Did you hear the news? It may have been announced on April Fool’s Day, but it’s no joke! The Manitoba government just announced that entry to Manitoba’s 93 provincial parks will be FREE until March 31, 2026. That means it’s time to plan summer road trips and get ready to adventure in the great wide open of our beautiful country!
Spruce Woods Provincial Park; Credit Travel Manitoba
Despite an ever-changing global situation, Canadians still want to travel. There’s a big, beautiful world out there, and we want to experience it with our friends and family. Thankfully, we live in a vast nation filled with new things to see! With dense forests, ever-changing skies, and sandy shorelines, Manitoba Provincial Parks offer families a chance to indulge in nature’s benefits and explore the history of our country. No park entry permit will be required for any Manitoba Provincial Park until next spring. Campground reservations and fees will still be required, and campground reservations will have a staggered opening from April 7 – 11, 2025.
Budget 2025 offers free entry to Manitoba Provincial Parks, but also includes an $18-million increase for infrastructure improvements. This means campground upgrades and new electrical sites at Grand Beach, Spruce Woods, and Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Parks. You can expect new washroom and shower buildings at St. Malo and West Hawk Lake’s seasonal campground. West Hawk Lake will also gain a restored Crescent Beach seawall, with an accessible ramp and beach access mat. Several new playgrounds will open, including ones at Whiteshell, Clearwater Lake, Turtle Mountain, and Winnipeg Beach.
Grand Beach Provincial Park; Credit Travel Manitoba
“Manitoba is home to more than four million incredible hectares of land and water set aside in 93 provincial parks,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes. “Visitors can make memories while exploring varied landscapes, including lush boreal forests to perfect prairie parklands and sandy shorelines, or walk through the past on a historic site tour and develop new skills at an outdoor workshop.”
Time spent outdoors rejuvenates us. And time spent with family is never wasted. This summer, plan on enjoying the beauty of our own country. It’s time to explore close to home, Canada.
William Lake Provincial Park; Credit Travel Manitoba
Manitoba Parks Website: www.gov.mb.ca
Free Parks Access Announcement: www.news.gov.mb.ca
