The Weekend Warrior
Get Away For Fun & Adventure This Fall
Ready for a recharge? Consider a weekend getaway in Northern Manitoba. We have a vast and varied landscape, filled with places of immense beauty, quiet and all the room you need to unplug and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Our area has a reputation for pristine lakes and forests, with numerous remote lodges fit for people keen on fishing, hiking, and exploring the outdoors. Lodge food is hearty and plentiful, accommodations are cozy, and outdoor fire pits are the perfect place to warm up while enjoying the star filled sky (and maybe you’ll catch some northern lights too). Even if you’re not the “outdoorsy type”, The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) and area has plenty of things for you to enjoy time away, on your own or with friends and family.
Load up your device with your favourite audiobook, music or podcast, fill up your vehicle with gas and snacks and enjoy the beautiful colours of a fall drive north. Watch for the moose, bears and other wildlife along the way. Stop to break at some of the monuments along the way or visit a quaint, small community restaurant or gas station to refuel and stretch. It may be a longer drive than most weekend getaways you’ve taken, but we promise it’s worth the trip! For more details and tips on the trip north read this blog post: The Trek North.
Northern Manitoba is a place that boasts wildlife viewing, world class fishing, stunning scenery, and various accommodations to suit your preference. After a day of adventuring, you want to be able to kick back, relax, and savour the memories you’ve made. Once you arrive, you have a number of great places you can check into if you haven’t booked one already (booking ahead is strongly recommended). You may prefer to stay at a lodge, b&b or enjoy the finer comforts of a hotel. Check here for a listing of great places to STAY.
It’s a scientific fact that being in nature makes us happier and healthier. A quick escape to the woods is the ultimate form of medicine.
We have great hikes for all experience levels, in the town of The Pas and further north. Within the town, the two most popular hikes include the Rosie Mayne Nochemek Trail and the lovely lookout, boardwalk & trails of Opasquia Trails by the Grace Lake Airport. One can also simply walk around the town itself, enjoying the many murals, shops and river views. Follow the paths or make your own.
Out of town trails include those found at Clearwater Lake Provincial Park at The Caves, Jackfish Creek or following the Clearwater Lake Ski Trails found north past the Pioneer Bay Campground. Traveling a little further out past the town of Wanless, is a great location for exploring, called Rocky Lake (East). Used mostly by the locals, this space has great ski trails, perfect for hiking in the off season. Just breathe in the fresh air and listen to the wilderness, it's like time stops.
Get some trail maps at our Tourism Hub or download them HERE.
Pack yourself a picnic and head a little more north to Grass River Provincial Park and Cranberry Portage. There are some fascinating hikes with old bridges and lookouts like Karst Spring, Mystic Creek and Payuk Bridge Trail. One could spend a whole weekend hiking through the trails and still not begin to cover them all.
Our vast area, dotted by numerous lakes and waterways, offers the best of Northern Manitoba trophy fishing. Adventure out on your own or book a guided tour with one of our outfitters to assist in your search of lake trout, northern pike, walleye, rainbow trout, brook trout, and smallmouth bass (and many others).
Some of the more popular fishing holes to explore are Clearwater Lake Provincial Park (Atikameg Lake), Rocky Lake, Barbe Lake, Cormorant Lake, the First Cranberry Lake (and 2nd & 3rd as well) and we have some recently trout stocked ponds that are perfect for the young fishers. This doesn't even scratch the surface of great fishing locations throughout our communities. One could likely throw a dart at a map of Northern Manitoba and hit a location teeming with great fishing year round.
Experience the mosaic of places, traditions, art forms and celebrations that define our area and its people, reflecting the diversity and unique character of Northern Manitoba. We host many events throughout the year and are being added to frequently. Participate in festivals, Indigenous celebrations and teachings, fishing derbies, markets, art shows, concerts and so much more.
In the fall, one of the best ways to experience a slice of our local culture is to visit during Culture Days (held nationally late Sept & early October).
Take a weekend to experience some history. Tour some or all of our museums, the Skippy L riverboat (located along the walking path along the Saskatchewan River). Sam Waller Museum is filled with curious oddities like the two-headed calf, a historical gallery, a lovely exhibit space often showing off the work of local artists and the Discovery Centre is great for kids. The Charlebois Heritage Museum is a slice of old church history in the area. Drive a bit more north to visit the quaint Cranberry-Portage Heritage Museum (open May-Sept but if you call ahead they may be able to open for you), is packed with historical artifacts, interesting stories and toys & trinkets from "the old days".
Something you can do for FREE (we all like free) is to seek and find our many amazing murals throughout the town of The Pas. Over the past few years many new ones have been added and many more are getting much needed facelifts. How many can you find? Take photos and #DiscoverThePasOCN
Come with your photography equipment and discover all the neat nooks & crannies a historical small town has tucked away. In town and out, you can follow the pathways to bridges, railways, Indigenous sites, rivers, dense forests that look like fairy havens. Don't forget the deep dark night skies and the enchanting northern lights.
The possibilities in Northern Manitoba are endless. Book your next getaway in The Pas, OCN and the RM of Kelsey and if you need more ideas or details on where to stay, follow us on social media, check out the links on the website because your Northern Adventure Awaits!