Adventure and endless activities await at Grass River Provincial Park. The park covers more than 630,000 acres (255,000 hectares) of Canadian wilderness.
The park was originally created to provide protection to a herd of rare woodland caribou and to preserve their breeding grounds. Other wildlife have benefited from the protected ecosystem like moose, wolves, white tailed deer, wolverines, otters, minks, and lynx. A variety of birds and waterfowl enjoy the park’s lakes and marshes.
Water lovers can boat on the lakes and swim at the park’s swimming beaches. Hikers can explore Karst Spring Trail, a nearly 2 mile (3.2 km) trail that takes campers to scenic Karst Spring to view the natural phenomenon of water streaming out of solid rock.
Fishermen can fish on the lakes in the warm months and ice fish in the winter months. Depending on the lake you choose, you’ll catch walleye, pike, lake trout, and rainbow trout.
The park offers three campgrounds open for RV camping May through September: Gyles Lake, Iskwasum Lake, and Reed Lake. Each campground features picnic shelters, a boat ramp, a playground, and a swimming beach. All three have ADA accessible sites.
Grass River Provincial Park is located in the northwestern part of Manitoba, Canada. The park entrance is 47 miles (75 km) north of The Pas, Manitoba, and sits on the Grass River. Visitors coming from Winnipeg will travel about 7.5 hours drive time northwest.
The park can be accessed from all directions by hopping on PTH 39 and following the road into the park. Main park roads and campground roads are paved. Other minor roads may be gravel or dirt.
Parking is available at each campsite and at boat launches.
Visitors can also travel through the park by canoe. A marked canoe route down the Grass River and through several of the park’s lakes are popular forms of transportation for outdoor enthusiasts.
Gyles Lake Campground features 57 sites for RV or trailer camping. Hookups are not available, but generator use is allowed. Generators should be turned off between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m. Pets are allowed but must be on leash or kenneled at all times. Fill stations for water and dump stations are available. Campers have access to picnic shelters, a boat ramp, a fish cleaning station, playground, and a beach. Pit toilets and solar showers are available for guest use. The campground is open May through September.
Iskwasum Lake Campground features 51 sites for RV or trailer camping. Hookups are not available, but generator use is allowed. Generators should be turned off between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m. Pets are allowed but must be on leash or kenneled at all times. Fill stations for water and dump stations are available. Campers have access to picnic shelters, a boat ramp, a fish cleaning station, playground, and a beach. Pit toilets and solar showers are available for guest use. The campground is open May through September.
Reed Lake Campground features 58 sites for RV or trailer camping. Hookups are not available, but generator use is allowed. Generators should be turned off between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m. Pets are allowed but must be on leash or kenneled at all times. Fill stations for water and dump stations are available. Campers have access to picnic shelters, a boat ramp, a fish cleaning station, playground, and a beach. Pit toilets and solar showers are available for guest use. The campground is open May through September.
Grass River Provincial Park is covered in waterways. From the Grass River to Reed Lake, Iskwasum Lake, Simonhouse Lake, and countless other lakes and ponds, the opportunities for enjoying the water seem endless. There is a dedicated swimming beach at Gyles Lake Campground, Reed Lake Campground, and Iskwasum Campground, but guests can enter the water at their own risk elsewhere in the park. Lifeguards are not on duty, so campers are asked to swim with caution and never swim alone.
The extensive waterways of Grass River Provincial Park make it a haven for boating and water recreation. Gyles Lake Campground, Iskwasum Lake Campground, and Reed Lake Campground each have their own boat ramps for visitors to use. Additional boat ramps are located at Cranberry Portage and the southeast and southwest ends of Simonhouse Lake as well as Webster Lake. The park’s designated canoe route is an exciting adventure for boaters who prefer paddle to motor. Lodges are located along the route for overnight stays.
Hikers at Grass River Provincial Park have the opportunity to witness a natural phenomenon. The Karst Spring self-guided trail takes hikers to the fountain of Karst Spring. Here, they can witness a steady stream of water surging out of solid rock. The trail is a 2 mile (3.2 km) loop. The spring is halfway around the loop at the rock cliffs of the Manitoba Lowlands. Hike through the boreal forest and take in the scenic views of the Canadian wilderness.
Grass River Provincial Park was established in 1963 to provide a protected space for a herd of woodland caribou. Most importantly, the park preserves their historic breeding grounds. The islands that dot Reed Lake are popular calving sites for the herds of caribou that live in the park. During the springtime, visitors may catch a glimpse of the mothers and their young. Other wildlife have benefited from the protected ecosystem like moose, wolves, white tailed deer, wolverines, otters, minks, and lynx. A variety of birds and waterfowl enjoy the park’s lakes and marshes.
Plentiful waterways mean plentiful fishing opportunities. Grass River Provincial Park is a popular spot for local and visiting fishermen to find their catch of the day. Different bodies of water in the park lend themselves to particular species of fish. If you’re looking for walleye, try Loucks, Iskwasum, and Elbow Lakes. Simonhouse Lake is popular for pike. Secondary Cranberry Lake and Reed Lake contain plentiful lake trout. If you prefer rainbow trout. Try Webster and Amphipod Lakes. In the winter months, ice fishing is allowed on Gyles, Iskwasum, and Reed Lakes.
Grass River Provincial Park is the perfect place for a wilderness picnic. Designated picnic areas with picnic tables and fire rings are available at Cranberry Portage, Gyles Campground, Iskwasum Campground, and Reed Lake Campground. The communities of Cranberry Portage, Flin Flon, The Pas, and Snow Lake are the nearest areas to stop to purchase food and supplies. Properly dispose of trash in sealed containers to prevent attracting wildlife. Remember that littering can upset the fragile ecosystem of the park.
