Manitoba has many spots that offer wonderful views at this time of year. An autumn trip to one of our parks, or a drive along the many rural roads, even a walk in a local pasture, can offer stunning displays of fall foliage.
One of my favourite areas for a fall drive is a loop that begins in Neepawa. Take Highway No. 16 to Minnedosa. Explore this scenic spot and drive out to Minnedosa Lake on the east side of town. Take a walk across the dam and along the Little Saskatchewan River, adjacent to the buffalo compound, or drive up the hill in the southeast corner of town to the 12-metre viewing tower which overlooks the entire valley.
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From Minnedosa, drive north on No. 10 to the Little Saskatchewan Valley, an often-photographed spot. In the middle of the valley, turn east at mile 93N and drive 6.4 km until you reach Road 262. Then drive north for one mile to 94N and take Road 265 to Polonia. This village lies in a gem of a valley. Take a break from driving and explore the grounds of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Continuing east on 265 will connect you with Highway 5 at Eden and you can then head back to Neepawa. Or, if you feel like walking, stop at the Rosedale Farm just past Mile 92W. There are a couple of hikes here, each about 2.5 km long, with viewpoints looking down from the escarpment. If the weather is clear, it’s possible to see Lake Manitoba in the distance.
If you want a scenic drive that is farther south, spend some time in the Turtle Mountains. Adam Lake, Bower Lake, Max Lake and William Lake are all beautiful in the fall. A walk along the shore of William Lake, if the leaves are in their full glory, is well worth the drive. (Or if you’re energetic and have a couple of hours, a hike up to the Turtle’s Back viewing tower can be invigorating.) Some time spent along Adam Lake or Max Lake will usually give you views of geese, ducks, a muskrat or two, or perhaps a beaver. If the weather has been reasonably dry, it’s possible to drive through Turtle Mountain Provincial Park from Max Lake, to Road 450 on the west side of the park. The International Peace Gardens south of Boissevain also has an impressive display of leaves.
Spruce Woods Provincial Park is always a beautiful spot in the fall. Plan a picnic and short walk (1.5 km) at Marsh Lake, or wander through the campground and along Kiche Manitou Lake. Even the poison ivy is beautiful at this time of year. Hikers can explore the Spirit Sands Desert, and bikers can try out the Epinette Trail or the Trans-Canada Trail.
Riding Mountain Park makes a lovely fall trip, with the dark-green spruce a contrast to the golden birch and poplar trees. Autumn is also a good time to watch for wildlife. My husband and I like to drive the quieter routes, such as the Lake Audy Road out to see the bison; Highway 19 to the east — with a viewpoint off the escarpment; or the Rolling River Road, which turns south about halfway along Highway 19 and will connect south to Road 262 (bringing you to Clanwilliam and south to Minnedosa).
If you’re closer to Winnipeg plan a drive out to Beaudry Park, on Highway 241 west of Headingley, and take a short walk along the trails. We explored there last year in mid-October, and some of the leaves had already fallen, but the undergrowth was still colourful. Birds Hills Park is another good spot near Winnipeg.
If you want a trip farther east, take a drive up into the Interlake, such as a trip to Hecla Island Provincial Park, or to Gimli or Camp Morton Provincial Park. Other scenic spots in autumn are the Brandon Hills, the Pembina Hills Provincial Park, and other parts of the Pembina Valley, such as around Ninette.
Unfortunately, the coloured leaf season is short, usually starting after the first real frost and sometimes, depending on the amount of wind, lasting only a week or two. But even after much of the upper foliage has fallen, the undergrowth stays bright, and the tamaracks stay golden for a few weeks after the other leaves have gone.
Take a good map with you if you’re driving some of the quieter roads. We like to use Backroad Mapbook (available at many gas stations or bookstores).
