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…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Lake Winnipeg! Article topics include:

Looking for Lake Winnipeg cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.


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
divider

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:

Check TripAdvisor
Check Expedia
Find a Campspot
All Travel Resources

Lake Winnipeg Statistics & Helpful Links

divider

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


More local lakes to explore in this area:

We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

Shop Lake Winnipeg Gifts

Custom Lake Tumblers

Create Your Own Captain / First Mate Custom 20oz Tumbler

ORDER HERE
Custom Lake T Shirt

Create Your Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

ORDER HERE
Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

Create a Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

ORDER HERE
VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

More Lake Winnipeg news from LakeLubbers.com

  • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
  • The Lake Winnipeg forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
  • New Lake Winnipeg photos coming soon!
  • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
  • Share this Lake Winnipeg article with your fellow LakeLubbers: