Top 13 Snowshoeing Trails in and around Winnipeg
Winnipeg winters can be a test of character. But for those who embrace the season’s icy grip (including myself!), a magical world unfolds when sparkling snow blankets the city.
This is where one of my favorite winter activities, snowshoeing, comes in! It’s a fantastic way to break a sweat, breathe in the crisp air, and leave footprints in a pristine world.
It really doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned adventurer seeking challenging backcountry trails or a curious newcomer wanting a gentle stroll through a snowy park, Winnipeg’s got all kinds of trails in the area.
Here are some of my favorite snowshoeing trails in and around the city!
Snowshoe Trails in Winnipeg
1. Assiniboine Park
The most popular trail, either for snowshoeing in the winter or walking and hiking any other time of the year, is probably Assiniboine Park.
It’s a popular attraction in the city, and the trails are pretty well-established, so it’s ideal for any skill level, especially beginners. You’ll mostly hear locals call it “Monkey Trails.”
What I like about this trail is there are plenty of other sights to see when you’re done snowshoeing. It has an outdoor theater, a zoo, a garden, a conservatory, and more!
2. Seine River South Trail
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This trail is more popular in the summer since the tree canopies provide shade for countless activities, but it’s still a great spot for snowshoeing in the wintertime.
The highest elevation is only about 4 meters, so it’s safe to say that it’s an easy trail. There are well-kept trails that make it ideal for families with kids, but there are other slightly unkempt paths if you like to have your own adventure away from other hikers.
Lots of locals like to cycle here, so I suggest staying on the side trails instead of the main trails for a hassle-free adventure.
3. Crescent Drive Park
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Crescent Drive Park is close to a residential neighborhood, so it’s quite popular with families and kids. The eastern side of the park, right next to the Red River, is a breeze to hike as it’s fairly well-established.
For beginners, one of the upsides of snowshoeing here is there are plenty of park benches overlooking the river, so stopping for a breather while sightseeing is pretty common.
There are other forest trails with fenced borders here, too, if you prefer a less popular path.
Do note that this snowshoe trail sees a lot of wildlife passing by. You could observe from afar, but make sure that you don’t feed them.
4. Churchill Drive
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This trail is right by the banks of the Riverview and Lord Roberts neighborhoods and it’s well-maintained since it’s next to the Red River.
The area is mostly residential and even has a playground, so it’s also frequented by families with children.
The terrain is pretty flat so it’s certainly easy to pave your own way. Depending on your pace, the longest snowshoeing can take is 3 hours at maximum.
5. FortWhyte Alive
What’s great about this trail is there are guided snowshoeing expeditions offered, so keep an eye out if you want to join a group.
Otherwise, it has one of the longest trails for snowshoeing in the city and it’s ideal for intermediate to seasoned adventurers.
The various terrains make for moderate difficulty. You can expect wetlands, forest trails, frozen lakes, and more.
This trail offers other fun outdoor activities as well, so if you want to make a day out of snowshoeing, it’s a great spot for your adventure. Occasionally, you might come across a herd of bison, too!
6. Transcona Bioreserve Loop
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If you want a quick snowshoeing adventure within the city, the loop trail at Transcona Bioreserve is a good choice. The path is mostly flat with 2 meters of elevation at maximum, so it really won’t take over 30 minutes to complete.
Underneath the snow, the trail is mostly gravel, so it gets kind of wet in shallow areas if you are to hike here between winter and spring when the ice starts to melt. Otherwise, hiking in the peak winter season is as easy as pie.
Snowshoe Trails near Winnipeg (within 30 kilometers)
1. La Barriere Park
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If you’re in South Winnipeg around the St. Norbert area, La Barriere Park might be a good option for snowshoeing.
There are several trails at the park but since it is a fairly known attraction, the trails have been maintained for locals and tourists alike. The hike should be mostly easy to moderate depending on your skill level.
Since the trails here are fairly lengthy, snowshoeing is a pretty common activity. There are some steep terrains for experienced adventurers, so bringing crampons might be necessary too if you like better traction.
One of the things I like about this trail is that it’s pet-friendly!
2. Cedar Bog Trail
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Peppered with cedar trees towering over the grounds, this trail is a beauty at any season. But in my opinion, wintertime is the best season to snowshoe here. You can’t beat the pops of green against the icy background.
The main trail is relatively flat, and it’s popular amongst fur parents hiking with their pups. It can be busy at times, but in my experience, even when there are lots of cars in the parking lot, the West Pine Ridge area has various other trails that people are spaced out enough.
I’d recommend this for beginners or for those who don’t really hike that much since there are no steep spots.
3. Beaudry Provincial Park
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Beaudry is considerably huge and there are so many trails around, particularly for skiing in the winter, so make sure you ask which ones are for walking.
The walking trails here are flat but I’d recommend bringing poles if you can manage it ‘cause some of them are long. There are picnic tables at the trailhead, along with an outhouse and several fire pits.
The last time I was here, there was only one trail that allowed pets, and I’m not sure about the policy now, so just keep that in mind if you’re planning to bring your fur pal.
Snowshoe Trails near Winnipeg (more than 30 kilometers)
1. Bear Lake Trail
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For those who prefer snowshoeing for serious exercise, Bear Lake Trail is a good pick. It’s 6 kilometers of trails without relatively good views, just forest trails.
It’s a straightforward route that’ll take about 4 hours if you’re going at a normal pace.
The trail is mostly flat but there are steep ups and downs throughout, particularly towards the end. I’d say this is a moderate to difficult hike due to rocky spots and areas with large tree roots that can get difficult to cross.
At some parts of the trail, it is kind of marshy so I’d recommend appropriate hiking shoes. It’s highly recommended that hikers bring a bear spray and bell too.
2. McGillivray Falls Trail
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For difficult trails with great payoffs, I cannot recommend the McGillivray Falls loop enough. The views and the plant life are just simply stunning.
While there is a shorter loop at McGillivray, I suggest doing the long loop as it is much more peaceful. It’s also denser and more diverse.
One disclaimer I have for this trail is the terrain is really steep throughout, not to mention, rocky. I’m no expert, so it took me longer than average to complete the loop.
Even if you’re not an avid hiker, I’d still recommend this to any adult for the views alone. I strongly discourage families with kids from hiking here.
3. Brule Trail
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This trail within Riding Mountain National Park is easy to find at the beginning of Highway 19. There are other trails in the area so make sure you are on the Brule route as the others are for cross-country skiing (Grey Owl’s) and multi-use (Kinosao).
Brule is friendly to beginners with some tree rooting along the way, so keep an eye out for those especially if kids are hiking with you.
This trail is swarmed by mosquitoes in the summer, and while there are fewer insects in the winter, I’d still recommend bringing a bug spray or applying lots of repellent lotion.
4. Grazier Manufacturing Trail
While Grazier ranges from moderate to difficult, the views of Thunderhill and Swan Valley alone are so worth the effort. I’d recommend this to expert hikers only as most of the trail is unmarked and some spots are overgrown, which can be challenging.
There’s not much flat ground too, and the trail end is completely uphill. I’ve never encountered a bear here, but there are indications of them throughout so I’d suggest bringing a spray for safety.