Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/81685
46 RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK OF CANADA Riding Mountain National Park is a place to reconnect with what truly matters to you, where you will journey to relaxation, laughter, learning and play. Situated at the meeting place of three protected ecosystems – the boreal forest, aspen parkland and fescue prairie - in the middle of a United Nations Biosphere Reserve, you will discover pristine wilderness as it exists nowhere else on earth. Feel like you are looking over the rim of the world when you explore the Escarpment trail system where the Manitoba plateau abruptly falls away 300m to the prairies below. Offering more than 400 km of trails set in 2900 km2 of entrancing wilderness set amid the agricultural landscape of western Manitoba, Riding Mountain National Park will enchant and inspire you. You will want to come back year after year as the Trail Redevelopment Project means that old favourites are being refurbished and new experiences are being added all the time. p: 204-848-7275 e: rmnp.info@pc.gc.ca w: www.pc.gc.ca/riding EASTERN BIRDS HILL PROVINCIAL PARK Featuring hills and ridges formed by ancient glaciers, this 35 km2/22 mi2 park has a lake, oak and aspen forests, native prairie wildflowers (including several species of rare orchids), deer, waterfowl and songbirds. Facilities include camping, swimming, picnic sites, a riding stable, a restaurant, a beach concession and a convenience store. There are 30 km/ 18.5 mi of trails for walking and cross-country skiing and a 7.2 km/4.5 mi paved bicycle and roller blading trails. Interpretive programs are available on a year-round basis for groups of all ages. Every July the park hosts the Winnipeg Folk Festival. location: 24 km/15 mi northeast of Winnipeg on Hwy. 59 p: 204-945-6784 toll free: 1-800-214-6497 GRAND BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK Resting along the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg, Canada's fifth largest lake and next to the historic La Vérendrye Trail, are powdery white sand beaches and grass- topped dunes that make this one of the top beaches in North America. The dunes reach as high as 8 m/30 ft. A lagoon supports many species of birds. An excellent place to swim, wind surf or hike, three excellent self-guiding walks: Spirit Rock Trail, Wild Wings Trail and the Ancient Beach Trail. The Park also features a campground, outdoor amphitheatre, picnic shelters, a restaurant, concession services and wheelchair access to the beach. Nearby Grand Marais offers entertainment and a full range of services. A provincial commemorative plaque, The Postage Stamp Province, marks the east original boundary of the province. It then measured about 130 mi east to west and 110 mi north to south. Its size and shape gave it its nickname. p: 204-945-6784 toll free: 1-800-214-6497 w: www.grand.beach.mb.ca Thunder Mountain Water Slide Park offers the only speed slide in Manitoba, the only whitewater rafting ride and 450 ft water twisters. Admission charged. Open daily 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. end of June to September long weekend. location: East gate of park p: 204-754-4066 b Blaze new trails, scale new heights in Riding Mountain National Park ST AR A T TR A C TION S