If your time in Riding Mountain National Park has been limited to the Clear Lake or Wasagaming area, you’re missing prime day trip opportunities to the north.
The north side of the park and Dauphin region feature many scenic viewpoints (see slideshow below), adventures and chances for cross-country exploration. And the time has never been better. Autumn in the Parkland is an ideal destination if you take pleasure in outdoor activity or just enjoy admiring harvest activities and coloured leaves.
The route
Take Highway 10 north from Clear Lake, but be prepared to stop for picturesque landscape and wildlife photos. The view stretching toward Dauphin as you descend from Manitoba Escarpment is worth the drive. Stop by the park’s red chairs for a photo.
If you’d like to include physical activity, stop at one of the national park’s many hiking trails near the bottom of the hill, such as the Beach Ridges or Edwards Creek Trails. Or try part of the Northgate Multi-Use Trail System located just outside the northern edge of the park.
The Parkland spreads out beneath the Manitoba Escarpment in Riding Mountain National Park. The Vermillion River flows downstream of the reservoir. A sign welcomes visitors to the Northgate Muti-Use Trail System just north of the national park’s border. The Vermillion River flows through Dauphin’s Vermillion Park. The adventure begins at Second Corn Maze north of Dauphin.
This 25-kilometre network is designed for hikers or mountain bikers in summer and fat biking in winter. It has a section connecting into the park, and many others looping to the north and west. They reach as far as the Selo Ukraina Heritage Site, where Dauphin’s Countryfest and the National Ukrainian Festival are held. Five micro cabins are available for rent at the trailhead. More information is available on the Northgate website.
From the Northgate trails, continue on Highway 10 to Dauphin, where you can explore the city, stop for lunch or take a short walk in Vermillion Park.
This green space features a campground, playground and lit walking trails for evening hikers and is a lovely, usually quiet spot in autumn. Three kilometres of paths wind through a wooded area at the site along an oxbow of the Vermillion River.
Disc golf enthusiasts will find a course on which to play a round. The park is two blocks west of Main Street at 214-2nd Avenue NW.
For day trips with children, include a visit to the Secord Corn Maze a short drive from Dauphin. Take Highway 20 on the east side of the city, then drive north about four miles to Road 149N and turn west. The Secord Maze is along this road on the south side.
The maze includes many path options with various difficulties. Last year’s short ‘Ladybug Trail’ was planned for pre-school children, while toddlers enjoyed the sand and toys piled in a tractor tire. To avoid overcrowding, the maze is by appointment only. To book a visit, call or text 1-204-647-2656.
The Vermillion Reservoir is another Dauphin-area attraction that shows its best colours in fall. This small lake is about 19 km southwest of Dauphin and a few km north of the boundary of Riding Mountain National Park.
The easiest route to the reservoir from Dauphin is to drive west from the city on Highway 10 to Provincial Road 274. Turn south and drive about 14.5 km to Provincial Road 137N and then turn east to the reservoir.
A little exploration south on Provincial Road 116W and back east on Provincial Road 137N will enable you to explore both sides of the spillway. A sunny, wind-free day will give you beautiful reflective views of the lake on the west side, especially if you’ve timed your visit with the coloured leaves. The east side has a short trail to the river below the spillway.
The reservoir is a flood control structure, but also includes an undeveloped boat launch area. Fish species include smallmouth bass, walleye and brown trout. Only electric motors are allowed on the lake. Below the spillway is also a popular fishing spot.
If you want to return to Highway 10 for a trip back to Clear Lake, travel east on Provincial Road 137N and then north and east along the gravel roads until you intersect with the highway. The Manitoba Backroad Mapbook is invaluable for this type of adventure.
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