Winnipeg sometimes flies under the radar, but it’s a treasure. Discover these brilliant outdoor activities in Winnipeg for your next trip.
When I told my friends I was traveling to Winnipeg, I was met with one singular, jabbing question: “Why?”
But, you see, the beauty of traveling isn’t always in going to those iconic, Instagram-famous destinations. It’s also about the surprise of finding out a totally unexpected place actually has a TON of fun, beautiful, and quirky surprises around every corner.
If there’s one thing I learned from traveling up to Manitoba for the first time, it’s that there are so many outdoor activities in Winnipeg — and that it was a seriously unexpected treat.
I was able to spend a few days exploring Manitoba’s capital city, and needless to say, I was VERY pleasantly surprised with what I found.
Not going to lie, I enjoyed my trip there so much that I’d consider going back…in the winter. Yep, that’s how great those Manitobans were at selling me on their beautiful province and capital city.
Anyway, I’ll stop rambling now and let my photos and experiences do the talking. Here’s the lowdown on actually awesome things to do in Winnipeg, Manitoba!
Table of Contents
- Stroll the Riverside Trails
- Go Bird and Bison Watching at FortWhyte Alive
- Kayak One of Winnipeg’s Two Rivers
- Explore the Neighbourhoods by Bike
- Grab a Cold One at The Forks Market
- Admire the Wildlife at Oak Hammock Marsh
- Take a City Walking Tour
- Go to Folk Fest (or Another Amazing Festival)
- Sample Locally-Sourced Ingredients at One of Winnipeg’s Best Restaurants
- Go For a Morning Run Through the Main Attractions
- Wind Down in a Thermal Cycle at Thermea Spa
- Go For a Day Trip to a Nearby Provincial Park or Beach
12 Awesome Outdoor Activities in Winnipeg
Stroll the Riverside Trails
With its location at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, Winnipeg has several kilometres of walking, running and biking trails running along the riverside — you can wander pretty much forever without retracing your steps.
If you have limited time, I’d recommend starting at The Forks and heading north. Along the way, you catch sweeping views of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Basilica, and the Winnipeg skyline.
One of my favourite local tips: in winter, the riverside trails are converted into ice skating lanes — a completely unique way to explore the city if you happen to be visiting during the colder months. I’ve never used ice skating as a method of transportation, and it’s very much something I want to try.
Go Bird and Bison Watching at FortWhyte Alive
If you’re after a more remote nature experience (but still within city limits), hop in the car and head to FortWhyte Alive, a nature preserve on the southwest side of town. The preserve is home to several kilometres of beautiful wooded trails with viewpoints for spotting the resident bison herd, a variety of bird species, and marsh wildlife.
You could spend the whole day here: wandering the gravel trails, renting a canoe to explore the waterways, or hiring one of the preserve’s bikes to zip around the various trails. It’s a genuinely lovely urban escape.
Kayak One of Winnipeg’s Two Rivers
On my last night in Winnipeg, I had the immense pleasure of doing a sunset paddle on the river. While Winnipeg’s rivers aren’t exactly the most rugged wilderness, they offered an alternative view of the city that was especially beautiful during the golden hours of the evening.
My guide Sam explained that most of his company’s tours are geared toward getting people out of the city, either on short two-to-three-day paddling trips or on longer skill-building expeditions. But the in-city sunset paddle was perfect for a short visit — a genuinely peaceful way to end a day in Winnipeg.
Explore the Neighbourhoods by Bike
Once you’ve been in Winnipeg for five minutes, you’ll realise that locals love to ride their bikes around. At Folk Fest, there was an entire section of the parking lot solely dedicated to bikes. Winnipeggers love their wheels, and as a visitor, the best way to do the city justice is by exploring in the same way.
If you stay at Inn at the Forks, they have a free bike-share programme where guests can borrow a bike for two hours. Alternatively, bike rentals are available at several shops in the city for half and full-day increments.
Once you’ve got wheels, I’d recommend checking out the Exchange District (cute shops and excellent coffee), Osborne Village (one of the best foodie destinations in the city), and Saint Boniface (the French district — you’ll feel like you’ve wandered into Europe for an hour).
Grab a Cold One at The Forks Market
Situated at the convergence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, The Forks Market is the converted rail terminal that’s now the social heart of the city — and the place I spent the most time during my visit.
Head outside to The Common bar, where they serve a rotating selection of beers and wines on tap. The specific rotation changes regularly, which is part of the fun. Aside from The Common, The Forks Market has an excellent range of food stalls and independent shops.
For something casual, Red Ember Common does amazing pizza at the market (the Hot n’ Honey — spicy salami, tomato sauce, sweet honey drizzle — is to die for).
Admire the Wildlife at Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre
If you’re an avid animal lover, head to Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre to meet some of Manitoba’s local species, on land and in the water. With over 30 kilometres of trails and several paddling options through the marsh areas, the centre provides an amazing opportunity to immerse yourself in some of the most fascinating ecosystems that the Winnipeg area has to offer.
Take a City Walking Tour
Walking tours are one of my favourite ways to see a city — what’s better than a local guide giving you the scoop on a destination while you get some exercise? Winnipeg has walking tours of the Exchange District — the city’s “Original Downtown” — for a great, inexpensive way to learn the history and quirks of the neighbourhood. Alternatively, you can DIY your own walking tour using one of the many free routes published by local tourism organisations.
Go to Folk Fest (or Another Amazing Festival)
One of the highlights of my trip was spending a couple of days at the annual Winnipeg Folk Festival, lovingly coined “Folk Fest” by the locals. This camp-and-commute festival attracts a brilliant mix of local and international artists for four days of musical bliss. (Sidebar: I got to see Death Cab for Cutie there, and high school me can die happy now!)
Aside from the music, the festival has tons of local artisans and food vendors offering delicious treats and cool crafts to take home.
Not in town for Folk Fest? Don’t fret — Winnipeg has festivals year-round, even in the depths of winter. The Festival du Voyageur in February is one of Winnipeg’s best-kept secrets — a celebration of French-Canadian and Métis heritage with outdoor skating, live music, and enough poutine to last a lifetime. I’m seriously tempted to go back in the freezing cold just to see it.
Sample Locally-Sourced Ingredients at One of Winnipeg’s Best Restaurants
You probably didn’t expect this, but Winnipeg is an amazing foodie city. Some of the best meals I’ve had in recent years were in Winnipeg, and I was consistently blown away by the variety and quality.
Here are the places I’d return to immediately:
Feast Cafe & Bistro: A First Nations-owned diner serving traditional and fusion dishes starring the traditional bread called bannock. Get the “eggs banny” for breakfast.
Clementine: One of Winnipeg’s favourite brunch spots, with really inventive dishes. I had the mushroom toast and curry cauliflower — and ate both, don’t judge.
Red Ember Common: Amazing pizza at affordable prices, inside The Forks Market. The Hot n’ Honey is the one.
Passero: Widely regarded as one of Winnipeg’s best restaurants, Passero has since moved from its original Forks Market location to a larger, gorgeous space on Corydon Avenue in the city’s Little Italy neighbourhood. Chef Scott Bagshaw and the team serve Italian and Mediterranean share plates — the beef tartare on a potato cake and the hand-cut tagliatelle with beef cheek ragù are stand-out dishes. Reservations are essential, generally needed well in advance.
Baked Expectations: After dinner, head to this Osborne Village institution for amazing sweet treats and desserts. An institution.
Go For a Morning Run Through the Main Attractions
Winnipeg’s central area is so compact that you can see many of the main museums and attractions within a 5-kilometre running loop — which is a wonderful way to get some exercise while getting the lay of the land. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Manitoba Museum, and the Capitol building are all on the route.
If you’re staying at Inn at the Forks, ask about their guided 5km running tours to the main landmarks, led by a local guide — a lovely way to start the day.
Wind Down in a Thermal Cycle at Thermea Spa
Saving the best for almost last — Thermea Spa. Thermea is a Nordic-style spa featuring several saunas, hot pools, cold pools, and relaxation areas built around the principle of the thermal cycle: heat up for several minutes in a sauna, take a polar plunge into a cold pool, drink hot tea and relax for 30 minutes, then repeat.
It sounds terrifying, but it’s basically heaven. I booked one of their body treatments — the Vivifying Treatment — and was so relaxed I actually fell asleep while my esthetician was working. I left on a total cloud. I’ve been frantically looking for Nordic spas ever since to replicate the experience.
I’m not sure anything else will come close.
Go For a Day Trip to a Nearby Provincial Park or Beach
If you’re up for a day-long adventure, the area around Winnipeg has beautiful spots in every direction. Head to peaceful Hecla on Lake Winnipeg for rocky beaches, lush marshes, coastal lighthouses and an Icelandic heritage village (there’s even a lakeside hotel if you want to extend your stay). Alternatively, hit the sand at Winnipeg Beach, paddle through Steep Rock, or explore the remarkable sand dunes and hike the “Devil’s Punchbowl” at Spirit Sands Provincial Park. The hardest part is choosing.
Practical Tips for Visiting Winnipeg
Where to Stay in Winnipeg
Where you stay in Winnipeg really matters. The Forks neighbourhood is centrally located and gives you easy access to pretty much anywhere you’d want to go. I stayed at the lovely Inn at the Forks, which is right next to The Forks Market and walking distance to the rivers and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. It has free bike lending, a workout space and great rooms — a solid choice for an active visitor.
Getting Around Winnipeg
Within the downtown area, getting around is easy — cabs, bikes, or simply on foot all work well. Most of my exploring was done on foot, and it really gave me a great sense of the city’s character.
For out-of-city destinations like FortWhyte Alive, Oak Hammock Marsh, or any of the day trips mentioned above, you’ll want to rent a car. Most major rental companies have airport desks.
Things to do Outdoors in Winnipeg: Read Next
Love This? Save and Share on Pinterest!
Discover the top things to do, insider tips and hidden gems in our Canada Travel Guide.
Read the guides →
