Assiniboine River
Winding through the Prairie
Paralleling the aptly named Portage Avenue to the north, the Assiniboine comes within a few hundred feet of this main thoroughfare. Not that you would know it. It is an urban river but peaceful.
From your canoe or kayak, glide alongside or make a stop at Assiniboine Park, a favourite Winnipeg destination and one of the largest urban parks in North America. Wave to the cyclists and pedestrians overhead, as they cross the footbridge into the park from Portage Avenue.
Find a more serene paddle with less motorized boat traffic than the wider Red River. The Assiniboine’s current still packs a punch, so floating eastward downstream is the preferred direction.
On the southern riverbank, catch glimpses of contemporary and historic mansions that belong to some of Winnipeg’s wealthiest families. Genteel Wellington Crescent follows the loops of the river from Assiniboine Park almost to its mouth at The Forks, offering peeks at magnificent homes and condominiums along the tree-lined riverbank.
As you paddle by the immaculate grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building, look up to see the glimmering Golden Boy. Pay your respects to Louis Riel, or at least his sculpture, which faces the Assiniboine and marks the start of the riverwalk leading to The Forks. Follow the river to its natural conclusion at this must-do destination, where the Assiniboine meets the Red.
Take a Tour
Launch at Beaudry Provincial Park, about 10 km west of Winnipeg. Paddle with the current into Winnipeg as far as Assiniboine Park on the southern riverbank. Pack a picnic to enjoy in the park before driving back to your put-in spot. Arrange a shuttle with a local outfitter or set up your own vehicles at either end.
Duration: Full-day
