There’s a version of the Interlake that most people know: the lakes, the beaches, the summer weekends. And then there’s the version that lives between the seasons, out on the trails, where the region shows a different side of itself entirely.
This guide is for both.
We’ve pulled together six of the best trails in the heartland of the Interlake and looked at what makes each one worth visiting in summer and worth revisiting in winter. Start here in the warm months, when the orchids are blooming, and the steam train is running. We’ll get to the snowshoes eventually. Click the images below to jump to your chosen season.
The Interlake region may be famous for its big lakes, but some of the best summer adventures lie in the heartland.
This season, discover a network of centrally located trails that will take you on a journey through historic settlements, sweeping prairies, quiet forests, rare wetlands, and warm, welcoming communities.
Here in the heartland between our inland oceans, you’ll find trails perfect for hiking, cycling, birdwatching, paddling, and exploring attractions filled with history and local flavour.
(trails on the map are not to exact scale)
Ready to lace up your boots or hop on your bike? Here are six top trails to explore this summer:
1. Oak Hammock Marsh Trails: A Birdwatcher’s Paradise
For the ultimate summer nature immersion, Oak Hammock Marsh offers over 30 kilometres of trails surrounded by sky, cattails, and some of the most spectacular wildlife in the province.
Summer transforms the marshlands into a living, breathing ecosystem. Shorebirds, ducks, geese, and songbirds fill the air from spring through fall, making this one of the best birdwatching destinations in Western Canada. The trails wind through open wetland vistas, cattail corridors, and viewing platforms perfectly positioned to catch the morning light over the water.
This free trail network is clearly marked and only 20 minutes north of Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway, making it easy to get to.
To deepen your visit, step inside the Wetland Discovery Centre (admission applies), where exhibits and viewing areas help you understand the marsh’s incredible biodiversity. The on-site café is open daily and is worth stopping at. And just a tip, don’t miss the wild rice burger.
Summer birds to watch for: Pelicans, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Blue-winged Teal, Sora, American Bittern, Marbled Godwit, and dozens of warbler species during spring migration.
2. Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail: One of North America’s Rarest Ecosystems
Listen to the birds and smell the cedar as you walk through one of the rarest wetland ecosystems in North America.
The Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail is a 2.3 km fully accessible boardwalk trail that guides you through a balsam fir forest, a cedar bog, and a wetland. Along the way, you’ll discover rare plants, wild orchids, carnivorous species, and mushrooms that you won’t find anywhere else in Manitoba.
This wetland is also a sacred area that the local Ojibway have used for over 300 years to sustain themselves and for sacred ceremonies. Interpretive signs throughout the trail share their culture and the history of the plants, flowers, and trees you encounter. It is a place that rewards slow, attentive visitors.
Summer tip: End of May to mid-June is one of the best times to visit, when many of the unique plants are in flower, including several species of Lady Slipper, Orchids, and carnivorous plants. If wildflowers are on your list, plan your trip around this window.
When visiting, please respect this sacred land. Leave no trace. No pets, bikes, or off-trail exploring.
While you’re in the area, make a day of it.
The Brokenhead Wetland trail is a short walk, but it sits in the middle of one of the best day-trip corridors in the Interlake. Right on Highway 59, you’re perfectly positioned to build a full summer day around it.
Just a few minutes south of the trailhead is South Beach Casino & Resort. The Art Deco tropical design is genuinely fun, the gaming floor is entirely smoke-free, and Mango’s Restaurant is a solid stop for a meal, whether you’re playing or not.
From there, continue north a short distance to Patricia Beach Provincial Park. This is one of the Interlakes’ most underrated beaches. Bring a picnic, walk the dunes, and spend a couple of hours in the sun before moving on. There’s a concession on site for the basics, but plan ahead and pack your own food if you want a proper lunch.
Then head up Highway 12 into Grand Marais for dinner. This small beach community has a handful of good eating options and a pace that feels exactly right after a day on the trail and the beach. Spirit Rock Inn serves as the area’s café and is a great stop for a latte or a cold drink, along with baked goods, and a small boutique worth browsing. For a proper sit-down meal, Lanky’s is a Grand Marais institution known for its 24-inch hot dogs, a local legend worth experiencing at least once.
It’s a genuinely great loop: trail in the morning, casino and beach through the afternoon, dinner in Grand Marais on the way home. All of it on Highway 59.
3. Teulon’s All-Season Community Trail: Small Town, Big Heart
Right in the heart of Teulon, you’ll find a beautiful 4-kilometre community trail that winds through some of the town’s best-loved spaces. The paved loop is perfect for walking, jogging, and cycling, making it a great option for families and anyone looking for an accessible outdoor escape with a bit of town flavour.
The trail passes the iconic Teulon Rodeo Grounds, winds alongside soccer pitches and baseball diamonds busy with summer activity, and moves into a quiet, treed corridor where a small creek adds a welcome soundtrack to the walk. It’s a great trail for families with littles and strollers.
Afterward, head down Main Street to Farmhouse Café for a hot drink and a meal served with genuine small-town charm. Something to satisfy the whole family.
4. The Prime Meridian Trail: Following the Rails of History
For a true “middle of the Interlake” adventure, the RM of Rockwood’s Prime Meridian Trail delivers. Spanning a crazy 116 km along a former CN rail bed, this four-season trail offers endless opportunities to hike, cycle, or ride horseback through a landscape that still tells the story of Manitoba’s agricultural past.
At its southern trailhead in Grosse Isle, the trail connects to the Trans Canada Trail and passes the Grosse Isle Heritage Site and a rare tall-grass prairie preserve. Summer is the best time to be here if you’re visiting on a weekend, arrive around noon when Canada’s oldest still-operating steam locomotive pulls into town. The station has appeared in television productions including The Pinkertons and The Porter, and it earns every bit of that attention in person.
Heading north, the route leads to Argyle and the Settlers, Rails & Trails Museum, where stories of railroading and settlement come alive. Continue further north into the RM of Armstrong to reach the Narcisse Snake Dens, home of the world-famous red-sided garter snake dens, which are at their most spectacular during the spring and fall emergence.
5. Selkirk Park Trails: Birds, the River, and Room to Roam
Selkirk Park is known for its scenic Red River views, exceptional birdwatching, and interpretive signage for history and wildlife enthusiasts, and its trail network is one of the most underrated day-trip destinations in the region.
Four bird-themed trails of varying lengths are perfect for hiking, cycling, and exploring at your own pace, each with picnic spots and interpretive signs along the way.
The Chickadee Trail (2 km) and Mallard Trail (875 m) are great for a shorter outing.
The Blue Jay Trail (200 m) is a quick, easy loop. The Red Wing Blackbird Trail (3.5+ km) is the one to choose if you want to cover more ground, as it connects to the Red River, a wetland, the Marine Museum, and other park amenities.
If you’d like to explore with others, follow the Selkirk Park Happy Trails Facebook group, which organizes year-round outdoor get-togethers for walking, geocaching, and more. It’s a welcoming community and a great way to discover corners of the park you might otherwise miss.
6. Icelandic River Trail: Community Spirit on the Water
In summer, the Icelandic River trail network connecting Arborg and Bifrost-Riverton trades its winter ice for warm-weather paddling, cycling, and riverside walking. The river corridor is peaceful, scenic, and a wonderful way to experience the quiet heart of the Interlake at a slower pace.
After exploring the trail, stop at the beloved Arborg Bakery, serving treats that locals describe as “just as good as when I was a kid” since the 1940s. It’s the kind of place that earns its reputation one pastry at a time.
While you’re in the area, the Arborg & District Heritage Village is open in summer and is well worth an hour of your time.
Find More Summer Fun
Looking for more ways to enjoy the Interlake this summer? Keep exploring our website for the latest updates, adventures, and events.
And if you know of a hidden gem or trail we should cover next, reach out; we’d love to hear about it.
The Interlake region may be famous for its big lakes, but plenty of winter charm lies in the heartland.
This season, discover a network of centrally located trails that will take you on a journey through historic settlements, sweeping prairies, quiet forests, and warm, welcoming communities.
Here in the heartland between our inland oceans, you’ll find trails perfect for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, river skating and sightseeing attractions filled with history and local flavour.
(trails on the map are not to exact scale)
Ready to lace up your boots or click into your bindings?
Here are four top trails to explore this winter:
1. Oak Hammock Marsh Trails: A Snowshoer’s Paradise
For the ultimate winter nature immersion, Oak Hammock Marsh offers over 30 kilometres of trails surrounded by sky, cattails, and wildlife.
Though a world-class destination for birdwatching, the marshlands in winter are transformed into the perfect snowshoeing escape with vistas of untouched snow, bald eagles hunting for prey, hoarfrost-covered reeds and a crisscross of jackrabbit and coyote tracks that send the first hint that life is bustling in every direction.
This free trail network is clearly marked, providing an easy navigation in a pristine city escape that’s only 20 minutes North of Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway.
To deepen your visit, you can warm up inside the newly updated Wetland Discovery Centre (admission applies), where exhibits, displays, and viewing areas help you better understand the marsh’s incredible biodiversity and its importance to migratory birds.
The Centre also features a modern on-site café, where you can warm up while still enjoying sweeping marsh views through its wrap-around windows. Open daily from 10:00 a.m. until late afternoon, it serves a high-quality selection of breakfast and lunch options. Don’t miss the bison chili or the wild rice burger.
Whether you’re snowshoeing with family, chasing sunrise over the snow, or just craving a break from the city, Oak Hammock is winter at its most serene.
Winter Birds
to Watch For:
> Snowy Owls
> Black-Capped Chickadees
> Redpolls
> House and Purple Finches
> Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers
> Snow Buntings
> Bald Eagles
> Common Ravens
2. Teulon’s Expanded All-Season Escape
Right in the heart of Teulon, you’ll find a beautiful, newly expanded 4-kilometre (2.5-mile) community trail that feels like a winter-ready ribbon of green space. The town plans to groom it through the season, offering an accessible outdoor loop perfect for walking, jogging, or pulling a sled behind you.
This scenic loop showcases some of Teulon’s best-loved spaces. Your journey begins as you wind past the iconic Teulon Rodeo Grounds, then continue alongside the soccer pitches and baseball diamonds, where summer’s action gives way to peaceful, snow-covered fields. From there, the trail carries you into a quiet, treed corridor, where birds flit through the branches and the soft sound of a small creek adds calm to the day’s soundtrack.
It’s the perfect spot to grab some fresh air, stretch your legs, and experience Teulon’s small-town charm in every season. No long drive required.
Itinerary Additions
To warm up or grab a bite during your adventure, head down Main Street to Farmhouse Café. You’ll find a wide selection of hot drinks, along with hearty breakfast and lunch options served with genuine small-town charm. With a varied menu, there’s something to satisfy the whole family.
If you’ve finished the trail and want to keep moving outdoors, continue south on Highway 7, then turn right onto 91 Rd N to reach the Teulon Cross Country Ski Club.
The club offers four professionally maintained trail loops ranging from 250 m to 1.4 km.
On site, you’ll find warming shelters and washrooms.
Non-members are welcome for a $10 per person or $30 per family trail fee, and must sign in at the chalet before heading out.
3. The Prime Meridian Trail: Following the Rails of History
For a true “middle of the Interlake” adventure, RM of Rockwood’s Prime Meridian Trail delivers. First laid out as the baseline for all western Canadian land surveys, it spans 116 km along a former CN rail bed, offering four-season opportunities to snowmobile, hike, ski, cycle, or ride horseback through a landscape that still represents our province’s agricultural tradition.
At its southern trailhead in Grosse Isle, the trail connects to a Trans Canada Trail spur and passes both the Grosse Isle Heritage Site and a rare tall-grass prairie preserve. While the heritage site is closed for the season, it still makes an atmospheric winter photo stop and the perfect place to park your vehicle for your hike.
Its keystone train station (visited each summer by a historic steam locomotive) has appeared in television shows and films such as The Pinkertons and The Porter.
If hiking on a summer weekend, arrive around noon when Canada’s oldest still-operating steam locomotive pulls into town. Exploring the grounds, station, and pioneer buildings in winter makes for an atmospheric winter stop.
Heading north, the route leads to Argyle, home of the Settlers, Rails & Trails Museum, where stories of railroading and settlement come to life.
In both communities, you can find free outdoor skating rinks that round out the perfect winter afternoon outing.
For those craving a longer journey, the trail continues north into the RM of Armstrong’s Narcisse Snake Dens, home of the world-famous dens.
While the snakes are asleep for the season, the interpretive signs and quiet winter landscape still add depth and intrigue to one of Manitoba’s most iconic wildlife stories.
4. Icelandic River Skating Trail – Community Spirit on Ice
Winding down the frozen Icelandic River, this 3 km skating trail connects Arborg and Bifrost-Riverton, offering riverside views and winter amenities that make it a perfect cold-weather destination.
Lovingly maintained by a dedicated crew of local volunteers and community partners, the trail offers:
> A large skating rink for casual laps or a friendly game of shinny
> A groomed cross-country ski trail
> A snowmobile route tying into the wider Interlake network
After your skate, warm up in town with fresh pastries, donuts, and baked goods at the nearby Arborg Bakery.
This local favourite has served “just as good as when I was a kid” treats since the 1940s. It’s the ideal stop for a post-skate snack and a hot drink.
Before heading out, check the Town of Arborg’s Facebook page for the latest trail and ice updates. Volunteers post frequent reports on conditions.
For a winter photo stop, swing by the Arborg & District Heritage Village; though the buildings are closed in winter, you can still explore. The snow-covered windmill makes for an iconic backdrop.
5. Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail: A Quiet Walk Through Sacred Land
The Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail doesn’t close when the snow arrives. The gates and bathrooms are shut for the season, but the 2.3 km fully accessible boardwalk remains open on foot, and winter offers a completely different kind of experience here.
The balsam fir forest and cedar bog take on a stillness in winter that is hard to find anywhere else in the Interlake. The crowds are gone, the carnivorous plants are sleeping under snow, and what remains is a quiet, atmospheric walk through a landscape that feels genuinely ancient. The interpretive signs are still there, sharing the history and culture of the Ojibway people who have used this sacred wetland for over 300 years. Reading them in the silence of a winter morning hits differently than in the busy warmth of June.
It’s a short trail, but it’s a meaningful one. Dress for the cold, leave no trace, and take your time with the signs. No pets, bikes, or off-trail exploring, winter or otherwise.
Selkirk Park Trails: Winter Walking Along the Red
The City of Selkirk doesn’t maintain the Selkirk Park trails in winter, but that doesn’t mean they’re off limits. For those willing to explore on their own terms, the four bird-themed loops offer a peaceful winter walk through one of the most scenic corners of the region.
The Red Wing Blackbird Trail (3.5+ km) is the one to reach for if you want a proper outing, winding down toward the Red River through terrain that looks entirely different under a layer of snow.
The shorter Chickadee (2 km) and Mallard (875 m) loops are good options for families or anyone looking for a gentler walk with river views and interpretive signs to keep the kids engaged along the way.
Come prepared with proper footwear for ungroomed conditions, and check the Selkirk Park Happy Trails Facebook group before you go. The group organizes year-round outdoor get-togethers, including winter walks, snowshoeing, and geocaching, and they’re a great resource for knowing current trail conditions before you head out.
While you’re in Selkirk, make a day of it.
The Red River running through Selkirk Park is one of the best ice fishing destinations in Manitoba, and in winter, the river comes alive with a community of anglers set up on the ice chasing trophy walleye and channel catfish. Whether you drop a line yourself or just walk out to watch, it’s a quintessential Manitoba winter scene worth experiencing. Check the Red River North Tourism fishing resources page for current conditions and licensing information before you go.
After your walk, head into downtown Selkirk and warm up along Manitoba Avenue East. Roxi’s by the Red Uptown Cafe is a local favourite with a wide menu that covers everything from pickerel to perogies. For something more classic, the Riverside Grill is an iconic 50s-style diner that has earned its place as a Selkirk staple. And if you’re after local art and a quiet browse, the Gwen Fox Gallery on the corner of Main and Manitoba is free to enter and always worth a stop.
If you’re visiting at the end of November, check whether Holiday Alley is running during your trip. This Red River North Tourism winter festival installs over 130,000 LED lights across 40 buildings in Selkirk’s old downtown and fills the evenings with community events and art-forward entertainment. It’s one of the most festive things happening anywhere in the Interlake during the winter season.
Find More Winter Fun
Looking for more ways to enjoy the Interlake this winter? Keep exploring our website for the latest updates, adventures, and events.
And if you know of any other hidden gems or amazing trails we should cover, please reach out. We’d love to hear about them!
Beginning of Prime Meridian Trail
