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Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Lake Winnipeg is a long (271 miles) somewhat shallow outdoor enthusiast’s dream. It’s located some 35 miles north of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is a natural favorite for Canadian residents as well as visitors. Lake Winnipeg’s beautiful beaches, provincial parks and uncluttered waters afford a wealth of outdoor enjoyment for anyone making it their vacation getaway. It is the sixth largest lake in Canada and the tenth largest…
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    • All About Lake Winnipeg, MB

    Lake Locations: Canada - Manitoba, Canada -

    Lake Winnipeg is a long (271 miles) somewhat shallow outdoor enthusiast’s dream. It’s located some 35 miles north of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is a natural favorite for Canadian residents as well as visitors. Lake Winnipeg’s beautiful beaches, provincial parks and uncluttered waters afford a wealth of outdoor enjoyment for anyone making it their vacation getaway. It is the sixth largest lake in Canada and the tenth largest freshwater lake in the world. There are 30 communities along the over 1000-mile shoreline hosting over 20,000 permanent residents. Lake Winnipeg is a wonderful Canadian resource providing hydroelectric power, tourism, commercial fishing, sport fishing, boating, swimming and camping (some on pristine islands and beaches dotting the Lake). The East side of the Lake is mostly untouched boreal rivers and forests, providing even more remote sites for outdoor challenges. The south end houses most of the seven Provincial Parks and beaches while the north end is the most remote and is the start of the hydroelectric generating system.

    Lake Winnipeg is a natural lake predominantly fed by three major rivers: Red River, Winnipeg River and the Saskatchewan River. Many other rivers contribute their share and Lake Winnipeg’s watershed is truly enormous (386,000 square miles in area) covering parts of four U.S. States and four Canadian provinces. The outlet of Winnipeg Lake flows northward into the Nelson River and the Jenpeg Dam’s six units at the northern end generate 97 megawatts of electricity. There are 39 additional units and four additional dams in the Nelson River Hydroelectric Project further northward generating 3,789 added megawatts for the operator, Manitoba Hydro. This electricity is supplied to the Province and some U.S. locations.

    While there is fine sport fishing in Lake Winnipeg with nice catches of walleye, northern pike, lake trout, smallmouth bass, channel catfish and pickerel, the Lake provides an excellent commercial fishery employing over 1000 fishermen and helpers. In the 2002 commercial season over seven million pounds of pickerel were caught and the total value of the commercial fishing industry on Lake Winnipeg was over $20 million. With the significant size of the Lake, boating (both sailing and power) is a favorite and enjoyable outdoor activity. There are a number of marinas and sailing clubs located at the southern end of Lake Winnipeg, some part of the Provincial Parks. Some of the marinas provide boat rentals of pontoon, skiffs and runabouts. Windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing are also very much enjoyed on the Lake. A caution for boating: Due to Lake Winnipeg’s rather shallow and narrow configuration, a northerly wind can sometimes cause waves of up to 9 feet – check with the locals for the wind forecast.

    While hiking, walking and wildlife viewing in the Provincial Parks, go search for and find one of the over fifty Geocaches hidden around Lake Winnipeg. Of course, a short drive away from most of the Provincial Parks is the major city of Winipeg, providing sightseeing, supplies and entertainment.

    Finally, the northern end of Lake Winnipeg offers some of the most beautiful pristine outdoor locations for boating, camping and just plain enjoyment. If you are anywhere near Winnipeg, Manitoba and love the outdoors, you MUST give Lake Winnipeg a high priority on your ‘must see’ list.

    Things to Do at Lake Winnipeg

    These are some activities in the Lake Winnipeg, MB area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Provincial Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Winnipeg?

    Lake Winnipeg has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Catfish
    • Channel Catfish
    • Lake Trout
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pickerel
    • Pike
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Trout
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Winnipeg

    If you’re considering a Lake Winnipeg lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Lake Winnipeg Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Winnipeg lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Winnipeg Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Manitoba Hydro

    Surface Area: 5,867,520 acres

    Shoreline Length: 1,087 miles

    Average Depth: 39 feet

    Maximum Depth: 118 feet

    Water Volume: 228,833,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1979

    Water Residence Time: 3.5 years

    Lake Area-Population: 23,000

    Drainage Area: 247,040,000 sq. miles

    Lake Winnipeg Map

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