Pinawa: Trails, Water and History

Pinawa offers several ways to spend your stay: trails through boreal forest and over granite ridges, recreational activities on the Winnipeg River, and insights into local history. One notable example is the section of the Trans Canada Trail that stretches 28 kilometres through mixed boreal forest and over granite ridges, as well as along the Winnipeg River. It runs from the Seven Sisters Generating Station to Pinawa Dam Provincial Park. Those who enjoy spending time outdoors will find a long route with changing landscape views; when choosing a destination, it’s not just the water that matters, but also the route through the inland area.

Trails for different activities

For a shorter outing, there’s Ironwood Park and Trail: the route is 4.0 kilometres long and intended for hiking, cycling and wheelchair use. The Pinawa Channel Heritage Walk is 3.5 kilometres long and can be used for hiking and cycling in three seasons. This information can help you plan your day around your preferred activity, without assuming that all trails offer the same kind of outing.

There’s also a dedicated trail option in winter: the Trans Canada Trails in Pinawa offer 9.6 kilometres for winter hiking or cycling. By considering both the time of year and your preferred way of getting around, you can better decide whether a walking, cycling or winter outing should shape your holiday. Another option is the Pinawa Suspension Bridge. It’s part of a loop for themed walks, occasional fishing and cross-country skiing.

The Winnipeg River and activities on the water

Pinawa offers recreational activities along the banks of the Winnipeg River. On the Channel Float, you ride an inner tube down the Pinawa Channel; this scenic float takes two to three hours. The Channel Float is a publicly accessible attraction within the Local Government District of Pinawa. This experience is quite different from a hike or bike ride: you explore this stretch of river on the water, and you can factor the stated duration into your day’s plans.

Pinawa Beach has a playground, a picnic shelter, a volleyball court and a floating platform. If you’d like to make time for playing together, a picnic or volleyball when planning your trip, you’ll find several options here. Pinawa also has a marina with visitor parking.

Another activity on offer is the Pinawa Golf Course, with 18 holes and a driving range. Along with the trails and water experiences, visitors can also enjoy golfing if that’s what they’re looking for.

Heritage and discoveries nearby

The Pinawa Heritage Sundial is in the centre of Pinawa, near the marina and overlooking the Winnipeg River. It features 12 heritage symbols and shows visitors how one of the world’s oldest timekeeping devices is used to tell the time. A visit connects a specific technical topic with a central location that also offers river views.

Nearby, Pinawa Dam was Manitoba’s first hydroelectric generating station. The nearby Old Pinawa Self-guiding Trail is 0.7 kilometres long; walking it takes about an hour. These two attractions add a historical dimension to your trip: if you’re interested in early hydroelectric power and exploring on foot, you can consider them when choosing things to do. This makes it easy to choose Pinawa as a holiday destination based on your preferred mix of nature, activity, water and heritage before looking for a suitable vacation rental for your stay.

More destinations: Oakbank, Whitemouth, Whiteshell, Lac du Bonnet, Victoria Beach, Hadashville.

Back to the regional travel overview: Division No. 1.