Manitoba Sustainable Development reminds Manitobans that the holidays are the perfect time to have some outdoor winter fun, particularly by taking advantage of all the great outdoor opportunities available in provincial parks.

Provincial parks offer trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, fat biking and snowmobiling, along with outdoor skating ponds, hockey rinks and toboggan hills.

Park interpreters have planned several family fun experiences over the holiday break to encourage Manitobans to discover our natural resources and cultural history, such as:

  • trek along with an authentic fur trader from the Northwest Company to exchange goods, furs and stories at Spruce Woods Provincial Park on Saturday, Dec. 29
  • meet fur traders at their winter camp and see them fire their muskets and cannons at the Spruce Woods Park Centre on Sunday, Dec. 30
  • snowshoe around the Nimowin Trail, followed by an outdoor fire with hot chocolate and marshmallows at Birds Hill Provincial Park on Thursday, Jan. 3
  • snowshoe to the scenic Pine Point Rapids, howl for wolves and listen for their return calls with the park interpreter in Whiteshell Provincial Park on Friday, Jan. 4

Free interpretive programs are planned throughout the winter and are open to everyone. Teachers can also book free guided winter experiences for their students with park interpreters. For more information, visit www.manitobaparks.com.

Park staff are busy preparing trails for winter use but more snow may be required in some areas before trail grooming can begin. Visitors are encouraged to check trail conditions and weather forecasts before visiting parks to properly plan their outdoor adventure. Maps of winter trails and updated reports can be found at www.manitobaparks.com.

While events may be free, park vehicle permits are required year round in provincial parks. The 2018 provincial park vehicle permit remains valid until April 30, 2019. Next year’s pass is already available for purchase in Sustainable Development offices and Liquor Mart locations and will arrive in the usual retail outlets early in 2019.