Pisew Falls, Thompson

Manitoba’s most accessible and impressive waterfall, Pisew Falls is located about 75 km south of Thompson in a provincial park set amongst the pine, spruce and tamarack forest. You can hear the falls as soon as you exit your car in the parking lot; just follow your ear down a short boardwalk to two viewing platforms to take in the awesome site. Pisew, which means lynx in Cree, is where the Grass River drops 13 meters, switches directions and plunges through a gorge.

Clearwater Lake, The Pas/OCN

Nestled in Manitoba's north, it can be easy to overlook this diamond in the wild. Once you visit Clearwater Lake, you'll understand why it was once voted as the best provincial park in the province. With its crystal-clear waters (you can see to depths of up to 30 ft) and tropical blue hue, it's hard to resist the beauty of this spring-fed lake. The Caves—a short 1.5 km hike tucked among rock crevices along the shores of Clearwater Lake—is a hidden oasis teeming with moss-covered rocks, ferns, shrubs and trees. It's a trail like nowhere else in the province.

Beluga Whales, Churchill

Summer in Churchill welcomes droves of a white mammal—but it’s not the one you’re thinking. The western Hudson Bay population of beluga whales is estimated at 58,000, and thousands of those enter the nearby Churchill and Seal River estuaries for feeding and breeding. Companies such as Sea North Tours offer beluga viewing day tours by boat as well as kayaking or paddle boarding. Lazy Bear Expeditions offer multi-day, guided packages to experience belugas by a large passenger boat with underwater viewing windows or by getting water level via Beluga AquaGliding™.

Flinty's Boardwalk, Flin Flon

For those with a firm belief that Manitoba is a flat, prairie province, Flin Flon will come as a surprise. Built up on rock outcrop, the landscape of this hilly town can be best seen with a hike along Flinty's Boardwalk. The 4.2 km trek brings you around the perimeter of Ross Lake with spectacular views and interpretive signage that explains how the outcrop was formed by volcanic rocks that erupted underwater millions of years ago. It ends with a steep climb atop the orange rocks with a lovely vista of the town.

Flintabbatey Flonatin Statue, Flin Flon

If there is a single most popular roadside attraction in Manitoba, it might just be Flintabbatey Flonatin in Flin Flon. Known as Flinty to locals, the statue gives a nod to fictional character Josiah Flintabbatey Flonatin of The Sunless City, the town's namesake. Given his fame, take a few photos with Flinty before heading next door to the Flin Flon Station Museum. This charming museum is housed in the former Canadian National Railway Station building and offers a thorough overview of the town's mining history.

Wekusko Falls, Snow Lake

Wekusko Falls is where the Grass River, which snakes its way across northern Manitoba, drops 12 metres through a series of rapids. There is a short trail leading to one of two suspension bridges that cross the falls at two spots. These bridges not only give an excellent vantage to photograph the falls, they also get you close enough to really sense the power of the tumbling Grass River. In sight of the falls are walk-in tenting sites which may be some of the most beautiful campsites in all of Manitoba. Wekusko Falls Lodge also offers cabin rentals for family fishing adventures.

Polar Bears, Churchill

While October and November are considered peak polar bear season in Churchill, there is opportunity to view these northern icons in summer too. During the warmer summer months of July and August, polar bears are often solitary and low-key, meaning you may spot them hanging in the rocks along some of the coastal roads. Lazy Bear Expeditions' Ultimate Bears and Beluga Summer Adventure and Journey to Fireweed Island, offers large boat excursions up the Hudson Bay coast, offering the best chance to view bears along the coastline from the water. Churchill Wild offers summer polar bear viewings at their fly-in wilderness lodges.

Wolf Mural, Thompson

Travel the curated pathway and biking trail through the heart of Thompson that takes visitors past 16 points of interest, including the iconic 10-storey wolf mural reproduction of a famous Robert Bateman painting. The wolf keeps a watchful eye over this city planted deep in the boreal forest, and its gaze seemingly follows you no matter from which direction you approach it. Stroll the path up to it and take a photo—you'll understand why Thompson earned its moniker ‘the wolf capital of the world.’

Karst Spring, Grass River Provincial Park

One of the best hikes in the area is on Lake Iskwasum in the gorgeous Grass River Provincial Park, 60 km from Cranberry Portage. The Karst Spring self-guiding trail is located at Iskwasum campground, and is a moderate, 3.2 kilometre hike that takes you through lush greenery and dense forest to a wooden bridge over a powerful underwater spring that gushes out of a the granite rock.

Sam Waller Museum, The Pas/OCN

This must-see museum in The Pas is housed in the former historic courthouse. Today, the museum has a wide collection of artifacts, knick knacks and curiosities curated from local collector Sam Waller. Beyond being a collector, he was a skilled naturalist, taxidermist, museum curator and teacher. You'll be impressed by an extensive taxidermy collection, traditional Indigenous pieces and the exhibits verging on the downright curious, such as a two-headed calf and family of dressed-up fleas. The museum also offers guided walks that take visitors on a narrated tour of the downtown area.