It’s hard not to fall in love with the community of Lac du Bonnet. From the welcoming people, extraordinary nature experiences, to the charming parks. Lac du Bonnet is only 108 km from the city of Winnipeg, making it the perfect place for a day trip to reconnect with nature and yourself.

*Disclaimer*

• Stay home if you have been travelling or do not feel well. Here is an excellent resource if you are quarantined. This will help you find people in Manitoba who are willing and able to help you while quarantined. Help Next Door Manitoba
• Go out with people within your household, but practice social distancing (2 metres away) with other groups.
• Please practice Leave No Trace. Clean up after yourself and leave nothing behind such as trash and waste.

 

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Start your Lac du Bonnet adventure at the Pinawa Dam Provincial Heritage Park, located in the beautiful rural municipality of Lac du Bonnet. The dam played an essential part in Manitoba’s history – being the first year-round hydro generating plant in Manitoba. The opening of the dam sparked the beginning of hydroelectric development on the Winnipeg River.

Today, you can visit the ruins of the dam while out enjoying the beauty of the park. The landscape of the park itself is breathtaking. With Canadian Shield outcroppings, an abundance of forest scenery, and rapids and waterfalls along the water, this is a must-see for any nature lover. The Pinawa Channel also runs through the park and is home to a variety of fish like walleye, northern pike, catfish and smallmouth bass.

While visiting the park, you can find many unique experiences, like a self-guided walking of the Old Pinawa Townsite and the beginning of the Blue Water South Trail. Don’t be surprised if you run into a few animals along the way. White-tailed deer, black bears, foxes, and otters frequently run along the bank of the water.

 

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It’s no secret that Lac du Bonnet is one of the hottest fishing destinations in Eastern Manitoba. Try your luck at catching rainbow, brown, or tiger trout at the Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Ponds. Operated by the Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association, your fishing adventure will be enhanced at this stocked pond. While you do have to practice catch and release with brown and tiger trout, you can take home a few rainbow trout for a tasty dinner.

At the Ponds, you will also find a trail that leads to Lac du Bonnet’s favourite trail – Blueberry Hill Rock. This 1.8 Km trail is perfect for any skill level and has many nature opportunities. The landscape is a mix of lush boreal forest and magnificent Canadian Shield outcroppings. You can view wildlife like eagles, great horned owls, black bears, deer, and many more, and take in the sights of wildflowers, foliage, deciduous and coniferous trees. Don’t forget to bring a bucket! You can find and pick blueberries along the way! Mid-August is when they are in season.

 

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For lunchtime, stop by the Ladybug Café for a bite to eat, specialty coffees and teas, and maybe a delicious treat or two. The Ladybug Café is perfect for filling you up with their many wraps, pizza by the slice, hot dogs, taco in a bag, and many other menu options. Take it to go and have a picnic at one of Lac du Bonnet’s parks or dine in at the café on the patio.

 

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For your next adventure, head over to Ridge Creek Ranch for hours of horse fun! Go out on the trails via horseback with professional trainer and instructor Nicole and cowboy Mike for a rootin’ tootin’ good time. Or you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a wagon ride.

They also offer pony rides! So if your little one is ready for a solo ride, they can still have all the fun of riding, petting, and experiencing horses.

After all that horsing around, cool off at the Lac du Bonnet Town Dock and Beach. Whether you want to do some more fishing, play in the sand, or splash around in the water, you can have an endless amount of fun! This beach is perfect for swimmers of all skill levels, having both a shallow section where your little ones can safely play, to more advance swimming opportunities by jumping off the dock. Your little ones will also love climbing on the play structures while you sit back in the shade and relax.

 

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End your day trip to Lac du Bonnet by grabbing a bite to eat at Drifters. From burgers, pizzas, chicken wings, and everything in between, you can find something delicious to satisfy your empty stomach. Enjoy the relaxing environment in diner perfect for a family, or head over with your buddies and take full advantage of the lodge/bar area. On lovely, sunny days, you can even sit outside on the patio.

 

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