Your complete guide to Lac du Bonnet

Lac du Bonnet is a small town of approximately 1,100 people in eastern Manitoba, situated on the banks of the Winnipeg River about 115 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. The town is the gateway to two of Manitoba's most spectacular provincial parks — Whiteshell Provincial Park to the south and Nopiming Provincial Park to the north — and sits at the heart of a region defined by over 60 kilometres of interconnected rivers and lakes.

The name “Lac du Bonnet” comes from the French for “Lake of the Cap,” a reference to the shape of the nearby lake. This is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe peoples, who have lived in relationship with these waterways for thousands of years. The town itself grew around the hydroelectric development of the Winnipeg River in the early 1900s, when Manitoba Hydro built a series of generating stations that still operate today.

Today, Lac du Bonnet is a four-season destination that draws visitors for world-class fishing, pristine boreal forest hiking, championship golf, snowmobiling on hundreds of kilometres of groomed trails, and a pace of life that feels a world away from the city — despite being just 90 minutes from Winnipeg. The town has a strong tourism infrastructure with restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and all the essentials you need for a comfortable stay.

For our guests staying at one of our lakeside cabins, Lac du Bonnet offers the rare combination of genuine wilderness and modern convenience. You can paddle a pristine river in the morning, grab lunch at a local restaurant, and spend the evening in your hot tub watching the northern lights — all without getting back in the car.

Long before European settlers arrived, the land around Lac du Bonnet was home to the Anishinaabe peoples, who navigated these waterways for trade, travel, and sustenance. The Winnipeg River system was a vital corridor connecting Lake Winnipeg to the Lake of the Woods region, and the confluence of rivers and lakes made this area a natural gathering place for millennia.

The name “Lac du Bonnet” appears in French fur trading records from the 18th century, translating to “Lake of the Cap” — believed to reference the cap-like shape of the lake or a landmark near the water. French Canadian voyageurs and fur traders frequented these routes as part of the broader North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company trade networks.

The modern town of Lac du Bonnet was established in the early 1900s, driven largely by Manitoba Hydro's development of hydroelectric generating stations along the Winnipeg River. The Great Falls Generating Station (1928) and Pine Falls Generating Station brought employment and infrastructure to the region, transforming it from a remote trading outpost into a permanent settlement.

Through the 20th century, Lac du Bonnet evolved from a utility town into a recreational destination. Cottages appeared along the lakes in the 1950s and 1960s, and the area's reputation for fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation grew steadily. Today, the town balances its working-class roots with a growing tourism economy, offering visitors an authentic Manitoba experience far from the curated resort towns you'll find elsewhere.

Whiteshell Provincial Park, established in 1961, and Nopiming Provincial Park, established in 1976, further cemented the region's identity as a nature destination. Together, these parks protect thousands of square kilometres of boreal forest, Canadian Shield rock formations, and pristine waterways — all accessible from Lac du Bonnet in 30 minutes or less.