This page has the best places for cross-country skiing in and near Winnipeg.
Ski for free
On the Assiniboine River. There is a ski trail next to Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail (in the photo above). Best and most convenient entry point is at The Forks.
There is also free cross-country skiing in most city parks and also at the five golf courses owned by the city. Two City of Winnipeg facilities – Windsor Park and Harbour View, also rent ski equipment.
All have plenty of parking:
Kildonan Park north of downtown at 2015 Main Street. 8.9 km of trails, warm-up shelter, washrooms (but they aren’t heated), change area.
La Barriere Park on Waverley Street, south of the Perimeter. Wilderness trails, no warm-up shelter but there are washrooms. Also snowshoeing.
Assiniboine Park on Corydon Avenue, west of downtown. 5.37 km groomed trails, change area, shelter, washrooms, vending machines.
There are more facilities, Harbour View Recreation Complex, in Kilcona Park at 1867 Springfield Road in Transcona. Just 3.35 km of trails, but it has everything else – warm-up, change area, washrooms, rental equipment and food available.
Windsor Park Nordic Centre 10 DesMeurons in St. Vital. 7.5 km of trails along the lovely Seine River, change facilities, ski equipment rental, concession stand, lit for night skiing, lessons available – all this makes Windsor Park (which is a golf course in the summer) among the most popular places for cross-country skiing among locals. Daily use fee of $4.50 (less for seniors and kids).
More cross-country skiing at golf courses
Almost all Winnipeg golf courses – both public and private – groom fairways for skiing. Some invite you to ski for free; at others there is a charge. The usual amount is about $5 for a day-pass.
The best? Many people say it’s Wildewood Golf Course, 761 North Drive in Fort Gary. Classic and skate-skiing, also walking trails.
Use is by donation (make your cheque out to Wildewood Park Community Club, volunteers who maintain the trails). Enter at Wildewood Club at the corner of North Drive and Netley or park and go in at the corner of Oakenwald and North Drive.
Riverview/Churchill Drive Parkway isn’t a golf course, but it is also a community trail, maintained by volunteers, with an 8 km oval trail that runs between Churchill Drive and Red River.
Best place to get on the trail is a block east of BDI, behind the pump house that itself is behind the Churchill Drive/Jubilee Ave/Cockburn Street South intersection. Park on nearby side streets.
Skiing at FortWhyte Alive
FortWhyte Alive is a nature park in Winnipeg with walking trails, a lake, a bison herd, and family activities and events year-round.
It also has 5 groomed km of forest classic and skate-ski trails, free to use with regular park admission ($6 for adults, $5 for 55-plus and $4 for kids).
Warm-up places, food available, washrooms but no equipment rental.
Also skating rink, Nordic walking and a Saturday morning showshoeing club.
Crave hill-climbing?
The only hill-climbing and hill-descending ski trails in or close to Winnipeg are at Springhill Winter Sports Park. More about what they’ve got, and how to get there,
on the Winnipeg skiing and snowboarding page.
Looking for a Manitoba resort with cross-country?
The best all-round (and year-round) resort that has the most winter sports to offer is Falcon Ridge Ski & Recreation Area at Falcon Lake
There is skiing at Manitoba provincial parks. The combination of best and closest to Winnipeg is:
Birds Hill Provincial Park with 38 km of groomed classic trails and 5 km of skate-ski trails. Heated change rooms, vending machines. 6 trails have shelters with woodstoves and firewood supplied. 24 km (14 miles) northeast of Winnipeg, off Highway 59. Best place to get on the trails is from the Chicadee Trail parking lot.
Beaudry Provincial Park has 16 km of classic cross-country skiing trails. Warming shelters, washrooms (not heated). It’s about 20 minutes west of downtown Winnipeg. Drive out of town on Roblin Blvd., and keep going until it ends at the park.
Grand Beach Provincial Park also has 16 km of trails you can ski for free. An hour north-east of Winnipeg.
Ski near Winnipeg
on the LaSalle River, just north of the town of LaSalle but, be warned, there are no amenities and this spot is also very popular with snowmobilers.
From the Perimeter, turn south on Highway 330, drive 7 km and park at the bridge west of town.
What about cross-country skiing gear?
If you don’t have your own, it is quite inexpensive to get into cross-country skiing (compared to kitting out for downhill skiing). Expect to pay about $250 for a starter cross-country package (and up).
These Winnipeg retailers sell ski equipment and also offer more info about local ski conditions:
Olympia Cycle & Ski, 326 St. Mary’s Road. They sell and rent equipment and have a ski school with lessons for adults and kids.
Bikes & Beyond, 233 Henderson Highway. Sales and rentals.
Woodcock Cycle, 433 St. Mary’s Road. Sales and rentals.
Lifesport Shops, 411 Pembina or 1117 Henderson Highway. Equipment sales.
Alter Ego Sports 1605 Pembina. Equipment sales.
Where to stay
Stay at this Winnipeg B&B and your hosts are also dedicated cross-country skiers who can point you to the best skiing the city and Manitoba have to offer.
A stay at Galbraith House includes...
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