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Major city · Canada

Swan River

Go for one night as a Swan Valley base: museum, golf and Duck Mountain. Two nights only if you ski Thunderhill or fish the lakes.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep for the valley and lakes; Jan–Mar for skiing
avoid Nov–Mar for cold and snow unless you are skiing; deep winter nights below −30 °C
Airport
YWN
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.

Swan River is a town of about 4,000 in west-central Manitoba, in a valley between the Duck Mountains and the Porcupine Hills, near the Saskatchewan line. It is a farming and forestry service centre, not a sightseeing town: the draw is the surrounding valley, Duck Mountain Provincial Park and winter sports. Most travellers pass through on PTH 10 or PTH 83 and stop one night.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Swan River, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Sit-down mealDiner main courseC$18–30 (≈ US$14–25)
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfastC$12–18 (≈ US$9–14)
  • BeerDraught beer in a barC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi across towncheckC$10–15 (≈ US$8–11)
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomC$180 (≈ US$140)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$200 (≈ US$150)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$150 (≈ US$110) · High C$240 (≈ US$180)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Duck Mountain Provincial Park and Baldy MountainSwan Valley Historical MuseumThunderhill Ski AreaSwan River Golf and Country Club
Airports
YWN Swan River Airport (No scheduled flights; charter, emergency and private aircraft only. Nearest scheduled service: Winnipeg (YWG), about 5 h by road.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Swan River: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−13°C

−24°C

6 rd

Feb

−9°C

−21°C

5 rd

Mar

−1°C

−13°C

6 rd

Apr

9°C

−3°C

7 rd

May

18°C

4°C

9 rd

Jun

22°C

9°C

11 rd

Jul

25°C

12°C

10 rd

Aug

24°C

11°C

9 rd

Sep

18°C

6°C

8 rd

Oct

9°C

0°C

7 rd

Nov

−2°C

−9°C

7 rd

Dec

−11°C

−20°C

6 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical choice: sights and trailheads sit outside town on PTH 10 and PTH 83. In town, Valley Cabs and Rowe's Service Ltd. cover short trips; distances are short enough to walk in the core.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Duck Mountain Provincial Park

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Drive PTH 10 south, about 1 h

Baldy Mountain, Manitoba's highest point at 831 m, with an observation tower; fishing, camping and hiking. Not the same park as Duck Mountain in Saskatchewan.

Thunderhill Ski Area

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Drive PTH 83 and PR 487 southwest, about 30 km

Winter only: 24-plus groomed downhill runs and about 2.2 km of cross-country and snowshoe trails.

Swan Lake

caution

Door to door: About 45–60 min

Drive northeast toward the lake, about 55 km

Named for swans that are now seasonal visitors; check road and ice conditions before going.

Brandonovernight

Door to door: About 3.5–4 h

Drive PTH 10 south via Dauphin

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there or break the drive.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Main Street / highway strip

Motels and the Super 8 sit along Main St and Kelsey Trail; walkable to diners and the information centre.

Town centre

Small guesthouses and the older commercial core; closest to the museum road and the golf course.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
High
C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × C$150C$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150C$300
Car fuel, about 200 km of local driving1 × C$30 · checkC$30
Golf green fee, 18 holes2 × C$60 · checkC$120
Downhill ski day pass2 × C$45 · checkC$90
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$69
Trip total≈ C$380 per person per day, bed includedC$759≈ US$550

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; long-distance travel to Manitoba excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Diner breakfastC$12–18 (≈ US$9–14)
Diner main courseC$18–30 (≈ US$14–25)
Steak or seafood dinnerMadoco opens Thursday to Saturday from 5PM.C$30–50 (≈ US$25–40)
Draught beer in a barC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
Taxi across towncheckC$10–15 (≈ US$8–11)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low-crime small town; the real hazards are winter cold, highway wildlife and long empty drives. Carry a charged phone and an emergency kit in the car from November to April.
  • Winter cold is the real risk: −30 °C and below, snow cover from early November to early April.
  • Cell coverage and services thin out fast on the back roads toward Duck Mountain; tell someone your route.
  • Wildlife on the highways at dawn and dusk, especially deer and moose.
  • Fuel up in town before heading to the park or the ski hill.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire and ambulance
911
Swan Valley Primary Care Centre (local hospital)
+1 204-734-6600

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Swan RiverSwan River

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire and ambulance911
  • Swan Valley Primary Care Centre+1 204-734-6600

Embassy

No embassies in town; the nearest consulates are in Winnipeg. US citizens: US Consulate General, Winnipeg (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi across town: C$10–15 (≈ US$8–11) (check)
  • Fuel, Swan River to Duck Mountain return: about C$15–25 (≈ US$11–19) (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the highway? — Where is the highway?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

Small-town services: some businesses close early and a few are cash-only; carry a card and some cash.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Swan River. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for the valley and lakes; Jan–Mar for skiing · avoid Nov–Mar for cold and snow unless you are skiing; deep winter nights below −30 °C · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources