A small park on the eastern shore of Lake Manitoba, with a comfortable campground and family friendly recreational activities, Watchorn Provincial Park is a brilliant destination for a family camping trip. Located in Moosehorn, Manitoba, this campground offers visitors a comfortable destination for a camping trip with a beautiful sand beach and scenic water view.
The beach attracts tourists from all over Manitoba and neighboring cities. The lake area is used by visitors for a host of water sports. Swimming, canoeing, fishing and boating are popular sports at the lake. There is a boat launch north of the campground at Watchorn Creek. There are also opportunities for hiking, cycling and wildlife viewing at the park as well as numerous other activities.
The Moosehorn Heritage Museum offers history buffs with a chance to see some artifacts from the region's history including the old Canadian National Railway station and Gypsumville's Canadian Forces station. The serene campground adjacent to the beach offers a comfortable camping spot for visitors of the park. No matter the season you visit, Watchorn is a safe bet for a premium experience both for relaxation and recreation.
Watchorn is an easily accessible park both by foot and vehicle. Travel north of Winnipeg on Highway #6 for approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) to Provincial Road 237. Travel another 11.5 kilometers (7.1 miles) west to Watchorn Provincial Park. Signposts offer roadside guidance up until the park gates. Roads in the region are all smooth and well paved.
The campground at Watchorn Provincial Park offers 47 pet-friendly electrical and basic camping sites. Amenities here include picnic tables, water supply, showers, and both modern and non modern washrooms.
Firewood and other basic amenities are provided at the campground. The campground is adjacent to the beach area and the nice, sandy beach is just a short walk away. Hiking trails are also close by. Reservations are available from the park's website.
Lake Manitoba offers visitors with a wide range of water sports and fishing is one of the most popular activities at the lake. The wide lake is home to numerous sport fish species which attract anglers to the park. The lake has a rich brown trout population which is the most common catch.
Salmon and whitefish are also common at the lake and bull trout is also a regular catch by anglers at Watchorn. Fishing is regulated at the park, so be sure to know the regulations before fishing at Lake Manitoba.
A picnic by the lake is the perfect way to spend some time relaxing at Watchorn Provincial Park. Bring some food and drinks and enjoy the scenic lake view, which is the perfect setting for a family outing or even some personal time.
There are picnic tables available at the campground if visitors don't want to go down to the lake and some available on the beach as well.
Watchorn Provincial Park offers visitors a lot of wonderful hiking opportunities. There are marked hiking trails all over the park with both directions and sign posts in place to aid visitors .
The trail beside by the beach is the most popular trail here. It offers visitors brilliant views of the lake and some birding opportunities as well.
Lake Manitoba and its surroundings have a rich landscape and ecosystem, ranging from swamps to marshlands, making it premium bird habitat.
Species like warblers, Wilson's snipe, and egrets can be spotted close to the lake toward dusk. Hikers with eagle eyes can also spot grouse and hawks when hiking the trails.
Make sure you bring your binoculars to better observe the birds and a camera wouldn't hurt either.
Water activities abound at Watchorn Provincial Park. Swimming, boating, and canoeing in Watchorn Bay are wonderful options when the weather is hot and sunny. You'll find a boat launch north of the campground at Watchorn Creek which makes getting on the water extremely easy.
For safety, note that the beach and swimming area here is unsupervised so exercise caution and extra care when swimming alone or with small children.
If the weather isn't too good and you're looking for a bit of history, visit the Moosehorn Heritage Museum. You'll be surrounded by photographs as well as displays of pioneers and even a replica of a pioneer home layout. There's also artifacts available to see from the old Canadian National Railway station and technical equipment from Gypsumville's Canadian Forces station.
The museum is open from the beginning of July to the beginning of September.
