Nopiming Provincial Park by Aarron Foat / CC BY-ND 2.0
In central Canada, Manitoba offers plenty of natural beauty for photographers. The province features a varied landscape with lots of wildlife and open space. On this page you’ll find photos and descriptions of many of the best places to photograph in Manitoba. Feel free to leave a comment at the end of the page with your own suggestions of locations that you think should be added to the page.
The interactive map below shows the locations listed on this page.
Riding Mountain National Park
Riding Mountain National Park is located in southwestern Manitoba. It covers nearly 3,000 square km and features grasslands, boreal forest, and deciduous forest. Highway 10 runs north and south through the park, providing the best access. Highway 19 provides access to the east side of the park, and intersects with Highway 10 near Clear Lake. This park also features over 400 km of trails to explore. There are trails of varying lengths and difficulty, including the longer Ochre River Trail and Tilson Lake Loop.
Clear Lake at Riding Mountain National Park by JPark99 / Public Domain
Churchill
Churchill is a town in northern Manitoba along the Hudson Bay. It has become a popular tourist destination mainly because of wildlife. Polar bears migrate through the area in October and November, heading for the frozen waters of the bay. There are buses in Churchill that allow you to see the polar bears from a safe distance. Beluga whales are a major attraction during the summer months. Many species of birds are also present in the summer.
Churchill is a remote location far from any other towns. It is accessible by train or airplane. As you can see in the photo below, in addition to the wildlife, Churchill can also be a great place to view the northern lights (Aurora Borealis).
Northern Lights by Emmanuel Milou / CC BY-SA 2.0
Wapusk National Park
Wapusk National Park is in northern Manitoba along the Hudson Bay. It is southeast of Churchill. The park is known as a great place to see polar bears, especially at Cape Churchill. The park is in a remote location that is not easy to access. Cape Churchill can only be reached by helicopter or tundra buggy (basically an all-terrain bus). Aside from the polar bears, Wapusk National Park is also home to many birds, wolves, caribou, moose, and other wildlife. The landscape is mostly lowlands and wetlands along the Hudson Bay.
Wapusk National Park by Ansgar Walk / CC BY-SA 2.5
Churchill Inukshuk
The Inuit people created stone monuments or structures called Inukshuks (or Inuksuks). The Inukshuk at Churchill is often photographed. It is along the Hudson Bay in downtown Churchill.
Monument Bay by Luna Sin Estrellas / CC BY 2.0
Miss Piggy Plane Wreck
Miss Piggy was a cargo planed that crashed in 1979 in Churchill. The plane is still there, just off of Amundson Road, only about a mile from the airport runway.
Miss Piggy by Mike Beauregard / CC BY 2.0
Bakers Narrows
Bakers Narrows is a small town in western Manitoba that can be accessed by Highway 10. It is home to Bakers Narrows Provincial Park, which features beautiful forests and lake. There is an observation tower that leads to excellent views.
Bakers Narrows, Little Athapap, and the North Arm by LakeAthapap / CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large lake that is more than 400 km north to south. The land around it is mostly undeveloped, but it features amazing cliffs, beaches, and forests. There are many parks, reserves and beaches around the lake, especially the southern half. Patricia Beach, Gimli Beach, Victoria Beach, and Grand Beach are all popular locations.
Lake Winnipeg at Sandy Hook by Gerry Petrin / CC BY-SA 2.0
Grand Beach Provincial Park
Grand Beach Provincial Park is located near the southern end of Lake Winnipeg. This park is a popular destination, in part because is just over an hour by car from Winnipeg. The park features beautiful white sand dunes and beaches. There are also some nice forests near the beach.
Grand Beach Provincial Park by Robert Linsdell / CC BY 2.0
Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park
Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park is on the west side of Lake Winnepeg. It includes Hecla Island, the Grindstone peninsula, and several small islands. Hecla Island includes the historic Hecla Village. The park features a landscape that includes forest, beaches, cliffs, marshes, and bogs. Campgrounds, cabins, and a resort are available.
Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park by Jasonbook99 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Duck Mountain Provincial Park
Duck Mountain Provincial Park is in western Manitoba, north of Riding Mountain National Park. This large park features woodlands, wetlands, lakes, wildlife, and an observation tower. Highways 366 and 367 provide the main access to the park. campgrounds, cabins, and lodges are available.
Duck Mountain Provincial Park by Classenc / CC BY-SA 3.0
Nopiming Provincial Park
Nopiming Provincial Park is in eastern Manitoba, right on the Ontario border. The park features forest with many lakes and rivers. This is a very remote destination with a few gravel roads that lead through the park. The natural beauty is worth the effort to reach. Campgrounds and lodges are available in the park.
Nopiming Provincial Park by Aarron Foat / CC BY-ND 2.0
Spruce Woods Provincial Park
Spruce Woods Provincial Park is in southern Manitoba, west of Winnipeg. This park features the Spirit Sands sand dunes. You’ll also find the Assiniboine River, plants, and wildlife. Several trails run through the park, including the Trans Canada Trail and the Newfoundland Trail. There are several campgrounds in the park.
Spruce Woods Provincial Park by Rob Swystun / CC BY 2.0
Whiteshell Provincial Park
Whiteshell Provincial Park is in southeastern Manitoba, east of Winnipeg. Here you will find forests, lakes (200 of them), rivers, and granite ridges. It is home to moose, black bear, wolves, and more.
Whiteshell Provincial Park by Robert Linsdell / CC BY 2.0
Pisew Falls Provincial Park
Pisew Falls Provincial Park is in central Manitoba, south of Thompson on Highway 6. Pisew Falls is a 13 meter waterfall that is fairly easy to access within the park. A boardwalk and observation platforms provide the view of the falls and surrounding gorge. You can also take a 22 km hike to Kwasitchewan Falls, the highest waterfall in Manitoba.
Pisgew Falls Provincial Park by Sancho McCann / CC BY 2.0
Lockport
Lockport is a town north of Winnipeg along the Red River. This is a great place to see and photograph pelicans, and to a lesser extent, bald eagles.
Lockport Locks by Robert Linsdell / CC BY 2.0
FortWhyte Alive
FortWhyte Alive is an environmental, educational, and recreational center in Winnipeg. Its more than 600 acres includes prairies, forest, lakes, and wetlands. Several nature trails make it easy to explore the area. If you are in Winnipeg and looking for some nature, this is an excellent option.
FortWhyte by Teles / Public Domain
Steep Rock Beach Park
Steep Rock Beach Park is on the shores of Lake Manitoba, in southern Manitoba. It features beautiful cliffs and beaches that are ideal for photography. Highway 239 provides easy access. There are trails along the cliffs that provide some excellent views.
Steep Rock by Joel Penner / CC BY 2.0
Grant’s Old Mill
Grant’s Old Mill is in Winnipeg, southern Manitoba. The structure that currently stands is a re-creation that was built in 1974. The mill and the water are frequently photographed.
Grant’s Old Mill by Krazytea / CC BY-SA 4.0
Trappist Monastery Ruins
The Trappist Monastery in southern Winnipeg was built in the early 1900’s and destroyed by fire in 1983. The monastery ruins now sit in a park along the river. The park is open May through September.
Trappist Monastery Ruins by Alangh / CC BY-SA 3.0
Don’t Stop There!
Manitoba is filled with many amazing places, and this list is just the beginning. We’re planning to update and add to this list in the future, so if you have suggestions of places to add please feel free to leave a comment. Here are some places we’re already aware of and planning to add to the article:
- Matlock Beach and Pier
- Kudlowich Homestead
- Clearwater Lake
- Atikaki Provincial Park
- Turtle Mountain Provincial Park
- Grass River Provincial Park
Photo license links: CC BY-SA 2.5, CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 2.0, CC BY 2.0, CC BY-ND 2.0
