Thompson: Waterfalls, Culture and Boreal Forest

Thompson offers a variety of reasons to explore the surrounding area: one trail leads to Pisew Falls, a loop connects boreal forest with urban areas, and the Heritage North Museum tells the story of the people who shaped this region. A winter park and a cross-country ski trail are also possible highlights. You can choose between nature, culture, and outdoor activities for your stay.

Forest Trails and Waterfalls

Pisew Falls, near Thompson, is located about 45 minutes south of the city. A 0.5-kilometre trail leads to a viewing platform overlooking the 13-metre-high falls. The short section of trail and the view of the water make this a clearly defined nature outing that you can plan as a specific highlight. The distance is an important part of the directions: the falls are south of the city.

The Millennium Trail passes through a variety of landscapes. This 15-kilometre hiking and cycling trail forms a loop around Thompson and runs through both boreal forest and urban areas. If you enjoy getting around on foot or by bike, you’ll find a longer route here with these two distinct settings. Its loop layout and stated length make it easy to include the trail as a standalone activity in your travel plans.

The Boreal Discovery Centre is also shaped by the surrounding boreal forest. Together with the forest section of the Millennium Trail, it highlights the landscape around Thompson. If you’d like to focus on nature experiences, you can consider these two options separately: one is a trail through forest and city, the other is a centre connected to the boreal surroundings.

Insights into the Region’s History

The Heritage North Museum explores the Indigenous peoples of northern Manitoba, as well as the surveyors, fur traders, and mining families who shaped the region. The museum offers different perspectives on the people and activities connected to the region’s history. For visitors who don’t want to focus exclusively on outdoor activities, it offers a cultural counterpoint to the trails and natural attractions.

In the main building, exhibits range from taxidermied animals from the region and various Thompson artefacts to monthly changing travelling exhibitions. A diorama of the boreal forest brings together some remarkable items: an authentic caribou-hide tipi, a woolly mammoth tusk, and fossils. This distinctive mix makes a museum visit varied, from regional animals and objects to finds from the distant past. Visitors with a range of interests can explore different exhibition topics rather than focusing on a single collection.

Lions Club Park is home to a replica of a Norseman seaplane. The park also has a Children’s Adventure Playground. The combination of the aircraft replica and playground adds another destination with different points of interest to the museum and nature themes. You can note the park as a separate place to visit without confusing it with the attractions farther away.

Winter Trails and Downhill Runs

Mystery Mountain Winter Park, near Thompson, is located 20 minutes north of the city on Provincial Road 280. It has 18 runs and 5 lifts. This is a specific option to consider if you’d like to include downhill runs in your stay. Its location north of the city makes this outing geographically distinct from Pisew Falls, south of Thompson.

For cross-country skiing, the Jack Crolly Cross Country Ski Trail is in Thompson, north of the Miles Hart Bridge on Highway 6. It offers a short one-kilometre route as well as trails of up to six kilometres. When choosing a winter activity, you can weigh up the shorter route against the longer trail options.

If you’d like to include more destinations in your travel plans, you can also find Collins Bay here.

For the broader travel overview: Division No. 22.