The best road cycling routes in Manitoba

This 1,070-kilometer river flows across the Canadian prairies before joining the Red River in Winnipeg. The river was named in honour of the Assiniboine First Nations people who have lived along its route for millennia.

The Forks is the heart of Winnipeg. Frequented by Indigenous peoples thousands of years ago, it is now home to a pleasant park on the banks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and a lively market hall with shops and restaurants.

This is a beautiul spot with a lovely bench situated right along the river, where you can take in the view of its forested banks and the gently flowing water as it passes you by. It’s the perfect place for a scenic short break or a trailside snack, and is especially beautiful in the late afternoon when the light hits the river just right.

Crescent Drive Park is a beautiful 25-hectare riverside green space, with mature trees, quiet trails, and open picnic areas. There is a year-round pavilion with a fireplace and patio, a 9-hole golf course at its centre, a playground, and a network of walking paths with access to the Red River, making it a popular spot for relaxed strolls, family gatherings, and year-round outdoor enjoyment.

Birds Hill Provincial Park is a beautiful year-round recreation area that includes a mix of prairie, forest, and wetlands, and is home to plenty of wildlife, including deer, waterfowl, and over 200 bird species. Kingfisher Lake is at the park’s centre, surrounded by a 7.2-kilometre paved loop trail that’s a popular route for walking and cycling. While you’re here, you can explore nearly 30 kilometres of hiking trails, including the Chickadee Trail to Griffiths Hill, the highest point in the park. There is a day-use picnic area, campground, and plenty of other amenities, making this the perfect place to spend the day or a weekend enjoying the outdoors.

Sturgeon Creek is a beautiful, winding tributary of the Assiniboine River that flows through Winnipeg’s St. James area. Lined with trees, grasses, and restored wetlands, it supports a wide variety of fish, birds, and other urban wildlife. The creek’s natural corridor also provides a scenic backdrop for trails and parks along its course through the city.

The Sturgeon Creek Trail is a lovely, four kilometre crushed limestone multi-use path that traces a peaceful corridor through west Winnipeg, following the creek past open meadows, shaded woods, and quiet residential pockets. You’ll cross several footbridges and pass interpretive signs that highlight the area’s natural and cultural history, including connections to Indigenous communities. There are plenty of benches and picnic spots along the way that are ideal for birdwatching or a relaxed afternoon by the water.

The Red River flows north from the United States into Manitoba, winding through Winnipeg before emptying into Lake Winnipeg. Its slow, meandering course has long shaped the region’s landscape and history, serving as a vital route for Indigenous peoples, fur traders, and early settlers. Today, its banks are lined with parks, trails, and neighbourhoods that celebrate the river’s enduring role in the heart of the prairie city.