How the Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba got its name
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
Riding Mountain National Park is one of Canada's most varied national parks. Here you can hike through forests and grasslands. Go horseback riding , ride a fat bike along crystal-clear lakes , and with a bit of luck, spot bison, moose , or black bears. In this post, I'll take you on a horseback ride through Manitoba's wilderness and show you one of the most beautiful bike tours in the park, including GPS data.
Horseback riding through Riding Mountain National Park
A horseback ride just like in the movies! At the Nine Finger Ranch, I can live out my Western movie dreams.
With Jana and Thomas I ride through the hilly landscape of Riding Mountain National Park, past lakes where the aspens and birches on the shores are slowly turning yellow, over meadows where curious cows gather around us and look at us with interest.
The scene reaches its climax when the two ride into the setting sun wearing their cowboy hats.
“The area was originally called Fort Dauphin Hill ,” Jana tells us as we leave the open grasslands and enter the dense forest. “ But the early fur traders, trappers, and settlers quickly realized that they couldn’t get very far with their wagons in the rugged and densely wooded highlands. It was much easier to unharness the horses and explore the area on horseback.”
That's how the landscape got its name – long before it was declared a national park in 1930: Riding Mountain.
Manitoba's most diverse national park
With its three distinct ecosystems – grassland, boreal upland forest and eastern deciduous forest – Riding Mountain National Park is one of the most diverse landscapes in Manitoba.
Here you can:
ride
hike
mountain biking
kayaking
to swim
camp
Wildlife observation
In winter, the region transforms into a paradise for cross-country skiers and snowshoe hikers.
It is precisely this mix that makes the park one of the province's most popular outdoor destinations.
I find the historic East Gate particularly beautiful.
The wooden gate reminds me of a scene from a Western film.
It is the last of the entrance gates from the 1930s that is still preserved.
Click on the first image to start the photo gallery:
The Riding Mountain National Park Visitor Centre is a great starting point for initial orientation. Great atmosphere at the lake in autumn There is also a small museum in the Riding Mountain National Park Visitor Centre. Wasagaming has cute shops, cafes and restaurants. The colors are particularly magnificent in late summer. Moose? Seemingly masters of disguise. I certainly didn't see any.
Fat biking around Clear Lake
A 45-minute drive away lies the charming little village of Wasagaming situated right on the lake of Clear Lake. Here you'll find everything a traveler could want: a small general store, an ice cream parlor, a café, accommodations, restaurants, and a campground. The atmosphere is relaxed and the scenery is beautiful.
I'm going on a bike tour along the lake with a fat bike .
Key facts about the mountain bike tour on Clear Lake
♡ Factor: ♡♡♡♡♡
Activity: Fat Bike Tour
Difficulty: easy to medium
Length: 18 kilometers
Highlight: Autumn colors & lake landscape
Especially beautiful: the narrow trails along the water.
My eyes and heart are overflowing with joy.
The autumn colors couldn't be more perfect at the end of September. The bright yellow birch and aspen leaves stand out against the brilliant blue sky.
The trail is narrow and in some sections I ride along a small sandbank between different lakes.
Click on the first image to start the photo gallery:
Mountain bikes can be rented from the Friends of Riding Mountain. Wasagaming is a relaxed little village on Clear Lake Red chairs for cyclists of all ages As a reward, there is an ice cream. The cycle path runs partly narrow between the lakes. The sunset is also quite a sight.
Bears, moose and bison
Riding Mountain National Park isn't just known for its scenery. The wildlife is also impressive, when the little stinkers aren't hiding...
Among other animals, black bears, moose, wolves, coyotes and bison live here.
The bison are among the highlights of a visit.
I'll tell you where you have the best chance of observing the animals in the next blog post.
Information about Riding Mountain National Park
General information can be found on the Travel Manitoba website .
Riding Mountain National Park : For more than 90 years, the oldest national park in the province has been an Eldorado for nature lovers.
In Wasagaming, you'll find the Riding Mountain National Park Visitor Centre , a great place to get an initial overview. The friendly staff can give you excellent tips on hikes and other activities , and they also have detailed maps . In addition, the small museum showcases the local wildlife and provides information about the history of the First Nations and their close connection to the land.
The Wasagaming Campground includes the indigenous-run Turtle Village with tiny houses . The sanitary facilities are shared by the campground.
Fat bikes can be rented from the Friends of Riding Mountain National Park .
From the 9 Finger Ranch , you can explore the national park on horseback.
Arrival in Manitoba
Flights with a layover from Frankfurt to Winnipeg are available, for example, with Condor or Air Canada . An electronic travel document (eTA) is required for entry into Canada .
You can easily book a rental car at Winnipeg airport.
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