Riding Mountain National Park - The Wizard's Favourite

Riding Mountain National Park is a protected area located in southwestern Manitoba, Canada. It covers an area of approximately 2,969 square kilometers and was established in 1929 as Canada's third national park. The park features a diverse range of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands, as well as rolling hills, lakes, and streams.

One of the park's main attractions is the wildlife. Riding Mountain National Park is home to a variety of animals, including moose, elk, black bears, wolves, and coyotes. It is also an important nesting area for migratory birds, such as the western grebe and the great blue heron.

Visitors to the park can enjoy a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. There are over 400 kilometers of hiking trails in the park, ranging from easy walks to challenging multi-day hikes. There are also several campgrounds within the park, offering a range of camping options from basic to fully serviced sites. You will want to visit Lake Audy, where there is a large herd of bison roaming freely.

The park's three main lakes, Clear Lake, Lake Audy, and Moon Lake, offer opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing. Visitors can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards from the park's rental facilities. Fishing is allowed in designated areas, and anglers can catch a variety of fish, including northern pike, walleye, and lake trout.

Riding Mountain National Park is also home to several historic sites, including the East Gate Registration Complex, which was built in the 1930s and is now a National Historic Site of Canada. The park also features several interpretive programs, including guided hikes, wildlife talks, and children's programs.

Just on the edge of the park is the townsite of Wasagaming. It is a touristy spot with several locally owned businesses: Meldrum's Ice cream shop, Scrase's Drug Store, The Wig Wam family restaurant and the Park Theatre, the world's largest log style theatre. You can rent paddleboats, zodiacs and fishing boats from the Clear Lake Marina on pristine clear and cold Clear Lake. It also has a very nice beach. There are Cabins for rent (Mooswa) and  a large campground offering full service sites to tenting areas. I find that Moon Lake and area camping offers camping with the basics, like running water washrooms, with the beautiful scenery of Moon Lake. Free camping during the off season, very reasonable during camping season. There is a 10km walk around the lake which offers great views and a chance to see wildlife.

In summary, Riding Mountain National Park is a beautiful and diverse natural area that offers a wide range of outdoor activities and opportunities to experience Canadian wilderness and wildlife. It's a great destination for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and families looking for a fun and educational summer vacation.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model