Bulletins

For the 2026 season, Parks Canada will permit motorized watercraft to return to Clear Lake under a mandatory tagging program with additional management measures:

• An expanded 150-metre no-wake zone from the shore
• Non-motorized days on Mondays and Tuesdays
• Non-motorized quiet times from 8:30 pm to 8:30 am
• Authorized operations, including the tour boat, may continue during these periods.

These measures help protect park waters and reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species.

All watercraft and equipment must be Cleaned, Drained, and Dried to the touch before launching.

A one‑boat, one‑lake approach helps prevent the spread of invasive species. Help protect park waters by having one set of equipment for Clear Lake and a different set for the other lakes in the park.

All watercraft, towables, wet and dry suits, diving gear, and inflatables that carry more than one person must be inspected by Parks Canada staff and registered for an annual permit.

For motorized or trailered boats, Parks Canada staff must also:

• Lock the boat to its trailer with a tag each time it leaves the water
• Unlock this tag before each launch

Motors and trailers are only allowed on Clear Lake.

Until June 7, motorized or trailered watercraft that have not entered water in 2026 can be inspected and registered for an annual permit and can then immediately launch on Clear Lake. Starting June 8, or if the boat previously entered water in 2026, all motorized or trailered watercraft must complete a 45‑day quarantine before they are eligible to launch on Clear Lake.

The Boat Cove inspection station in Wasagaming is open daily between 8:30 am and 8:30 pm. The boat launch gates are locked outside these hours. Wait times may be longer on weekends or hot, sunny days, so please consider visiting the inspection station outside peak times when possible.

Non-motorized watercraft (kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, etc.), towables, wet and dry suits, diving gear, and inflatables that carry more than one person need an annual permit for either:

• Clear Lake only, or
• Outlying Lakes only

The Outlying Lakes permit allows you to move between any lake or river in Riding Mountain National Park, such as Lake Audy, Moon Lake and Lake Katherine, except Clear Lake. You must Clean, Drain, Dry every time you will not return to the same lake or river.

Watercraft use on all park waters will be reviewed periodically and adjusted as needed. This adaptive management approach helps protect ecological integrity over the long term. It provides stability for visitors, leaseholders and businesses, while allowing the park to respond to changing conditions.

Parks Canada remains committed to protecting the ecological and cultural health of Clear Lake while supporting high‑quality visitor experiences and sustainable tourism in surrounding communities.

For more information, visit: Managing watercraft and protecting park waters

Contacts:

AIS Program questions: comms-riding@pc.gc.ca
Media enquiries: pnmr-media-rmnp@pc.gc.ca