Spruce Woods Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Spruce Woods Provincial Park is located in south-central Manitoba
, Canada
. This park has large sand dunes and the Assiniboine River
passes through it.
A Manitoba Historical Plaque was erected at the Spruce Woods Provincial Park by the province to commemorate Assiniboine (Nakota) First Nation's role in Manitoba's heritage. A Manitoba Historical Plaque was erected at the Spruce Woods Provincial Park by the province to commemorate Norman Criddle's role in Manitoba's heritage.
A Manitoba Historical Plaque was erected at the Spruce Woods Provincial Park by the province to commemorate Fort des Pinettes - Pine Fort's role in Manitoba's heritage.
of the Assiniboine River
, from a time when it ran into glacial Lake Agassiz
. The sandhills are home to many unique plants and animals; including some cacti
and hognose snakes
.
There are several hiking trails in the park open to day hikers, and backpackers can take the Newfoundland Trail for an overnight trip into the park. The Trans Canada Trail
also passes through the Park.
Newfoundland Trail is a part of the Épinette Creek Trail System located within the park. Beginning at a parking lot off Highway #5, the trail twists (38 km) through the hills to Jackfish Lake near the Assiniboine River
. The trail is available year-round and is groomed during the Winter for cross-country skiers. Three enclosed shelters are available along the trail, each with bathroom, waterpump, indoor stove, axe and firewood. Alongside each shelter are picnic tables and space for several tents. A smaller hut at the trailhead is available but has no water pump. The trail is clearly marked at junctions and service road crossings to guide hikers.
Many cyclists enjoy riding on the Epinette Trail System each year. There are a series of loops that carve their way through unique terrain.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. This park has large sand dunes and the Assiniboine River
Assiniboine River
The Assiniboine River is a river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked within a flat, shallow valley in some places and a steep valley in...
passes through it.
History
The park was established in 1970A Manitoba Historical Plaque was erected at the Spruce Woods Provincial Park by the province to commemorate Assiniboine (Nakota) First Nation's role in Manitoba's heritage. A Manitoba Historical Plaque was erected at the Spruce Woods Provincial Park by the province to commemorate Norman Criddle's role in Manitoba's heritage.
A Manitoba Historical Plaque was erected at the Spruce Woods Provincial Park by the province to commemorate Fort des Pinettes - Pine Fort's role in Manitoba's heritage.
Amenities
The park contains one of very few areas of sand dunes in Canada, called the Carberry sandhills, or Spirit Sands. This region is not a true desert, but the remnant of a sandy deltaRiver delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
of the Assiniboine River
Assiniboine River
The Assiniboine River is a river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked within a flat, shallow valley in some places and a steep valley in...
, from a time when it ran into glacial Lake Agassiz
Lake Agassiz
Lake Agassiz was an immense glacial lake located in the center of North America. Fed by glacial runoff at the end of the last glacial period, its area was larger than all of the modern Great Lakes combined, and it held more water than contained by all lakes in the world today.-Conception:First...
. The sandhills are home to many unique plants and animals; including some cacti
Cacti
-See also:* RRDtool The underlying software upon which Cacti is built* MRTG The original Multi Router Traffic Grapher from which RRDtool was "extracted".* Munin -External links:******...
and hognose snakes
Heterodon
Heterodon is a genus of harmless colubrids found in North America. They are stout with upturned snouts and are perhaps best known for their characteristic threat displays. Three species are currently recognized.-Description:...
.
There are several hiking trails in the park open to day hikers, and backpackers can take the Newfoundland Trail for an overnight trip into the park. The Trans Canada Trail
Trans Canada Trail
The Trans Canada Trail is a proposed corridor in Canada. The creation of the trail was announced as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992. It is expected that when complete, it will be the longest recreational trail in the world...
also passes through the Park.
Newfoundland Trail is a part of the Épinette Creek Trail System located within the park. Beginning at a parking lot off Highway #5, the trail twists (38 km) through the hills to Jackfish Lake near the Assiniboine River
Assiniboine River
The Assiniboine River is a river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked within a flat, shallow valley in some places and a steep valley in...
. The trail is available year-round and is groomed during the Winter for cross-country skiers. Three enclosed shelters are available along the trail, each with bathroom, waterpump, indoor stove, axe and firewood. Alongside each shelter are picnic tables and space for several tents. A smaller hut at the trailhead is available but has no water pump. The trail is clearly marked at junctions and service road crossings to guide hikers.
Many cyclists enjoy riding on the Epinette Trail System each year. There are a series of loops that carve their way through unique terrain.