Reserve your Manitoba camping spots now

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/04/2023 (913 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I’ve written previous columns about some of our 92 provincial parks here in Manitoba. This year, the province is introducing a new, staggered online booking system that is intended to make the reservation process easier. At the same time, it’s also a little more complicated — because when you can book depends on where you want to go.

Camping reservations will take place over six days, starting at 7 a.m. On Monday, April 3, bookings opened for all cabins, yurts, and group-use areas. On April 5, you can book spots in western and northern parks. On April 11, reservations will open for Birds Hill and Winnipeg Beach. On April 12, South Whiteshell opens for bookings, while North Whiteshell and Nopiming open the following day. Bookings for all other locations will be open on April 14.

The best thing about Manitoba’s provincial parks is the diversity of places to choose from. In the Northern region, Burge Lake Provincial Park is a small, scenic campground about 10 kilometers north of Lynn Lake. It’s quiet and peaceful, with complimentary firewood, a hand-pump water station, and a shelter where groups can gather together for picnics. The lake itself is clean and clear, with a beautiful sandy beach, a children’s playground, and a fish-cleaning shed for anglers who will undoubtedly enjoy the excellent pickerel and pike fishing.

In the Central region, you’ll find Lundar Beach Provincial Park on the eastern shore of Lake Manitoba. This natural marshland setting is paradise for birders, with an abundance of songbirds, ducks, geese, and pelicans in the area. For hikers, there is a three-kilometre trail that skirts the edge of the campground. The sprawling beach is ideal for beachcombing, swimming, paddling, or playing beach volleyball and horseshoes. Nearby, in town, the Lundar Museum features the former Canadian National Railway station, a one-room schoolhouse, two log houses, an Icelandic library, and more.

In the Western region, Kettle Stones Provincial Park can be found on the north side of the Kettle Hills in the Swan-Pelican Provincial Forest. The main attractions here are the features known locally as the kettle stones – sandstone formations from millions of years ago that were revealed when ancient Lake Agassiz retreated. The meadows on which they sit are home to large patches of big bluestem, a grass associated with the tall grass prairie, while the surrounding forest is steeped in aromatic fragrances of jack pine, juniper, cedar, spruce, birch, and aspen.

In the Eastern region, Pinawa Dam Provincial Heritage Park is located on the Winnipeg River system. Manitoba’s first hydro-electric generating station, Pinawa Dam was developed in response to growing demand for residential and commercial power in pre-war Winnipeg. It was in use from 1906 until 1951, when it was closed to allow the full flow of the Winnipeg River to serve the Seven Sisters hydro station downstream. Today you can still explore the ruins of the former dam, which somewhat resembles a historic Roman aqueduct.

While the new online booking system is supposed to be easier to navigate, a good, old-fashioned phone call will also do the trick. You can still book your summer spot through the Manitoba Parks call centre by phoning 1-888-482-2267.

Good luck, and happy camping!