 south Pizza Hut 100 Thompson Dr. p: 1-888-246-9749 p: 204-677-7888 Popeye’s Open April-October. Hamburgers, French fries, smokies, hot dogs. 300 Mystery Lake Rd. p: 204-677-5575 p: 204-778-8899 River View Restaurant & Lounge 50 Selkirk Ave. (Thompson Plaza Mall) p: 204-677-2525 or 204-677-To-Go (8646) Robins Donuts & Deli 50 Selkirk Ave. (Thompson Plaza Mall) p: 204-677-4444 Santa Maria Pizza & Spaghetti House Open 24/7 – 11 Station Rd. p: 204-778-7331 Sasagiu Rapids Lodge Thai & Canadian specialties. Hwy 6 south 73 Thompson Dr. p: 204-677-2222 Taco Time 50 Selkirk Ave. (Thompson Plaza Mall) p: 204-778-6522 Tall’s Lunchbox 1-129 Hayes Rd. Tim Hortons 300 Mystery Lake Rd. p: 204-677-4433 p: 204-677-8467 Tom’s Restaurant & Pizza Place Pizza, pasta, steaks, salads, burgers, souvlaki. 236 Cree Rd. p: 204-677-1999 Wong’s Asian Bistro Soups, wings, chow mein, noodles. 745 Thompson Dr. p: 204-778-8880 Quiznos 50 Selkirk Ave. (Thompson Plaza Mall) Subway p: 204-677-9351 Wonton Place 717 Thompson Dr. p: 204-778-5578 WABOWDEN Wabowden Ice Cream parlour 18 Cran Dr. MY’S 100 Fleming Dr. p: 204-689-2247 p: 204-689-2530 Dining 121 Coverage Maps Courtesy oF MTS Cellular Coverage 122 Tourism North 123 Wilderness, wildlife, beautiful campgrounds and events such as Opaskwayak Indian Days are just a few of the attractions in northern Manitoba. 363 Crossley, THE PAS, MB 204-623-6469 Supermarket Shopping with Convenience Store Hours Carry-out Service Friendly Staff O pe n 7 9am to 10pm; Sun noon-5pm Days a Week – Mon-Sat I t i n e r a ry C u lt u r e 124 Take a Trip From Gillam Churchill TO in July Approximate distance: 290 kilometres (180 miles) Time this trip to take in the Fox Lake Cree Nation Powwow in Gillam July 11-13 or the Bear Fest music festival in Churchill July 19 — or do both. 1. T he powwow takes place at the baseball diamond and adjacent park right off PR 280 as you drive in to Gillam. Check in to the Gillam Motor Inn or camp at Stephens Lake Municipal Park, one kilometre southwest of town on Butneau Road. 1. Fox Lake Cree Nation Powwow York Factory Photo: Parks Canada Enjoy fishing and swimming, or take a jet boat tour with Nelson River Adventures (www.nelsonriveradventures.com). See shipwrecks and whitewater rapids and watch for seals, moose and polar bears during a six to eight-hour round trip to Port Nelson, or extend the tour by two hours and go all the way to York Factory. Shorter trips to Gull Rapids and the Kettle Generating Station are also available. 2. Churchill’s VIA Rail Station Photo: Heidi den Haan 3. 2. Park at the Gillam VIA Rail Station (www.viarail.ca) and board an overnight train to Churchill. There’s full meal service in July and the 9.5-hour ride takes you directly to the Parks Canada visitor centre at Churchill’s VIA Rail Station. 3. Check in to the Lazy Bear Lodge, where you can book a beluga whale watching tour. Take a hike to see wildflowers and check out a shipwreck. The MV Ithaca — once owned by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini — ran aground in 1961 and sits in tidal flats at the western tip of Bird Cove, about 20 kilometres east of town. Guides can take you to see Miss Piggy, a Lamb Air freight plane that crash-landed near town in 1979. The plane may have carried pigs at one time, but she’s named for her cargo capacity. Polar Bear Tours Fly out of Churchill to Thompson or directly to Winnipeg to connect to international destinations. I t i n e r a ry C u lt u r e 125 Take a Trip From Flin Flon Thompson TO in Winter Approximate distance: 384 kilometres (239 miles) Bring your snowmobile, skis and snowboard to take full advantage of a winter getaway. Plan your trip around the Thompson Winter Festival, the Snow Lake Whoot Festival or one of many ice fishing derbies held in March or April. 1. Photo: Richard Saucier I t i n e r a r y O u t d oo r 126 1. In Flin Flon, go cross-country skiing on several trails, including a loop that has lights for night skiing. Then pack up your gear and hit the road. Follow Hwy 10 south for about 67 kilometres, then turn left at Hwy 39. Travel 163 kilometres east to Hwy 6 and continue for another 152 kilometres directly on to Thompson. Or take a detour to Snow Lake, where you can ride on designated snowmobile trails within the town site, or pick up maps to explore a large network of Snow Lake Sno-Drifter’s club trails. 2. To reach Snow Lake, follow Hwy 39 east for about 100 kilometres from Hwy 10. Turn north on Hwy 39 and drive about 33 kilometres. I t i n e r a r y O u t d oo r 127 d 2. 3. Head back down Hwy 39 to continue on to Thompson, with a stop at Sasagiu Rapids Lodge (www.sasagiurapids. com) on Hwy 6. Park your snowmobile right outside your hotel room door and tuck into dinner at the lodge restaurant, which serves Thai and Canadian specialties. 3. Mystery Mountain Winter Park Northern Manitoba’s largest city isn’t the end of the road by a long stretch. From Thompson, you can ride on hundreds of kilometres of groomed snowmobile trails, cross-country ski on trails in the city and throughout the area, and enjoy downhill skiing and snowboarding at Mystery Mountain Winter Park (www.mysterymountain.ca). From downtown Thompson, follow Mystery Lake Road for about 10.6 kilometres to PR 280. Turn right and drive another 10 kilometres to the fun park. Itin e ra ry ARTS 128 Take a Trip From The Pas Flin Flon TO in September Approximate distance: 140 kilometres (87 miles) Plan your trip around Culture Days in late September, when groups in The Pas and Flin Flon pull out all the stops to make an artistic impression on residents and visitors. It’s a beautiful season for a drive. Fall foliage is in full colour and the weather is ideal for hiking at scenic stops along the route. 1. Sam Waller Museum 1. Start the day in The Pas at the Sam Waller Museum, where you’ll find exhibits from local visual artists in the Susan MacCharles Gallery year-round. The museum also hosts performances and special events. During Culture Days — a national program to raise awareness of arts and culture, held from Sept. 26-28 in 2014 — The Pas Arts Council might present everything from live theatre and musical performances, exhibitions, workshops and contests at several public venues. 3. 2. 3. C ontinue north for another 50 kilometres and set up camp at the Flin Flon Tourist Park and Campground, just off Hwy 10 as you enter the city, or continue on a few blocks west to the Victoria Inn. 2. Leaving The Pas, drive north on Hwy 10 about 90 kilometres to Cranberry Portage, which is home to several artists. You can’t miss the Northern Buffalo Sculptures gallery at the corner of Hwy 10 and Portage Road. Drop in to peruse soapstone and wood carvings. Then head down the block to the Cranberry Portage Coffee Shop to fuel up on pizza or the shop’s signature clubhouse sandwich. From the inn, follow Channing Drive west to Green Street, turn right and carry on about five blocks to the Northern Visual Arts Centre (www.norvacentre.com) at 177 Green St. The centre hosts arts events year-round. Check out exhibits in the gallery and browse for local artwork that’s available for sale. The Flin Flon Arts Council (www.flinflonartscouncil.com) is active throughout the year and hosts an exhaustive slate of events during Culture Days. Itin e ra ry ARTS 129 I t i n e r a r y O u t d oo r 130 Take a Trip From Thompson Lynn Lake TO in Summer Approximate distance: 322 kilometres (200 miles) Can’t decide between fishing and golfing? Days are so long in summer you can do both. And if you plan a trip from Thompson in late June, you can incorporate National Aboriginal Day celebrations or Thompson Nickel Days into your itinerary too. 1. 1. The first leg of a trip from Thompson is a short one for duffers. Drive three kilometres north on Mystery Lake Road (Hwy 391) and hang a right at the Thompson Golf Club (www.thompson.ca). Play a round and have an early lunch at the clubhouse, then continue your scenic journey northwest on Hwy 391 until you get to the end of the road — literally. You can’t miss the sports fishing mecca of Lynn Lake where Hwy 391 comes to an end. I t i n e r a r y O u t d oo r 131 2. 2. But you’ll want to make a stop along the way. About 216 kilometres northwest of Thompson, hang a right at Mehuken Road to enter the town of Leaf Rapids (www.townofleafrapids.com), or turn left four kilometres south of town and drop a line or take a refreshing swim at Turnbull Beach. Don’t worry about making the last tee time at the Leaf Rapids Golf Course — it’s open 24 hours a day in summer, and the green fees are free. 3. Zed Lake PRovincial PArk 3. Stick around to do some fishing in the Churchill River or continue along Hwy 391 for another 106 kilometres to Lynn Lake (www.lynnlake.ca). Turn north on Hwy 394 and drive 7.3 kilometres to Burge Lake Provincial Park, or carry on another 12 kilometres to Zed Lake Provincial Park. Set up camp near the lakeshore at either park and try your luck with the local walleye or northern pike. I t i n e r a ry L i v e ly 132 Take a Trip From Thompson The Pas TO in February Approximate distance: 4. 392 kilometres (243 miles) Northern Manitobans embrace winter, and February is the time to celebrate the season at winter festivals. 1. 1. In Thompson, you can have your snow cake and eat it too. Enjoy family-friendly activities every weekend in February in Thompson (www.thompson.ca), and take one weekend off to hit the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival — the biggest winter party in the North. Thompson WOlves Photo: Hans Pfaff 2. 3. Trappers’ Festival 2. From Thompson, head south on Hwy 6 for about 152 kilometres to Hwy 39. Continue west for 163 kilometres to Hwy 10. Turn left and carry on south for about 75 kilometres to The Pas and party central (www.trappersfestival.com). Along with dog sled races and a beer festival, there’s a long list of events to fill up your schedule for up to five days. 3. Bring your cross-country skis and take a few detours along the way to The Pas. Just 28 kilometres south of Thompson, turn left on Hwy 375 and continue for about five kilometres to Paint Lake Provincial Park. You can hang your hat at Paint Lake Resort and spend a day or two enjoying a network of crosscountry ski trails or even do a little ice fishing. 4. Snow Lake is another scenic stop along the way. About 63 kilometres along Hwy 39, turn right at Hwy 392 and travel north for about 33 kilometres. Take advantage of cross-country ski trails and warm hospitality, then head back south to Hwy 39 to complete your trip. I t i n e r a ry L i v e ly 133 take 5 Photogenic Facts Photo: Stan Milosevic www.manitobaphotos.com 1. 1. Stone markers that often take human form, Inukshuks are a unique form of communication in the far North. Traditionally built by Inuit people, they may have been used as navigational aids or signposts for fellow travellers, to mark a route or point to camps or hunting grounds, food caches and places of spiritual significance. Photo: Clint Sawchuk, Nelson River Adventures Fa s t fact s 134 2. 2. 3. 3. 4. 4. 5. 5. Polar bear cubs grow up fast, but not too fast. Females typically give birth to twin cubs, who stay with their mother for more than two years until they can fend for themselves. The Churchill Northern Studies Centre is a model of green construction. A certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold building, the centre was built on a previously disturbed site to minimize its footprint. Water from a nearby lake is treated on-site; a solar wall provides alternative energy and pre-heats incoming air; occupancy sensors control ventilation and the centre is equipped with composting toilets and low-flow showers and taps. Ancient esker formations like the ones pictured at left, near Gillam, are unique geological features of the northern landscape. Ridges made up of sand and gravel that formed beneath glacial ice thousands of years ago, they can be found near Leaf Rapids, Lynn Lake and other sites. Kwasitchewan Falls is the highest waterfall in Manitoba, and it provides one of the province’s best hiking opportunities. A 22-kilometre (13.2 mile) return hiking trail starts at Pisew Falls. Campsites are available at the end of the trail. Fa s t fact s 135 Dr iv e Sa fe 136 drive safe in winter Weather The Canadian Automobile Association and Transport Canada have compiled a safety brochure titled You, Your Vehicle and Winter Driving. It’s available to download at www.caa.ca. Safety Tips • Install four matching winter tires and ensure your battery is in good condition. • Avoid using cruise control on slippery roads. • The safest strategy is to avoid driving in bad weather conditions. Always tell someone where you are going, the route you plan to take and when you expect to arrive. • Give yourself extra time in bad weather. But be aware that snow and ice are more slippery at 0°C than at -20°C or below. • Watch for black ice at temperatures between 4°C and -4°C,where the road surface looks black and shiny. It is often found on shaded areas of the road, bridges and overpasses. • If driving becomes too risky, turn back or look for a safe place to stop. Make sure you have enough fuel. Try to keep the fuel tank at least half-full. • See and be seen. Remove all snow from your vehicle’s hood, roof, windows and lights. Clear all windows of frost and fog. • If visibility becomes poor, find a place to safely pull off the road as soon as you can. It’s best to stop at a rest area or exit the roadway and take shelter in a building. Put on your emergency flashers. • Avoid passing another vehicle when weather and road conditions are bad. Get the latest information on road conditions by calling Manitoba Highways toll-free at 511, or visit the website at www.mb511.ca. Dr iv e Sa fe 137 Pack a Winter Survival Kit Keep these items in your trunk: Shovel, sand or kitty litter, traction mats, tow chain, compass, cloth or roll of paper towels, warning light or road flares, extra clothing and footwear, emergency food pack, booster cables, matches and a “survival” candle in a deep can (to warm hands, heat a drink or use as an emergency light), fire extinguisher, extra windshield washer fluid, fuel line antifreeze, reflective vest. Keep these items inside your vehicle: Road maps, ice scraper and brush, flashlight, first aid kit, blanket (special “survival” blankets are best) and a fully charged cell phone. Carry a Northern Manitoba regional tourism guide and consult the list of 24-hour gas stations when planning your trip. If You’re Trapped in a Storm or Snow Bank Don’t do any heavy lifting, shovelling or pushing in the bitter cold — it can kill. Make sure the tailpipe is not blocked by snow, to keep carbon monoxide from entering your vehicle. If your vehicle is not at risk of being hit by other drivers, stay inside so you have shelter. Going out into a storm puts you at risk of getting lost, or suffering from the cold. You should also: • Keep a window on the side sheltered from the wind open slightly to supply fresh air. • Run your motor as little as possible. • Wear a hat, and use a survival candle for heat, instead of the vehicle’s heater. • Set out a warning light or flares. • Put on the dome light. (Overuse of headlights may run your battery down.) • Exercise your arms and legs often and stay awake. • Watch for traffic or searchers. In dex 138 Northern MANITOBA Summer Adventures Camping Fishing.............................................................. 4 Campgrounds.............................................41 Canoeing......................................................... 6 Portage............................................................ 6 Owl River......................................................... 7 Camping.......................................................... 8 Swimming/Beaches.................................... 9 Hiking.............................................................10 Geocaching..................................................12 Hunting..........................................................13 Rock Climbing.............................................14 Wildlife: Summer........................................14 Golfing...........................................................16 Winter Adventures Dog Sledding..............................................18 Skating...........................................................19 Curling............................................................20 Cross Country Skiing................................21 Downhill Skiing..........................................22 Ice Fishing.....................................................22 Wildlife: Winter............................................24 Snowmobiling............................................24 Outdoor Parks The Park Side...............................................28 Wapusk National Park..............................30 Bakers Narrows Provincial Park............33 Burge Lake Provincial Park.....................34 Caribou River Provincial Wilderness Park..........................................34 Clearwater Lake Provincial Park...........35 Grass River Provincial Park.....................36 Little Limestone Lake Provincial Park.............................................36 Numaykoos Lake Provincial Wilderness Park..........................................36 Paint Lake Provincial Park.......................37 Pisew Falls Provincial Park......................38 Sand Lakes Provincial Wilderness Park..........................................39 Wekusko Falls Provincial Park...............39 Zed Lake Provincial Park.........................40 Aurora Borealis Northern Light Show...............................42 Lively Gatherings Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival........................................44 Thompson Winterfest..............................45 Hudson Bay Quest.....................................45 Cross Lake Annual Winter Festival......45 Gillam Annual Winter Carnival.............46 Churchill Aurora Winterfest...................46 Snow Lake WInter Whoot Festival......46 Cranberry Portage Bombardier Rally.......................................46 Thompson Nickel Days............................47 Canada Day Celebrations.......................47 Immersive Culture National Aboriginal Day..........................48 Cross Lake Annual Treaty and Indian Days & Cross Lake Annual Campout.......................................49 Fox Lake Cree Nation Powwow...........49 Opaskwayak Indian Days........................50 Treaty & York Boat Days...........................50 Historic Places Hands-on History in Churchill..............51 Prince of Wales Fort NHS........................52 Cape Merry NHS.........................................52 Sloop Cove NHS.........................................53 York Factory NHS.......................................53 2 Left t PhotoS: Eva Muswagon, Cross Lake Band ART & ARTS Arctic Trading Company.........................54 Flin Flon Arts Council...............................54 The Pas Arts Council.................................55 Musical Routes............................................55 Northern Buffalo Art Gallery.................55 Blue Heron Stained Glass Mosaics......55 Jasyn Lucas Art Studio.............................56 Sweet Nothings Art Gallery...................56 National Exhibition Centre.....................56 Eskimo Museum.........................................56 Museums Heritage North Museum.........................57 Eskimo Museum.........................................58 Flin Flon Station Museum......................58 Lynn Lake Mining Town Museum.......58 Sam Waller Museum.................................59 Snow Lake Mining Museum..................59 Regional Map & Communities Northern Manitoba Map........................60 Churchill........................................................62 Cranberry Portage.....................................66 Cross Lake.....................................................68 Flin Flon.........................................................70 Gillam.............................................................74 Grand Rapids...............................................76 Leaf Rapids...................................................78 Lynn Lake......................................................80 Norway House............................................82 Opaskwayak Cree Nation.......................84 Snow Lake.....................................................86 The Pas...........................................................88 Thompson....................................................92 Wabowden...................................................98 2 Right PhotoS: Clint Sawchuk, Nelson River Adventures Annual Events February..................................................... 100 March........................................................... 100 April.............................................................. 101 May............................................................... 101 June.............................................................. 102 July................................................................ 102 August......................................................... 103 September................................................. 103 November.................................................. 103 December.................................................. 103 Tourism North Getting here.............................................. 104 Tour Operators & Outfitters................ 106 Accommodations................................... 112 24 Hour Gas Stations............................. 117 Dining/Restaurants................................ 118 Cellular Coverage Maps....................... 122 Itinerary Culture Gillam to Churchill in July........................................................... 124 Flin Flon to Thompson in Winter..................................................... 126 The Pas to Flin Flon in September............................................ 128 Thompson to Lynn Lake in Summer................................................. 130 Thompson to The Pas in February................................................ 132 In dex 139 Nort h Tou r is m Photo: Eva Muswagon, Cross Lake Band Visit our Website You’ll find information about outdoor sports and recreation, attractions, festivals and everything you need to know to make the most of your northern vacation at www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca See us on Instagram Visit our Instagram pages at www.instagram.com/tourismnorth! to check out photos of spectacular scenery, wildlife, sports action, northern lights and tantalizing food. Then come on up and see the real thing. Contact Tourism North Mail: Tourism North Coordinator c/o Community Futures North Central Development Box 1208, 3 Station Rd.,Thompson, MB R8N 1P1 p: 204-677-1494 e: [email protected] w: www.visitnorthernmanitoba.com