Day out · where the rivers meet
The Forks: Winnipeg's meeting place, a drive west of the hotel
Six thousand years of gatherings at a river junction, a market in two old stables, and a skating trail on the ice.
Illustration, not a photograph of the hotel
If you stay at Club Regent and see only one other place in Winnipeg, I'd make it The Forks. It sits at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, and its operators describe it as a meeting place for over 6,000 years — Indigenous peoples traded there, then fur traders, settlers, railway workers and immigrants. Nearly four million visitors come each year.
| Address | 1 Forks Market Road — the site suggests typing it into your map app. |
|---|---|
| Market building | Accessible 7 am–10 pm every day; tenants set their own hours. |
| Winter | The Nestaweya River Trail can reach up to 10 km, linking several communities to The Forks. |
| Summer | Winnipeg Waterways runs a water bus from The Forks to Osborne Village, the Legislature grounds, St. Boniface and the Exchange District. |
| Transit | Several Winnipeg Transit routes; The Forks recommends the Navigo trip planner. |
| Parking | Hourly visitor parking, with accessible stalls near all facilities. |
In winter
The river trail is the reason to go. When conditions allow, it stretches along the frozen rivers from The Forks and links several communities to the site. Wikipedia adds that The Forks Market Plaza has an artificially cooled skating rink under a canopy and lights, which is a safer bet early or late in the season. Afterwards, the market building is a warm place to eat.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights stands at The Forks too — Wikipedia notes it was completed in 2014 and is the first national museum in Canada outside Ottawa. On a −25 °C afternoon, it's the obvious indoor half of the day.
In summer
The Riverwalk and cycling routes lead in on foot or by bike, and you can arrive by boat at The Forks Historic Port. The water bus links several downtown docks. Long evenings make it a good place for an early dinner before driving back east.
A railway story
The Forks Market was formed by joining two stables, one of them the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway's. That's the same company that built the repair shops which created Transcona. I wrote that thread up in the journal.
Getting there from the hotel
Driving route from The Forks · Transit route from The Forks. Reverse the route in Google Maps for the trip out. Plan the return for after dark in winter; it's dark early.
Trail length, rink dates and water-bus schedules depend on the season and the river. Check The Forks' own pages on the day.
Where these facts come from
- The Forks — about
- The Forks — home page
- Wikipedia — The Forks, Winnipeg (secondary)
- City of Winnipeg — Primary Transit Network launch, 29 June 2025
Checked by the editor on 31 October 2026. Hours, show dates and policies change; the venue's own page wins over ours.