The secret season
Most people think of Lac du Bonnet as a summer destination. The ones who come back in winter know better. 325+ kilometres of groomed trails, ice fishing under the northern lights, and a hot tub waiting at the cabin.
Snowmobiling
Eastern Manitoba's trail network is one of the province's best-kept secrets — 325+ kilometres of groomed trails through boreal forest and across frozen lakes.
Trail System
The Lac du Bonnet area connects to an extensive groomed trail network maintained by local snowmobile clubs under the Sno-Man (Snomobilers of Manitoba) umbrella. Trails wind through boreal forest, cross frozen lakes, and connect to the broader eastern Manitoba trail system reaching north into Nopiming Provincial Park and south into the Whiteshell.
The terrain is varied — flat lake crossings, forested corridors with gentle curves, and some sections with rolling Canadian Shield topography. Trail conditions are typically excellent from late December through mid-March.
SnoMan Permit & Logistics
A valid Sno-Man trail permit is required for all snowmobiles using the groomed trail system. Permits can be purchased online through the Sno-Man website or at local dealers. Day passes are available for visitors.
Fuel and supplies are available in Lac du Bonnet, Pinawa, and at several trail-side stops along the network. Trail maps are available from Sno-Man and at local businesses.
Our cabins offer direct or near-direct trail access, so you can ride out from the property and connect to the network without trailering.
Snowmobile & ATV rentals
Don't own a sled? No problem. Several local operators offer snowmobile, ATV, and side-by-side rentals so you can hit the trails without hauling your own machine.
Snow Much Fun Rentals & Tours
Operating near Lac du Bonnet since 1995, Snow Much Fun offers snowmobile rentals in winter, Sea-Doo rentals in summer, and quad rentals year-round. Guided tours available. One of the longest-running rental operations in the region.
Lake Life Powersports
Snowmobile, ATV, and Can-Am dealer offering both sales and rentals. A solid option if you want late-model machines.
Start Your Engines
Snowmobile and ATV sales and service. If your machine needs work mid-trip, these are the people to call.
West Hawk Marine / Powerhouse Sports
Snowmobile sales and service located at 17 Drifter's Bend. Authorized dealer with a well-stocked parts department.
Snowmobile trail map
The Eastman Snopals snowmobile club manages the groomed trail network in the Lac du Bonnet region — 325+ kilometres of maintained trails through boreal forest and across frozen lakes.
Trail Details
The network spans over 325 km of groomed trails connecting Lac du Bonnet to Pinawa, Nopiming Provincial Park, and the broader eastern Manitoba trail system. Trails are typically groomed from late December through mid-March, conditions permitting.
A SnoMan permit is required for all snowmobiles on groomed trails. Season passes are $150, or daily permits are available for visitors. Check trail conditions on the Manitoba Snowmobile Trails app or at snoman.mb.ca.
Cross-country skiing
Lac du Bonnet XC Ski Trails
Located on PR 317, approximately 10 minutes west of town in the Agassiz Provincial Forest, the Lac du Bonnet Cross Country Ski Trails offer 11+ km of groomed trails through beautiful boreal forest. The trails are free to use — no membership or fee required.
Trail maps are available through the RM of Lac du Bonnet website. Check with the municipality for current grooming status and trail conditions.
Other Ski Options
The Pinawa area maintains groomed cross-country trails through its community trail network, with loops ranging from beginner to intermediate. Nopiming Provincial Park, accessible from Lac du Bonnet, offers backcountry skiing for more adventurous skiers — ungroomed trails through old-growth boreal forest with the kind of solitude that's increasingly hard to find.
For a casual outing, the local forest roads and trails around Lac du Bonnet provide gentle terrain suitable for beginners. The flat-to-rolling topography and consistent snow cover (typically December through March) make this area reliable for skiing throughout the winter.
Equipment Note
There are no ski rental shops in Lac du Bonnet. Visitors should bring their own cross-country ski equipment or rent from a shop in Winnipeg before driving out. Most outdoor retailers in Winnipeg (such as MEC or Fresh Air Experience) offer seasonal rentals.
Ice fishing
The frozen lake becomes a village of ice huts, and the annual derby draws over 1,100 anglers to the ice.
Season & Species
Ice fishing on Lac du Bonnet lake runs from mid-December through late March in most years. Perch are the primary target, with walleye and northern pike also available under the ice. The lake provides consistent ice thickness for safe fishing throughout the core season.
For detailed species information, bait recommendations, and fishing regulations, see our comprehensive Fishing Guide.
Ice Fishing Derby
The annual Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby in March is one of Manitoba's largest ice fishing competitions, drawing over 1,100 participants to the frozen lake. Cash prizes, raffle draws, and a festival atmosphere make it the social event of the winter season. Categories cover multiple species, and the competition is open to anglers of all skill levels.
Book early if you're planning to visit during derby weekend — it's the busiest time of the winter season.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is the simplest way to explore the winter landscape around Lac du Bonnet. The boreal forest trails that serve hikers in summer become snowshoe routes in winter, and the frozen lake edges and river banks open up terrain that's inaccessible in other seasons.
The area around Old Pinawa Dam Provincial Heritage Park is particularly scenic in winter, with snow-covered ruins and frozen cascades. Nopiming Provincial Park trails offer deeper wilderness snowshoeing for those willing to drive a bit farther.
Animal tracks in fresh snow tell stories: moose, deer, fox, snowshoe hare, and the occasional wolf track reward the observant snowshoer. Pair a morning snowshoe trek with an afternoon in the sauna — that's a winter day done right.
Northern lights
Lac du Bonnet's latitude, dark skies, and minimal light pollution create prime conditions for aurora borealis viewing.
Why Here
Lac du Bonnet sits at approximately 50.25\u00b0N latitude — well within the auroral zone for moderate to strong geomagnetic activity. More importantly, the region has minimal light pollution compared to Winnipeg. Step outside the cabin on a clear winter night and the sky is genuinely dark.
The best viewing months are September through March, with the longest dark periods in December and January maximizing your window. Clear, cold nights with high geomagnetic activity (Kp 3+) produce visible displays several times per month during peak season.
Viewing Tips
Face north and find an unobstructed horizon — the lake shore or a clearing works well. Allow 15 to 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to darkness. Aurora activity is often strongest between 10 PM and 2 AM.
Monitor the Canadian Space Weather Forecast Centre for aurora alerts. When a strong display is predicted, step outside — or watch from the hot tub.
Cozy cabin life
Winter at Lac du Bonnet isn't just about what you do outside. It's about what you come back to.
There's a particular magic to sitting in a hot tub while snow falls around you and the boreal forest stands silent in every direction. It's the kind of experience that sounds like a clich\u00e9 until you actually do it — then it becomes the thing you tell everyone about when you get home.
Our cabins are built for winter. Hot tubs stay heated year-round. Saunas warm up in minutes. Fire pits throw heat against the cold air while you watch for aurora overhead. Inside, the wood interiors hold warmth, and the kitchens are fully equipped for the kind of cooking that winter demands — slow stews, fresh bread, hot drinks.
A winter weekend at Lac du Bonnet follows a natural rhythm: morning coffee watching snow fall through the trees, a few hours on the trails or the ice, then back to the cabin for the hot tub, sauna, fire pit rotation. Dinner. Stars. Sleep. Repeat. It's uncomplicated in the best way.