Stony Mountain Prairie Preserve

Wild bergamot (Photo by Sarah Ludlow/NCC staff)

See some of Manitoba’s prairie gems at this property located just minutes from Winnipeg.

The Stony Mountain Prairie Preserve is located on the top of the Stony Mountain escarpment. It features a unique oasis of grasses and flowers common to the native tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies that once covered the region. Just a 20-minute drive north of Winnipeg, within the town of Stony Mountain, this unique site is situated on limestone bedrock and features a valuable remnant of native prairie. Visitors to the preserve can explore a five-kilometre recreational trail network that connects the scenic prairie habitat and naturally reclaimed limestone quarries. In spring and summer, watch for pollinators visiting the prairie crocuses, lilies and nectar plants that share this space. Be sure to clean your boots after a visit, as this site also has invasive leafy spurge growing in several places. In winter, strapping on snowshoes and wandering the trail makes for a perfect nature break. No matter the season, this local treasure has something special to offer.