If you are looking for Winnipeg beaches, it may surprise you that there is not a single beach in the city of Winnipeg. For a province that has over 100,000 lakes and water covering almost 20% of the surface area, that’s baffling!
Don’t worry though, we got you covered with some of the best beaches near Winnipeg. Many of the beaches near the city are actually in Provincial Parks. This means you will need a pass for a day entrance.
If you’re planning on spending a lot of time by the beach this summer, it might be worth it to just buy an annual pass.
Most Popular Out Of All The Winnipeg Beaches
Grand Beach Provincial Park
On the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg, you will find Grand Beach which is the best of the best when it comes to white sand beaches.
Just an hour north of Winnipeg, Lake Winnipeg is the sixth largest lake in Canada and the Provincial Park has a variety of fun, outdoorsy things to do. Since it is a huge lake, the beach is wide and spread out; so even on packed days, you will have plenty of room.
Grand beach has one of the best sandy shores in Canada so be sure to pack your kids’ sandcastle-building kit! The soft, white sand is wheelchair accessible and perfect for setting up for the day.
The refreshing, clear waters of the lake are great for water activities like swimming and windsurfing. Furthermore, the west side of the beach is patrolled by lifeguards.
For a quieter vibe, you can head to the east side of the beach, away from the crowds. Grand Beach also features many beautiful hiking trails if you want to explore nature. There are even facilities like tennis courts, an outdoor amphitheater, picnic areas, and one of the best campgrounds in the province.
Out-of-towners can head over to the Inn At The Forks once they get back to Winnipeg. This beautiful downtown hotel provides great rooms, and great service and is close to some cool little restaurants.
Beaches In Winnipeg For Families
Bird Hills Provincial Park
If you’re looking for a quick beach to get to, Bird Hills Park is only 17 km away from the city, making it one of the most accessible Winnipeg beaches.
Bird Hills is a man-made lake with sandy shores and a variety of amenities. While the beach is small and gets busy quickly, the Provincial Park is huge and there are plenty of trails to hike or bike on as well as picnic areas to have a BBQ dinner.
The incredibly futuristic-looking Mere Hotel is fascinating inside and out and is close to Bird Hills Provincial Park. It makes for a great home base for exploring Winnipeg as there is plenty to see and do nearby, including the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
Winnipeg Beach
Located in the cute town of Winnipeg Beach, you’ll find this beach on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. The town access is great for finding bars, restaurants, and shops, and has many events going on in the summer.
There are also many other Winnipeg beaches in the area to check out; such as Matlock Beach, Ponemah Beach, Gimli Beach, and Pelican Beach if you want to go beach-hopping.
If you want to boat or fish, there is a protected harbor to head out while the swimming area is shallow and perfect for kids. There is also a cool boardwalk that spans the beach and makes for a nice sunset stroll.
If you want to spend a few days in the area checking out the other beaches, the Lakeview Gimli Resort is a great choice. It’s right on the nearby Gimli beachfront to already check another beach off your list. They also have great food options, a fitness center, and a pool in case the weather isn’t great.
St. Malo Provincial Park
Less than an hour south of Winnipeg, you’ll find the town of St. Malo featuring the beautiful St. Malo Beach and Provincial Park.
This is a great spot to check out with the family as many festivals and events are happening throughout the summer. You won’t find any powerboats here which make for a quiet relaxing beach where you can still swim, kayak, canoe, and fish though!
If you are too tired to drive all the way back to Winnipeg, you can rest easy at the Days Inn by Wyndham Steinbach just 30 km from St. Malo. However, if you want to explore Winnipeg and check out the city at night, the Victoria Inn Hotel is the place for you.
Winnipeg Beaches For Water Sports
Falcon Lake
One of the best beaches near Winnipeg to take out the water toys and spend the day on the lake is Falcon Lake over in Whiteshell Provincial Park.
It’s a popular recreation area with a huge marina for those wanting to boat, fish, waterski, or jet ski. Boat rentals are also available but make sure to bring sunscreen because it’s easy to burn when you’re out on the water all day!
Falcon Lake is also packed with amenities and you will find many restaurants, shops, picnic sites, and places to play here. The boardwalk runs along the soft white sand and there are plenty of trails for exploring the lake.
Besides camping, there are not many options for places to stay out at Falcon Lake. Your best bet would be to head back to Winnipeg and have a comfortable sleep at the Lakeview Signature by Wyndham. This stunning hotel has a few onsite bars and restaurants and is also close to Polo Park.
Colert Beach
Colert Beach is one of the most popular Winnipeg beaches to head for water fun. It’s only an hour and a half south of the city and perfect for boating, canoeing, paddleboarding, sailing, and of course swimming.
For kids (and yes adults too), the big draw is the Splish Splash Water Park, a huge inflatable play place on the water that has trampolines, slides, and so much more.
The area around Colert Beach has many fun activities to explore as well. From the trails to the Canadian Fossil Discovery Center to golf courses, you can really get a lot from this great little lake.
For a Howard Johnson Hotel, this Winnipeg one is the best we’ve seen from this chain! It looks like some sort of avant-garde exhibit you’d see in a museum. You should definitely check it out because the decor, location, and price are all right!
Best Beaches Near Winnipeg For A Getaway
Steep Rock Beach
If you want to experience some great Canadian scenery, head over to Steep Rock Beach on Lake Manitoba.
It’s a two-and-a-half-hour journey northeast of Winnipeg and when you get there, your jaw will drop. There are limestone rock formations and cliffs that make it feel like you’re in a completely different part of the world.
This is also one of the best beaches near Winnipeg for all of the outdoor adventures your heart could desire. It’s a phenomenal spot for swimming, boating, hiking, paddle boarding, and even cave exploring.
The amenities are great here so whether you just head out for the day or the weekend, you will have many things to do.
While there are plenty of camping and cabin options, if that’s a little too rustic you can head back to Winnipeg. The Alt Hotel is in the heart of downtown, close to the Forks Market and the Manitoba Museum.
Clear Lake
Hop in the car and take the beautiful, scenic three-hour drive west of Winnipeg to Riding Mountain National Park.
You will find the coveted Clear Lake here which is one of the best Winnipeg beaches for adventuring. Whether you want to go hiking, biking, wildlife watching, paddle boarding, or boating, you can do it all at Clear Lake.
The beauty contained in this National Park is one of the best in the province and it’s a peaceful, serene place to relax. The lake is aptly named and it is one of the clearest bodies of water in the province, make sure to pack your snorkeling mask and gear to check out what lies beneath!
After swimming and exploring all day, you’ll probably be too tired to head back to the city. Riding Mountain National Park is also so stunning, you should spend a few nights.
The Elkhorn Resort, Spa, & Conference Center is the place you’ll want to call home. With all the amenities you need right in the resort, equipment rentals, and easy access to the National Park, it’s perfect!
Discovering More Winnipeg Beaches
Many of the beaches near Winnipeg featured above are also close to a ton of other beaches. If you’re not feeling the one you’re at, you can easily hop on Google, take a short drive, and set up on new shores!
While many of the beaches are not actually in Winnipeg, they’re your best and only options. But don’t let it get to you that much because it is a lot of fun to take a road trip, crank your tunes and escape the city.
Enjoy the sights, nature, and activities because all of these Winnipeg beaches have a lot to offer.
