Norris Lake Provincial Park is a small park located in south-central Manitoba, Canada, an area known as the Interlake Region. The Interlake Region’s landscape is made up of boreal forest, sandy beaches, and interconnected lakes and waterways. Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba are the largest lakes in the region, but smaller, more remote lakes, like Norris Lake, also dot the landscape and give recreation seekers a rustic and more isolated place to play and stay.
Norris Lake is known for its year-round fishing opportunities as well as for boating, camping, and outdoor activities. The park gives RVers a chance to sleep under the stars in a primitive lakeside setting while providing amenities like vault toilets, fire rings, picnic areas, and plenty of green grass to relax on. RV campers staying at Norris Lake are lucky enough to have a pretty place to stay that is close to larger towns and cities in the province.
The region has a variety of animal species, many of which inhabit the Norris Lake area. The wetlands surrounding the lake create the ideal conditions for waterfowl and other amphibians. Bears frequent the area, and lucky campers may see a bear or two from afar. If reptiles interest you, the Narcisse Wildlife Management Area, located within an hour’s drive of the park, is the place to go to see snakes. This area is known for its population of red-sided garter snakes, and there are times of the year where it is impossible to look at the ground without seeing a snake. The garter snakes also live near Norris Lake, but don’t worry; the snakes aren’t poisonous, and they are much harder to spot outside of the Narcisse Wildlife Management Area.
Whatever your interest, Norris Lake Provincial Park has something to offer. Stop by the park during your trip to Manitoba and see why visitors love the lake and the camping.
Norris Lake Provincial Park is 47 miles (76. 4 km) north of Winnipeg, and ten miles (16.5 km) from the town of Teulon, Manitoba, Canada. Teulon has gas stations and grocery stores, so it's an excellent stopping point before you head into the park.
Manitoba provincial parks require that visitors pay an access fee upon entering the park. These fees are additional costs added to the overnight camping fees. Prices vary depending on residency, time of year, and the length of your visit.
Permits must remain on your vehicle during the duration of your trip. Please note that after 11:00 pm only permit holders with a reserved camping site may enter the campgrounds.
The Norris Lake Campground is a seasonally-operating campground that has fifteen campsites with basic services and three group-use sites. Campers may secure an individual site on a first-come, first-served basis, while the group sites are only available by reservation. When entering the campground, stop at the self-pay registration kiosk before setting in for the night. The campground is pet-friendly, and almost all of the sites overlook Norris Lake and have a fire ring and a picnic table. Manitoba Provincial Park sites require that camping units do not exceed 450 square feet for the total camping footprint. If you have questions about the sites accommodating your RV or trailer, call the park. The campground provides vault toilets and a drinking water tap. It’s best to fill up your onboard tanks before arriving at the park because the water is drinking water made for small containers and not holding tanks. There is no dump station in the park. Generators may be used periodically between 11:00 pm and 9:00 am, the park’s quiet hours.
The day-use area at Norris Lake Provincial Park is basic. The green lawns are surrounded by a thickly forested area that opens up to panoramic views of Norris Lake. The day-use area has a parking lot that leads to the beach. The park permits swimming, but swimmers should note the beach and lake are unsupervised, so all swimmers must take safety precautions while entering the water. The day-use area has a picnic shelter, drinking water, and a vault toilet as well as a boat dock and boat launch. The campground is located near the day-use area, so it is easy to get from one part of the park to another.
If your vacation isn’t complete without spending time on the greens, then your holiday will be everything you hoped for because there are golfing opportunities located near Norris Lake Provincial Park. The Teulon Golf and Country Club is an 18 hole course that welcomes guests for either a full or half-round of golf. The course has a pro shop, snack bar, and a beverage cart, so golfers have what they need for a comfortable day on the greens. The course is challenging but fun, so even novice golfers will have fun. For tee times, pricing, and additional information contact the club.
Bring your kayaks, canoes, or fishing boats, and launch into the water from either the beach or the boat dock, and spend your time fishing, paddling, or water skiing on Norris Lake. Norris Lake Provincial Park doesn’t offer boat rentals, but there are boat rental companies in Winnipeg that rent boats for an extended period, so it’s easy to rent a boat and bring it with you for your stay. All boaters must wear approved life vests, and people who operate motorized boats must possess a Pleasure Craft Operator Card to use the lakes and waterways in Manitoba.
Whether you fish during peak fishing season, or you like to ice fish during the winter, Norris Lake is the place to visit if you prefer a more laid-back fishing atmosphere. Anglers may fish from either the dock, shoreline, or from a boat. The lake is shallow and supports Northern pike, trout, and walleye, and even though the lake isn’t stocked regularly in the winter, ice anglers still have success catching fish during the coldest months of the year. Before fishing, ensure you have the proper fishing license and that you understand the rules and regulations on fishing in Manitoba. The province requires that all anglers 16 and older hold a valid fishing permit.
Do you like snakes? The Narcisse Wildlife Management Area, located near Norris Lake, is the place to visit during the spring if you love all things creepy and crawly. During the spring, the red-sided garter snakes mate uniquely and unforgettably. During mating season, thousands of snakes emerge from their limestone sinkholes and participate in a mating ritual that produces the largest concentration of snakes in the world. This international reptile attraction attracts snake-lovers year-round, even though the best time to see the snakes is during the spring and fall before the snakes retreat to their dens. It is free to enter the Narcisse Wildlife Management Area, and patrons may hike around the facility visiting the different snake dens. Garter snakes are not poisonous, but be aware that the snakes will bite if they are provoked or harassed. Wear your boots and long pants, and come and see what’s slithering during your stay!
Manitoba is known for its spectacular night skies that dance with the green, white, and purple Northern Lights. The lights, also called the Aurora Borealis, form when particles from the sun collide with the earth’s atmosphere, creating some of the most stunning skies in the entire hemisphere. Although the northern portion of Manitoba is the best place to see up to 300 nights a year of the Aurora, towns with dark skies north of Winnipeg still see the Northern Lights. The lights are sometimes elusive, so it’s best to take an overnight excursion with a trained outfitter to ensure you have the best chances of seeing some of the most beautiful night skies in the world. Tour companies from Winnipeg to Churchill have packages that meet almost any sky seeker's needs. Contact the tour companies for more information.
