Riding Mountain National Park

Welcome to 3000 km2 of possibilities, where the boreal forest, the aspen parkland, and the fescue prairie greet visitors of all ages and abilities. Our welcoming community and pristine wilderness will help you to reconnect with the best of Manitoba and Canada, and offer you a vast array of opportunities for relaxation, laughter, discovery, and fun.  Riding Mountain National Park is a national park in Manitoba, Canada. The park sits atop the Manitoba Escarpment. Consisting of a protected area 2,969 km2 (1,146 sq mi), the forested parkland stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding prairie farmland. The park is home to wolves, moose, elk, black bears, hundreds of bird species, countless insects and a captive bison herd. It is most easily reached by Highway 10 which passes through the park. The south entrance is at the townsite of Wasagaming, which is the only commercial centre within the park boundaries. The park was first protected in 1929 and had much of its public infrastructure created during the 1930s by labourers participating in Canada's great depression relief programs. Much of this early construction survives to this day. During World War II it was home to a prisoner of war camp which has since been dismantled. In 1986, Riding Mountain was designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. Riding Mountain National Park is easily accessible by car and bus from centres to the north and south. Highway 10 connects Brandon, 95 km to the south, with Wasagaming and continues to Dauphin, 13 km beyond the north border of the Park. From the east, Highway 19 enters the park through the scenic escarpment region. The nearest commercial airports are at Dauphin and Brandon, and the nearest International Airport is located in Winnipeg. An airport for small planes is located at Erickson, just south of the park. To enter Riding Mountain National Park by motor vehicle, a permit is required and can be purchased at the park gates when entering the park. Moose, elk, deer, beaver, porcupine, loon, grey wolf, cougar, and Canada goose are just a few of the animal and bird inhabitants of Riding Mountain National Park. The park boasts one of the largest populations of black bears in North America. There is also a wild bison enclosure located near Lake Audy.Riding Mountain National Park is also well known for its wildflowers and wide range of unique vegetation, most of which is not seen anywhere else in the prairie regions of Canada.