Deciding what to pack when visiting Churchill, Manitoba in summer has its challenges. A fall or winter visit means you will have to pack lots of super warm clothing. But, on our summer trip in late July, we had temperatures that ranged from about 10 C (50 F) to 26 C (78.8 F). Keep in mind that temperatures feel much colder when out on a boat in the middle of Hudson’s Bay. A visit to Churchill in the summer means you need to have lots of options. You also should be prepared with the gear that will help you enjoy an outdoor wildlife adventure. 

Here’s what we packed for our trip:

Clothing for Churchill

If you’re heading to Churchill for a wildlife adventure, know that the general vibe in town is ultra casual. No need to pack anything even remotely fancy or fussy. You won’t see anyone in a restaurant or out for a stroll all dolled up. 

What you will need in summer are optional layers that you can pile on or peel off as the weather fluctuates and your activities dictate. For our five-day trip, this is what we took clothing-wise in our suitcase:

  • Thermal underwear (to wear as a base layer on the boat and under a survival, wet or dry suit — which our tour company provided)
  • Hiking pants – if they convert to shorts all the better. Hiking pants are preferable to sweatpants or jeans, in my opinion, because they cut the wind and don’t soak through immediately in the rain.
  • T-shirts and technical tops – I have a few technical tops that I use for running and hiking. The Columbia aqua-coloured shirt pictured in this post is a workhorse. It’s cool in the heat and protects from the sun with an SPF rating, has a few pockets, and dries quickly. It also looks good when sitting in a restaurant post-adventure. 
  • Hiking boots and running shoes – The terrain on the outskirts of Churchill is rocky and rugged. You want something with a rigid sole and good support. I wore running shoes otherwise when walking around town. 
  • Warm and light socks – warm socks for your hiking boots and light socks that won’t overheat your feet when it’s nice out and you’re walking around town.
  • Bug net – Don’t treat this as a nice-to-have. The bugs in Churchill are legendary! When we visited the Prince of Wales Fort and Hubbard Point we were super glad we packed net head coverings to keep the insects from buzzing and biting at us.

  • Gloves and knit hat – We packed lightweight technical gloves that we use for running outdoors in the winter. We also packed our winter toques/headwear. Wearing a hat, in general, is a good idea just from a wind standpoint. A hat keeps your ears warm, keeps bugs away, and if you have longer hair, keeps it from whipping around. We took baseball caps as well for warmer weather. I also used my gloves when kayaking to prevent blisters, which I inevitably get from paddling.
  • Fleece and windbreaker jacket – It’s all about layers, friends. A rain-resistant windbreaker will serve you well. A light fleece pullover or zip-up will keep you cozy.

Gear for Churchill

What gear you choose to take for your Churchill adventure is somewhat personal, but these are the items we took:

  • Masks, wipes, and hand sanitizer – If you’re travelling to Churchill any time soon, these are must-have items. The air carrier (Calm Air) requires masks during the flight and although at the time of writing this post you aren’t required to mask up indoors in town, be respectful and do it. We were always aware that although Churchill depends heavily on tourism, some residents are not keen on visitors right now given that the town has had zero COVID-19 cases. 

  • Deet spray – Did you see my comments about bugs above? Yes, you’ll have a bug net for your head if you follow this packing list, but you need deet too. We used Deep Woods Off and for the most part, it kept the insects at bay. Use liberally whenever outside — particularly in the outskirts of town.

I’m serious about the bugs. They will come for you.

  • Camera – This is obvious. If you have a decent camera, now’s the time to cart it around. We bought a Go-Pro for this trip because we wanted a hands-free option for when we were kayaking with belugas. Ironically, most of the footage in our highlight reel of encounters with wildlife was from my iPhone camera. That was just luck of the draw. Animals do not always appear when you expect them to. 

  • Binoculars – Safe to say, you’re not going to get within arm’s length of a polar bear — a beluga maybe, but responsible tour operators are going to keep a distance from the bears for their wellbeing and yours. I took a small pair of binoculars with me, and they did the trick. I was also able to spot eagles and a few seals from afar.
  • Mask and snorkel – If you take the Lazy Bear Expeditions aquagliding tour  (you absolutely should) and want to dunk your head underwater to spy on belugas you have to bring your own snorkelling gear due to COVID-19 regulations. 
  • Water bottle – Some day excursions are up to 8-hours long. You want to stay hydrated.
  • Snacks – Although you can purchase snacks at the Northern Store in town, it’s handy to have some trail mix or a bag of nuts ahead of time in your day pack

Have you visited Churchill, Manitoba in the summer? Let me know if we’re missing any helpful items to pack on our list.

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