|
Riding
Mountain National Park
A journey to the geographic center of North America
©
Outdoor Adventure Canada
Take
a journey to the center of North America, geographically speaking
that is. Established in 1929, Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP)
is located in the southwestern part of Manitoba and is surrounded
by farmland.
 There
are several environmental regions contained within the park; the
Manitoba Escarpment, the Northern Boreal Forest; Southern Boreal
Plains; Western Highlands and the Plateaux Natural Region. RMNP
is 2973 sq kms in size and offers several car camping areas and
backcountry camping opportunities.
Wasagaming
Campground has a beautiful beach on Lake Wasagaming, also known
as Clear Lake. The campground is conveniently located within walking
distance of the town. Facilities include full service washrooms
with flush toilets and hot showers. Kitchen shelters are provided
within a short distance of each campsite and there are sites for
the physically challenged. Site types include ones with full service,
electrical and water, electrical only and sites with no service.
The park staff provides interpretative programs during the summer
months.
Moon Lake
Campground is about 20 minutes north of Wasagaming and you must
self-register. Moon Lake also has a very pretty hiking trail that
takes you 9.2 km (almost 6 miles) around the lake. Facilities
include washrooms with flush toilets and running water. Moon Lake
has wheelchair accessible sites and the washrooms have facilities
for the physically challenged. Like Wasagaming there are kitchen
shelters, a picnic area and a small beach. Please note that you
cannot access the beach with a vehicle therefore you will have
to carry your boat about 100 metres.
Lake Audy
Campground is located near the park's Bison Enclosure and is about
41 km (25 miles) from Wasgaming. This campground has less service
than Wasagaming and Moon Lake campgrounds but you can enjoy horseback
riding trails, mountain biking and hiking trails. There is well
water and the privies are also wheelchair accessible. This is
a small campground and once again you must self register. Lake
Audy has a small beach where swimming is allowed. If you travel
from one of the other campgrounds to see the Bison enclosure,
Lake Audy would be a beautiful stop for a picnic.
Deep Lake
Campground is further away from Wasagaming and more remote than
the other campgrounds. This campground has similar services to
Lake Audy campground.
For those
of you with RVs there is Shawenequanape Kipichewin, Southquill
camp. This used to be called Lake Katherine. The unique feature
of this camground is, beyond tent camping and RVing, you may also
rent one of 40 teepees.
Whirpool Lake
Campground is a tenting only area and you must walk in to your
site. There is a kitchen shelter, well water and privies in this
small campground. Motorized boating is not permitted.
There are
many activities for visitors to Riding Mountain National Park.
Activities include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding,
canoeing, sailing, swimming, scuba diving, tennis and golfing.
Clear Lake (Wasagaming) is said to have one of the nicest 18-hole
golf courses on the continent. You may also wish to join a guided
car caravan in the summer to visit other areas of the park. For
a unique experience you can take a pioneer wagon on some trails
to backcountry campsites.
 There
are excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing, moose and elk
are among the animal inhabitants of the park. You may also see
animals such as bison, wolves and cougars. Riding Mountain National
Park boasts the largest population of black bears in North America
therefore you must be extremely cautious and hang your food. RMNP
is also well known for its wildflowers.
Riding Mountain National Park is a diverse region that provides
something for every member of the family. From the luxury of camping
in a RV to roughing it on a walk-in campsite, there is an experience
to suit every lifestyle.
For more information
please contact Riding Mountain National Park through their website
at...
http://parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/parks/manitoba/riding_mountain/riding_mountain_e.htm
For more articles
please view the archives.
|
