Drives Manitoba Calgary, Edmonton and the Prairies
Hecla Island: Highway 8
Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba · Riverton → Gull Harbour
The drive
Highway 8 runs north from Riverton, about 110 km north of Winnipeg, to Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park and Gull Harbour on Hecla Island in Lake Winnipeg. It's 30.3 miles, flat, with mostly gentle curves, and Riverton is a stop for people heading to the park.
Second-wave Icelandic immigrants settled the island in 1876 and called it Mikley. The park covers 1,084 square kilometers of Hecla Island, Grindstone, Black Island and smaller islands, with marshes, bogs, fens, wet meadows, forest and limestone cliffs. Hecla Village has a fishing museum and Hecla Church, and the Hecla Lighthouse sits along the Lighthouse Trail. Wildlife in the park includes black bear, moose, bald eagle, common loon and American white pelican.
Along the way
- Riverton
- Gull Harbour
Good to know
- Manitoba requires a valid park vehicle permit to be displayed in provincial parks year-round. Check the current daily and annual prices.
- Permits aren't needed for people entering on foot or by bicycle.
- Black bear and moose live in the park, so watch for wildlife on the road.
Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Manitoba 511.
Questions about this drive
How long does Highway 8 to Hecla Island take?
Highway 8 from Riverton to Gull Harbour is 30.3 miles and takes about 30 minutes.
Do you need a park permit to drive to Hecla Island?
Manitoba requires motor vehicles to display a valid park vehicle permit while visiting a provincial park, year-round. Hecla-Grindstone is a provincial park.
Is Highway 8 to Hecla Island twisty?
No. It's flat with mostly gentle curves.
What you get in the app
Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.
More drives near here
Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.