The capital of the Manitoba, the prairie city of Winnipeg sprouted up from the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers and is considered the gateway to western Canada. It’s also known for its cultural festivals, its professional sports teams, and as the namesake city of “Winnie the Pooh.” Running in Winnipeg is defined by the Red and Assiniboine rivers, which meet at the ‘Forks’.
The rivers are the highlight of most Winnipeg running routes, and because the city lies in a floodplain, most routes are relatively flat. A few parks outside of town (such as Birds Hill Provincial Park and Assiniboine Forest) will take you on some nice forested trails, but downtown boasts its own network of shared use paths with water views and lots of interesting architecture, from bridges to cathedrals to forts. Whether you’re at The Forks, Wellington Crescent, or St. Boniface, river runs are always an option.
That said, Winnipeg is not a huge city. Most sights to see are clustered close together, the streets follow a neat grid system, and an extensive public bus network makes it easy to get around. Wherever you go, this charming city is sure to inspire. Do take note of Winnipeg’s climate, which features warm summers and very cold (but dry) winters. It’s not nicknamed “Winterpeg” for nothing!
Winnipeg has a continental climate, with warm summers and frigid winters. Summers are short but delightfully warm, with average high temperatures near 80F (26C). Winters are very cold, with the average high temperature in January of 11F (-13C) and lows of well below zero (-21C). That said, Winnipeg is a very sunny city, averaging only 20 inches of precipitation (40 inches, or 113 cm of snow).