There are events to enjoy all year - and something almost every weekend in the Summer for singles, couples or families.
The Southgate Motor Inn & Bar is located in Manitoba, just minutes outside Riding Mountain National Park. The Motor Inn has 6 newly renovated rooms, and we have a separate "Hunting Lodge" steps away from the main building. The Gate Cafe serves home style breakfast, lunch and dinner - as well as Tony's Pizza and Chester Fried Chicken. The Southgate Bar serves you favourite cocktails all year-around. We also have VLT's (Video Lottery Terminals) for gambling fun. Our Beer Vendor is open late and has more than 30 different kinds of cold beer and coolers.
Clear Lake Golf Course, with lush fareways, manicured greens, natural landscape, challenging holes and a spectacular setting - it is one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in North America. Reservations are recommended and can be made by phoning (204) 848-GOLF.
The new 9 holes of
Lakewood Hills Golf Course is minutes away in Onanole.
The lakes of Riding Mountain National Park are open for fishing. Clear Lake, Lake Audy, Moon Lake and Whirlpool Lake offer great northern pike fishing. Other fish species include walleye, white fish and perch in Clear Lake, while Lake Katherine and Deep Lake have a limited number of rainbow and brook trout. Winter or ice fishing is allowed on Clear lake for most of the winter. A national park fishing licence is required, and may be picked up in Wasagaming or in surrounding towns. Information on locations for purchasing fishing licences, fees and limits are available by calling 1-800-727-8480 or (204) 848-7275, or by visiting the Visitor Centre.
Manitoba is home to many unique species of bird, and the Riding Mountain Area is a haven for casual or serious birders alike.
Birdwatching in the Riding Mountain Area
Hunting Dates 2003-2006.
Manitoba Provincial Hunting Guide
Snowmobiling in Riding Mountain National park is restricted to the surface of Clear Lake and along the park boundary. No other areas within the Park are designated for this activity. .
Riding Mountain National Park offers some of southwestern Manitoba's best skiing. Trails vary from easy to difficult. There are also lighted ski trails and skate-skiing trails. Warming shelters are found on several trails. Cairn's cabin, situated on the Ochre River trail, provides a base for winter ski touring. The cabin must be booked in advance and you must obtain a permit for winter camping in the back country of Riding Mountain. For permits call: 1-800-707-8480 or (204) 848-7275 or by visiting the Visitor Centre in person.
With more than 400 km (250 miles) of trails, Riding Mountain offers a variety of walking and hiking opportunities. Choose from a short walk on one of the self-guided trails, a longer day hike into Grey Owl's cabin or around Moon Lake, or take a multi-day trip into the back country. To ensure that you have a pleasant stay, be sure to boil all water before use (water sources in Wasagaming are potable). You must obtain a permit for camping in the back country of Riding Mountain. For permits call: 1-800-707-8480 or (204) 848-7275 or by visiting the Visitor Centre in person.
The best way to experience the park is by spending a night or two camping out under the stars. The park's habitat varies from the rugged gorges of the east side of the park to the tall evergreens of the Central portion to the meadows of the western portion. Trail surfaces vary from partially gravelled patrol roads to grassy trails. Wet conditions may be encountered, particularly in the spring. Flooding on the trails, caused by beaver dams, is occasionally a problem. To ensure that you have a pleasant stay, be sure to boil all water before use (water sources in Wasagaming are potable). You must obtain a permit for camping in the back country of Riding Mountain. For permits call: 1-800-707-8480 or (204) 848-7275 or by visiting the Visitor Centre in person.
Mountain biking is growing in popularity in the park due to the partially gravelled patrol roads found in the western and eastern portions of the Park. Trails vary in difficulty from the easy gently rolling trails of the Central, Baldy Lake and Strathclair trails to the rugged and extremely hilly Packhorse, Jet and Baldy Hill trails. Other back country trails are acceptable for biking, but most day-use trails are off-limits to biking. To ensure that you have a pleasant stay, be sure to boil all water before use (water sources in Wasagaming are potable). If camping in the back country, you must obtain a permit for camping in the back country of Riding Mountain. For permits call: 1-800-707-8480 or (204) 848-7275 or by visiting the Visitor Centre in person.
Horse use is allowed on most back country trails, allowing for an experience you won't likely forget. If you do not have your own horse and equipment, contact one of our many local outfitters for numerous choices of riding experiences. If you have your own horses check out information on trails to see where you can go riding for a day trip or even overnight. The main trails used by horseback riders include the South Escarpment trail, North Escarpment trail, Ochre River trail and Central trail area. To ensure that you have a pleasant stay, be sure to boil all water before use (water sources in Wasagaming are potable). You must obtain a permit for camping in the back country of Riding Mountain. For permits call: 1-800-707-8480 or (204) 848-7275 or by visiting the Visitor Centre in person.
Bison Range: Driving tours of the Bison (Buffalo) enclosure will bring you close to over 40 of these once endangered giants. Lake Audy Road - North West of Clear Lake - ask at the Visitor Centre for more information.
Moose, Deer, Elk: The park is home to all of these large animals. Most can been seen from designated trails and lookouts.
Black Bears: The park was once home to the largest black bear ever recorded (over 800lbs), and the shy buy unpredictable black bear lives happily around the parkland.
Coyote, Wolf and the Lynx: The cry of the coyote can be heard regularly in the quiet of the night. While the howl of the wolf is less frequent - it is much more haunting. The elusive lynx (bobcat), cousin of the mountain lion, is at home in the carniforous vegetation of the park.
Manitoba is the land of 100,000 lakes and the Parkland area has many large lakes for boating, skiing, wakeboarding or tubing - as well as many smaller lakes for canoeing and kayaking. Ski, sail, pontoon, fishing, canoe, kayak and paddle boats can be rented on Clear Lake at the Marina on Clear Lake - located in the Wasagaming townsite, on the Main Pier.
Motorized boats are allowed on Clear Lake, Lake Audy and Moon Lake. Boat launches are found on Clear Lake and Lake Audy, while boats and motors must be carried 300 metres (1000 feet) at Moon Lake. Only non-motorized watercraft are allowed on Deep Lake, Lake Katherine and Whirlpool Lake, and all back country lakes.
Prairie winds and clear water make Clear Lake one of the best spots for sailing in southwestern Manitoba. Most launching occurs at the boat cove in Wasagaming, where ample parking is available. Clear Lake is 25 sq. km (9.6 sq. miles), making for ideal sailing, however, strong winds can be encountered. Sailing is allowed on all other accessible lakes in the park, but their small size makes Clear Lake your best bet.
Clear Lake, with its sandy beaches and clear water, is the most popular spot for swimming. The main beach area in Wasagaming has change rooms and washrooms, as well as outdoor showers. There are numerous other spots for swimming around the lake as well. Other lakes used for swimming include Lake Katherine, Lake Audy and Moon lake. Most other Park lakes have muddy bottoms, but swimming is possible. Please remember that all swimming areas are unsupervised. Finally, swimmers itch, a small parasite that causes itching and irritation, is found in most park waters. Simple precautions of coating your skin with mineral or cooking oil, or rubbing skin vigorously with a towel following swimming should prevent any complications.
For those who prefer the underwater view, the crystal spring waters of Clear Lake provide ample opportunity for scuba diving. The deepest point in the lake is approximately 34 m (112 feet) deep. Divers are asked to register for their dives by contacting the Park prior to using the facilities set up for divers at Glen Beag day-use area.
Let your visit to RMNP be an opportunity for unique learning experiences. During the summer season, the park presents a variety of programs – everything from car caravans and guided hikes to campfire programs and evening programs. The park also offers special programming for schools. Other organizations offer programming as well, including the Annishinabe Village, and Riding Mountain Parks Plus People (our co-operating association). Finally, the Riding Mountain Historical Society maintains the Pinewood Museum at 154 Wasagaming Drive.
Why not view Riding Mountain in the style of early pioneers? Horsedrawn wagons are suitable for use on some back country trails and campsites, including the Central, Strathclair and North Escarpment Trail. If you don't have the equipment, local outfitters will provide you with a thrilling and unique outdoor experience. To ensure that you have a pleasant stay, be sure to boil all water before use (water sources in Wasagaming are potable). You must obtain a permit for camping in the back-country of Riding Mountain. For permit call: 1-800-707-8480 or (204) 848-7275. Up-to-date information on trails or back country camping is available by following these links, or by visiting the Visitor Centre in person.
Bring along your picnic basket and enjoy a relaxing luncheon at one of 13 picnic sites. These sites are equipped with barbecue pits, pit privies, and most have access to drinking water. To ensure that you have a pleasant stay, be sure to boil all water before use (water sources in Wasagaming are potable).
For the sport enthusiast, six courts await you at the Clear Lake Tennis Courts. These feature an excellent up-to-date playing surface. Lessons are available for all levels. You can join in on a friendly open-mixer or some of the seasonal tournaments. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 848-2649.
With the Riding Mountains climbing 300 metres (1000 feet) above the surrounding plains, great viewpoints are easy to come by. From Agassiz Tower situated on Hwy #10, look out over the town of Dauphin or catch a sunset. Along Hwy #19, one km (0.6 mile) east of the Dead Ox Creek picnic site, gaze out on the Manitoba plain ... perhaps you will see Lake Manitoba in the distance. Finally, on the bicycle path at the end of Wasagaming Drive, watch as Clear Lake's waters change from various hues of blue through green.
