Russell is a small town of around 1,400 people (2016) in the Prairie Mountain region of Manitoba. Russell is a small agricultural community near the Saskatchewan border. It is close to Asessippi Provincial Park, the site of Asessippi Ski Area & Resort, and to the Lake of the Prairies, a 64 km-long lake.

Understand

Russell was a town prior to 2015 when it and the nearby village of Binscarth amalgamated with the Rural Municipality of Russell to form the Municipality of Russell – Binscarth.

• 1 Russell Visitor Information Center (Russell and District Chamber of Commerce) (Junction PTH 16 & 83), ☏ +1 204-773-2456, chamber@mrbgov.com. May long weekend to Labour Day: Daily 10AM-6PM; Labour Day to Thanksgiving: M-F 10AM-4PM; Thanksgiving to May long weekend: M-F 10AM-2PM. (updated Feb 2021)

Get in

Russell is located along the Provincial Trunk Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and Provincial Trunk Highway 83, and is at the western terminus of Provincial Trunk Highway 45. Russell is approximately 15 km (9 mi) east of the Saskatchewan border and 340 km (210 mi) northwest of Winnipeg. In Saskatchewan, Provincial Trunk Highway 16 is renamed Highway 16.

See

A view of the arches spanning Main Street

• The Arches of Russell, Main Street. 8 arches located along Main Street. The arches were wooden support structures from an arena in Dauphin installed in 2006. They were replaced by steel arches in 2019. (updated Feb 2021)

Arthur the Bull

• 1 Arthur the Bull (Junction PTH 16 & 83, next to the visitor centre). The town mascot named for Art Kinney, one of the founding members of the Russell Beef & Barley Festival, former mayor (1975-1980), and a founding member of the Russell Chamber of Commerce. (updated Feb 2021)
• 2 Inglis Grain Elevators National Historic Site, Railway Ave, Inglis (24 km (15 mi) N of Russell), ☏ +1 204-564-2243, iahc@mymts.net. The Inglis elevator row is a row of five wooden grain elevators along the former Canadian Pacific Railway track bed in the village of Inglis. Because a lot of country elevators have been demolished throughout Western Canada, the Inglis elevator row preserves rare examples of a formerly common sight from "the golden age of grain". (updated Feb 2021)

Do

• 1 Asessippi Provincial Park (23 km (14 mi) km N of Russell). Located at the south end of Lake of the Prairies. Activities include camping, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and skiing. (updated Feb 2021)
• 2 Asessippi Ski Resort, ☏ +1 204-564-2000, toll-free: +1-888-564-2001, sales@asessippi.com. (updated Feb 2021)

Events

• Russell Lions Prairie Classic, fish@lakeoftheprairies.com. Catch-and-release walleye tournament, limited to 120 teams. The two-day tournament is held on the second weekend in June. Total prizes and merchandise payout are in excess of $65,000. The derby is kicked off with the Fisherman’s Boat Parade down Main Street, Russell on the Friday evening of tournament weekend. (updated Feb 2021)
• The Russell Beef & Barley Festival. A major event celebrating area’s high quality of farm production, with special emphasis on the beef breeding industry & barley growing. ⁣⁣With a variety of activities and numerous events. Annually held the week prior to Thanksgiving (second Monday of October). (updated Feb 2021)

Buy

There are some small shops located along Main Street.

Eat

• Chicken Chef, 507 Main St S, ☏ +1 204-773-3320. Daily 9AM-9PM. (updated Feb 2021)
• Club Cafe, 219 Main St N, ☏ +1 204-773-2684. (updated Feb 2021)
• Connie's Drive In, 507 Pelly Ave S, ☏ +1 204-773-3761. W-Su 11:30AM-7PM. (updated Feb 2021)
• The Russell Inn Family Restaurant, PTH 16, ☏ +1 204-773-7507. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 8AM-9PM. (updated Feb 2021)

Drink

• Bin 22 Coffee, 202 Main St N, ☏ +1 204-773-4328, bin22coffee@gmail.com. Tu-Sa 9:30AM-4:30PM. (updated Feb 2021)
• TinHouse Designs & Coffee co., 161 Main St N, ☏ +1 204-773-2291. Art studio and coffee shop. Lunch menu available. (updated Feb 2021)

Sleep

• 1 The Russell Inn Hotel & Conference Centre, PTH 16 (Near PTH 16 & 45 junction), ☏ +1 204-773-2186, toll-free: +1-800-665-0678, frontoffice@russellinn.com. The hotel has 122 rooms between three properties, an indoor pool and waterslide, hot tub, conference centre, restaurant and pub. (updated Feb 2021)
  • 2 The Jolly Lodger Motel, PTH 16 (across from the Russell Inn). Owned and operated by the Russell Inn. (updated Feb 2021)
  • 3 Cedar House, PTH 16 (PTH 16 & Main St). Owned and operated by the Russell Inn. (updated Feb 2021)
• 4 Asessippi Inn, 309 Main St N, ☏ +1 204-773-2002. (updated Feb 2021)

Go next

Routes through Russell

Saskatoon ← Yorkton ←	W  E	→ Minnedosa → Winnipeg
Swan River ← Roblin ←	N  S	→ Virden → Minot