This page lists all the places to ski in Central Manitoba that I have info about. Please contact Kevin Miller to add other places to this page.

• Birch Ski Area
• Pumpkin Creek
• Boundary Trails / Burwalde Woods
• Shannondale
• Crescent Lake / Island Park (Portage la Prairie)
• Bittersweet

Please also see

• Peter Sim's excellent descriptions of ski trails near Winnipeg.
• Darryl & Ed's Excellent Adventures while ski touring around Manitoba.
• Trail condition reports submitted by Manitoba skiers.

Birch Ski Area

• Birch Mountain Sports

Pumpkin Creek

• Pumpkin Creek is located just north of the Birch Ski Area, a few K west of Roseisle. After turning south off PTH 245 onto the Birch Ski Area road, turn west (right) at the first road (to go to Birch you'd continue going south). After a K or so, you'll pass the old Snow Valley alpine resort on your left. A bit further is the Pumpkin Creek trailhead (on your right).
• Nice rolling terrain for classic skiing.
• Trail map. (PDF)
• Morningvale Inn Bed & Breakfast, (204)248-2739

Boundary Trails / Burwalde Woods Boundary Trails Nordic Club -- trails

Shannondale

Located 8K west of Morden on Hwy #3. Turn north at the Thornhill Turnoff -- RR34. Then go 2.6 K north. Turn into the yard with the red barns and friendly skiers. Trail maps are available by the sign-in book and donation box. 16K of classic trails and 7K of skate trails, with a warming cabin at the trail head and a heated Chalet in the Valley, 1K from the start. The Yellow Trail is introductory level, with an easy glide down to the chalet. From there you can choose from three 1K loops. The Blue Trail is medium difficulty, 11K of mostly undulating terrain with approx 50m elevation and mainly bi-directional. It is the favourite ski trail. The basic Orange Trail is a 5K circuit, ideal for rigorous skate skiing. It has 150m total elevation on 5 major slopes and several smaller slopes. The minimum width is 2.5m. An extra 2K of optional Orange Trails offer several challenging slopes up to 30 degrees! The Chalet in the Valley is a great place for a rest or lunch. It is insulated and warmed with a wood stove. A rustic biffy awaits nearby. Contact David Lumgair at REMOVE_THISdlumgair@sdnet.ca or (204) 822-3735. David often posts his conditions on our Trail Conditions page. David says: "I believe my trails are great for beginners, and are also sufficiently challenging to be of value to those intending skills improvement. My ambitions are that everyone should have fun and gain skills. Fresh Air is Health Care, Help yourself! Kyoto compliant too." Boundary Trails Nordic Club -- trails (including the 2009-2010 Shannondale trail map) Trail map (PDF) -- 2008 Free Press story from December 2006 Skiing Shannondale with Super Dave (March 14, 2010)

Crescent Lake / Island Park (Portage la Prairie)

• Crescent Lake / Island Park is a 4 square kilometre area just south of Saskatchewan Avenue (the Trans Canada Highway) in Portage la Prairie.
• In the winter, Island Park has groomed trails on the park itself and on the Portage Golf Club (204-857-6177). It is well-treed and gently rolling in places. Crescent Lake is used for skate skiing.
• Map of Portage la Prairie.

Bittersweet

• The Bittersweet trails are operated and maintained by the Bittersweet Cross Country Ski Club.
• Situated in the Assiniboine River valley, they are a short 1½ hour drive from Winnipeg, 50 km SW of Portage la Prairie on highway 242 between highways 1 & 2, just north of the Assiniboine River bridge at the top of the hill.
• With 21K of continuously groomed (classic), wooded, and hilly trails, they offer an experience for all levels of skiers, from beginner to expert. The trails range from easy to challenging, and are the equal to any in Manitoba. A wood-heated ski hut is available for your convenience, either as a rest stop or as a lunch spot to meet with your fellow skiers. Well marked trail maps are available at the trail head.
• New for 2008-2009:
  Bittersweet now has 12K of skate trails! Winding among the wooded hills of the beautiful Bittersweet country, the skate-ski only trails can only be accessed from the new Oak Meadows Trailhead, but classic skiers can access the classic trails from there too! To access the Oak Meadows Trailhead, drive 1 mile north on highway #242 from the existing Hartley Woodward Trailhead, or 1 mile south from the junction of highways #242 and #350, turn west onto Assiniboine Hills Trail, and drive 1 mile to the parking and trail access. To maintain the intimate, woodsy feel of our trails, we have kept most of the skate and classic trails separate to minimize trail width. Skaters are reminded to respect the grooming for classic skiers and stay on the skating trails. Come and try our new trails!
• Membership to the Bittersweet Cross Country Ski Club can be purchased on-site, or donations can be made to help the club with it's maintenance.
• For trail information and ski conditions, phone (204)252-2622 (Hartley Woodward). If conditions, especially hills on the Cottonwood trails, become dangerously icy, trails may be closed. Ardythe McMaster often posts conditions on our Trail Conditions page.
• Trails map (PDF) -- updated for 2008-2009, color, excellent
• Trails location (PDF) -- new for 2007-2008
• Bittersweet Ski Club newsletter -- Autumn 2009 (PDF)
• 2008-2009 Trails Report (PDF)
• Winter in Manitoba is ... Bittersweet (March 14, 2010)

   This page was last updated on March 14, 2010