10 Fun Winnipeg Winter Activities
Winter in Winnipeg makes it very easy to want to spend all weekend curled up in front of the fire, in our warm pajamas and watching as much Netflix as humanly possible. However, Winnipeg offers a variety of indoor and outdoor activities to help chase those winter blues away so put on those winter clothes, boots, mitts and toques and check out some of the great activities Winnipeg has to offer:
Ice Climbing
If you enjoy climbing why not try ice climbing? Whittier park, the site of the Festival Du Voyager, boasts a three-sided ice tower that offers a variety of ice climbing at various levels of difficulty. The season usually begins at the end of December and lasts until the end of March. The ice tower is open Saturday and Sunday from 9:30AM to 4:00PM. Flood lights make evening climbing enjoyable. There is a limited amount of climb equipment available on a share basis.
Location: 141 Rue Messager Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cost: $40.00/CESB members: $8.00
Springhill Winter Park
Springhill Winter Park is located 15 minutes from downtown Winnipeg and offers ski and snowboard activities for the whole family. The hill stands at 130 vertical feet with a chair lift and two rope lifts. The hill also offers a mogul run, a race run and open areas for learning. Springhill Winter park also offers ski & snowboard rentals, ski & snowboard lessons, a café and a fully licenced sports bar. The hill also has 100% snowmaking ability and grooming to ensure the best snow conditions. Springhill Winter Park is open Tuesday to Friday from 6:30PM to 9:30PM, Saturday & Sunday from 10:00AM to 5:00PM and closed on Monday during the winter months (December to April).
Location: 65036 Oasis Road Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cost: Prices vary depending on activity.
For more information see their website: https://www.springhillwinterpark.com/rentals-tickets/
Fortwhyte Alive
Fortwhyte Alive is an environmental, education and recreation centre that is fun for the entire family. Located on the migratory path of Canada goose, Fortwhyte Alive is a 640 acre park that was once a clay mine and cement factory and is a wonderful example of sustainable development in Winnipeg. The park has many highlights including a 70 acre Bison prairie exhibit, 7 kms of interpretive trails, a family treehouse, floating boardwalks and much more. During the winter they offer unique activities for the whole family to enjoy such as ice fishing, snowshoeing, sleigh rides and tobogganing to name a few. Head inside to warm up, grab a bite to eat at the Buffalo Stone Café which features organic and sustainably produced food cooked from scratch. FortWhyte Alive is open Monday to Friday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM, Saturday/Sunday and holidays from 10:00AM to 5:00PM.
Location: 1961 McCreary Road Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cost: Adults - $8.00, Senior (65+) - $7.00, Students and Children - $6.00, Children 2 and under – Free, Fortwhyte Alive Members – Free. CAA members receive one free admission with the purchase of an adult admission. (Current CAA members only)
Oak Hammock Marsh
Oak Hammock Marsh is a 36 sq km Wildlife Management Area located 20 minutes outside of Winnipeg in Stonewall, Manitoba. It consists of 20 sq km of open marsh and the surrounding woods and grasslands. Oak Hammock Marsh is one of North Americas birding hotspots and is a great destination for people of all ages. The Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre is located on the edge of the Wildlife Management Area and features a theater, scenic café, gift shop, rooftop observation deck and interactive exhibits. The exhibits include Fascination Station (discover the underwater creatures that live at the marsh), Nature Nook (catch a glimpse of the birds living in the marsh), Live Animal exhibit (help feed the snake, salamanders, turtles, frogs and fish) and Feature Hall (showcasing different exhibits throughout the year). During the winter strap on some snowshoes and look for animal tracks in the snow or join them on an astronomy night to see the winter constellations. Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre is open year round from 10:00AM to 4:30PM.
Location: 1 Snow Goose Way Stonewall, Manitoba
Cost: Adults - $8.00, Senior (55+) - $7.00, Youth (3-17) - $6.00, Family (2 adults and up to 4 children) - $26.00
Arctic Glacier Winter Park
Located on The Forks grounds, the Arctic Glacier Winter Park is a celebration of winter and offers outdoor fun for the entire family. Amenities include the Snowboard Fun Park, a Toboggan run, Interactive Ice Castle, an Olympic sized skating rink complete with nets and warm up shacks, 1.2 kms of skating trails and more. When it is time to warm up, head inside The Forks for a warm drink or something to eat at the many restaurants. The Arctic Glacier Winter Park is open from approximately the beginning of January until the being of March depending on weather conditions.
Location: The Forks, 63 Forks Market Road Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cost: Free* (skate rentals available. Children and Seniors - $3.00, Adults - $5.00)
Vertical Adventures
If you are looking to do some rock climbing during the winter months but the Ice Tower is not for you then check out Vertical Adventures. Vertical Adventures is Winnipeg’s largest indoor rock climbing facility with 5000 sq ft of space. They offer varying degrees of difficulty so if you are a beginner or expert climber there is something for everyone. Vertical Adventures is open Monday to Friday from 4:00PM to 11:00PM, Saturday from 10:00AM to 10:00PM and Sunday 12:00PM to 6:00PM.
Location: 77 Paramount Road Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cost: Adult day pass - $15.00, Youth day pass - $11.00. Membership and group rates are also available.
Escape Rooms
Escape rooms are a real-life game experience where you are trapped in a room surrounded by puzzles you must solve to escape. There are a number of Escape rooms in Winnipeg offering fun and interactive games. You can find lost gems, escape from pirates, rob a bank or infiltrate area 51. Most escape rooms recommend a minimum of 4 players so get your group together and have some fun.
Locations: Time Lapse Escape Room – 654 King Edward Street, Ultimate Lockdown – 1819 Main Street, Codebreakers Escape Room – Unit 202-100 Osbourne Street, The Escape Hatch – 1318 Portage Ave, The Real Escape – 3137 Portage Ave.
Cost: Varies depending on location.
Speedworld Indoor Kart Track
Do you have a need for speed? Speedworld is Manitoba’s only indoor kart track. They offer three different levels of kart: Sprint level can reach a top speed of 40 kilometers per hour, Race level can reach a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour and Pro level can reach a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour. Speedworld’s 28 000 square foot facility also offers a private mezzanine that can seat up to 30 people and a locker room for your personal belongings. Speedworld is open Monday to Thursday from 12:00PM to 11:00PM, Friday from 12:00PM to 12:00AM, Saturday from 11:00AM to 12:00PM and Sunday from 12:00PM to 10:00PM.
Location: 575 C Berry Street Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cost: Prices vary depending on kart type and number of races.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Located adjacent to The Forks, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the first national museum built since 1967 and is the first national museum to be located outside of the national capitol region. It is also the first museum to be dedicated solely to the history and future of Human Rights not only in Canada but around the world. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights offers ten core galleries throughout its levels and one gallery dedicated to temporary exhibits. The museum also features guided tours, a gift shop and a bistro. The regular museum hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10:00AM to 5:00PM and Wednesday from 10:00AM to 9:00PM. They also open on specific Monday`s and holidays. See their website for more information (https://humanrights.ca/home).
Location: 85 Israel Asper Way Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cost: Adult - $18.00, Youth (7-17 years old) - $9, Post-secondary students (with ID) - $14.00, Senior (65+ with ID) - $14.00, Children under 7 – Free. Admission provides full unlimited same-day access to the galleries.
Festival Du Voyageur
Festival Du Voyageur is Western Canada’s largest winter festival. It is a ten-day festival that is held in February to celebrate Canada’s fur trading past and unique French heritage. Take in the beautiful ice sculptures, entertainment, crafts and displays that celebrate this unique part of our history. Swing by the ice bar for a taste of some ice wine. The 2018 Festival Du Voyageur will be held from February 16-25, 2018.
Location: Whittier Park, 836 Rue Saint Joseph Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cost: Adult Voyageur Pass - $65.00, Youth (13-17)/Senior (60+) Voyageur Pass - $30.00, Adult Day Pass - $25.00, Youth/Senior Day Pass - $15.00, Children 12 and under – Free.
Let us know if you have done any of these activities this winter, what your experience was like and if you have any pictures you are willing to share we would love to see them. E-Mail us at service@frankmotors.ca.