Length of stay: 2 days
Visited: October 2024
Spruce Woods Provincial Park is located in western Manitoba. It was named after its abundance of spruce trees growing in the area, but it’s best known for its towering sand dunes. The park contains a variety of hiking trails that weave through the different habitats in the park, including forests, grasslands, prairie, wetlands and open sand dunes.
Day 1: Spirit Sands
We arrived at the park around noon. Since we were visiting during the off-season, the visitor centre was closed, but the park office at the Kiche Manitou Campground was still open. We headed there to pay for a day pass, use the restrooms and inquire about the trails and things to do in the park.
After eating lunch outside on our picnic blanket, we went to hike the Isputinaw Trail (1.4km loop, rated easy), which is located within the campground. The first stretch of the trail follows along a boardwalk through the wetlands, but it was under construction and closed. Instead we had to walk around the wetlands where there’s another access point to the trail. It only added a few hundred metres to the already short trail.
The trail climbs through the forest, passing a few marshy areas. It’s signed with numbered posts that correspond to a trail guide that can be found online that provides some fun facts about the landscape and the flora and fauna of the area.
There were a few steep sections, with one final push to the top of the ridge. Just as we made our way to the top, the clouds started to clear. Perfect timing for us to admire the sweeping views of the Assiniboine River Valley.
Once we completed the rest of the loop we drove through the campground to check it out and to also get to the Steel’s Ferry Overlook. There’s a short gravel path that leads to an overlook of the Assiniboine River. The views were a bit obstructed, but it wasn’t too far out of the way, so no big deal. There’s a trail that leads down to the river, but it looked a bit too steep for our liking.
We then headed to the Spirit Sands area to explore the park’s famous sand dunes. There are a few connecting trails here for a bit of a choose your own adventure depending on how long you want to hike for. Since it was late in the day we planned to just hike the Spirit Sands Trail (4km loop, moderate) but even that had some different options depending on whether you wanted a bit of a challenge.
From the trailhead we turned right and followed the signs for the Sand Dunes. The path is wide and sandy, and is mostly out in the open. It’s marked with orange posts every 250 metres that denote the distance covered, along with a few interpretive signs about the interesting landscape and the types of vegetation found here.
After a kilometre the path passes a sheltered seating area and splits off into two directions to form a loop. There’s an easier route (to the left) and a harder route (to the right) to reach the dunes. We opted for the harder route, which involves a super steep climb up a sand dune. There’s a wooden ladder that provided some assistance, but the top rungs were fully covered in sand.
The path levels out and leads to a large wooden viewing platform overlooking the surrounding area.
The sand dunes were created more than 15,000 years ago by the Assiniboine River forming an enormous delta as it brought glacial melt waters into ancient Lake Agassiz. It’s not actually a true desert though and most of the delta sand is covered. This area receives about 300 to 500 millimeters of water a year, which is nearly twice the amount received in an actual desert region. The rain helps plants grow in the dunes, limiting the amount of open sand in the area.
The trail continues onward and up another steep sand dune to an open area of sand. At the junction the path connects with the shorter route, which loops back to the sheltered seating area we passed earlier. But there’s also a connector path that leads to the Oasis Trail and Devil’s Punchbowl Trail. We opted to go a bit further (0.4km) and take the Devil’s Punchbowl Trail back to the parking lot for a change of scenery. And this way we got to spend more time in the open sand dunes.
The trail passes another sheltered seating area which marks the trailhead for the Oasis Trail. We continued to follow the blue posts for the Devil’s Punchbowl Trail. The path is wide and follows a road that is used for wagon rides during the summer months. At the next junction we carefully followed the signs toward the parking lot. The other way leads to the Devil’s Punchbowl, which would have added another 5km to our hike.
The rest of the way back was pretty uneventful. The trail narrows and dips through the forest, providing some relief from the wind and sun. Once we completed our hike we headed to Brandon.
Day 2: Marsh Lake
We were heading to Pembina Valley today which involves driving through Spruce Woods again. We decided to hike the Marsh Lake Trail (1.5km loop, rated easy) to break up the drive and stretch our legs. It was chilly outside (just above freezing), but the sun was shining.
The trail follows the shore of Marsh Lake. The path is wide and mostly grassy, except for a small boardwalk near the halfway point that leads to a point on the shore. Along the way there are a few interpretive signs that provide more information about how the lake was formed.
Marsh Lake is one of ten major oxbow lakes found in the park. It was once a part of the Assiniboine River and was formed hundreds of years ago. As the banks of the river eroded, the river changed its course, cutting this portion off from the main channel. It’s called an oxbow lake because of its U-shape which resembles the bow or yoke used on oxen. There is no current flowing through oxbow lakes. Over time they often become marshy and swampy until the water evaporates completely.
It didn’t take long to complete the loop. We were back on the road in no time.
L
Nice post 🌅🌅
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. It was neat to see how diverse the terrain is in this park.
This place looks very interesting. I hadn’t heard of it before.
The sand dunes seemed so out of place, but they were really neat to explore. I’m so glad it wasn’t windy though as blowing sand is never fun to deal with!
I have heard of this park, but never been there, even though I lived in the Gladstone and McGregor area for a few years in my childhood.. Such an interesting landscape Linda. And that lazy Assiniboine prairie river. Is it any wonder these prairie rivers are prone to flooding in spring? Thanks for sharing. Happy Boxing Day. Allan
It was pretty neat to see the sane dunes as they seemed so out of place in Manitoba. The sand added an extra element of difficulty while hiking, but thankfully it wasn’t windy (or rainy). Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of the holidays. Cheers. Linda
Looks like fun!
You bet! It’s always nice to explore a new park. The hiking here was fantastic.
Those lakes look like they are filling in very slowly, I like how the area looks like a desert too. This park is very different from those you guys usually hike, isn’t it. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
I wonder how long it’ll take for the oxbow lakes to evaporate and disappear entirely. The sand dunes were really neat. They seemed so out of place, especially since there wasn’t a big lake nearby. We had a wonderful Christmas, thanks for asking. We were busy with a lot of family gatherings and it was our little one’s birthday at the beginning of the month, but thankfully most of our family lives nearby. I’m looking forward to some peace and quiet this weekend though!
You’re welcome! I hope you get all the peace and quiet you need. I would enjoy a hike in that area. Happy by, little one! 😊😊
Thanks! My maternity leave just ended and I’ll be heading back to work on Monday. So a nice quiet weekend is exactly want I need!
Back to the cracking whip, eh! I haven worked since 2016, retired and love it.
I bet! I’m looking forward to retirement and how much more hiking we can do! I’d love to be able to visit all the national parks in Canada and the United States. Someday!
I hope you get the chance to see all the parks, Linda
Thanks! We’ll have to get a bit creative to visit some of the more rural and remote ones, but I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge!
I noticed your love for challenges! So many beautiful places you guys have been and with your baby! ❤️❤️
Absolutely! We might as well take advantage of her flying for free until she’s two. That and getting her (and us) comfortable with travelling as well so we can continue to do more of it as a family!
That sounds great! 🤙🏻😊😊☺️☺️
How intriguing, I have never heard of this. Your posts are such an education!
You are too kind. The sand dunes seemed so out of place. They were a lot of fun to explore though.
Interesting flora and wonderful vista!
Oh I know! It’s pretty neat how the terrain here is so different compared to anything else in Manitoba. The sand dune environment was super interesting to explore.
Great shots…love this area of Manitoba.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. Spruce Woods is such a neat park and we enjoyed exploring a few of the trails. I’d love to come back at some point and hike the Devil’s Punchbowl Trail.
I like the contrast of spruces and dunes in the photoes. It’s like when the pine forest meet the desert:)
It’s pretty incredible how varied the terrain is. I like that description about how it’s like when the pine forest meets the desert! Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of the holidays. Linda
I had heard of this park but have never visited. That’s a lot of sand! It’s interesting how differently nature has progressed on the prairies. I’m familiar with the oxbows from years of canoeing in Alberta. Fantastic pictures, Linda. It looks like you had some good views!
Thanks for your lovely comment. Spruce Woods is such a neat park because of its sand dunes. I’m glad we had nice weather when we visited as I don’t imagine it would be very fun to hike here when it’s windy or on a hot summer’s day. We have a couple of oxbow lakes in Ontario too. It’s pretty neat to hear how they form.
An interesting place Linda. I admire you both for selecting the harder route with a heavy baby in tow. You must both be very fit! Hope you had a lovely family Christmas Day yesterday too x
Thanks!! We do enjoy a challenge while hiking, especially when it leads to a viewing platform. We’ve recently upgraded to one of those backpack baby carriers, which is so much easier on the back! I’m looking forward to when our little one can start walking on her own! Hope you had a Merry Christmas as well. Enjoy the rest of the holidays! Cheers. Linda
Looks so interesting! Merry CHristmas and a Happy New Year to the three of you!
Hope you had a Merry Christmas as well. Enjoy the rest of the holidays. Wishing you lots of happiness, good health, and fabulous camping adventures in 2025!
It sounds like you had an amazing time exploring Spruce Woods Provincial Park. The hike through the sand dunes and the views of the Assiniboine River must have been incredible.
Absolutely! The scenery was beautiful and totally different compared to anything else we saw in Manitoba. We could have easily spent another day here.
I really like how Spruce Woods Provincial Park showcases a contrast between dunes and spruce trees. We really enjoyed hiking through some sand dunes in Nida, Lithuania this summer. Merry Christmas!
It’s pretty incredible how varied the terrain is and so different compared to anything else we saw in Manitoba. I’m glad we had beautiful weather to enjoy the trails and the scenery. We’ve never been to Lithuania before, but I’m curious to see their sand dunes now. Hope you had a lovely Christmas as well. Enjoy the rest of the holidays. Cheers. Linda
What a fun adventure!!!
You bet! It was a lot of fun to explore the sand dune environment and learn about how it was formed.
That’s wonderful!! Have you been to Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan?
I haven’t! I’ve looked into it though. Taking a road trip through Michigan seems like a good backpocket idea if we find ourselves with some extra time off and need to plan a last minute trip.
Oh my gosh. I loved that part of Michigan so much I hated to leave. I have never seen sunsets that beautiful!!
There’s something special about watching a sunset over the water. And being surrounded by nature is always a good thing!
Agreed! These are two of life’s great gifts!
Absolutely! It’s a good reminder I should try to watch the sunset more often. And to be by the water!
Sunsets are the best!
Aw what a lovely loop! It’s interesting to see so many trees, and dunes in the same place!
Oh I know! It was neat to hear how expansive the sand dunes are and that much of them are actually covered in vegetation. The terrain here is so different compared to anything else we saw in Manitoba.
The panoramic view is spectacular, with all the colors, and Spirit Sands is an intriguing name. Looks like a peaceful place. Thank you for sharing, Linda.
The landscape through the sand dunes is so fascinating. And it certainly was peaceful. We only saw two other hikers on the trails. Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of the holidays.
You’re welcome and you, too. Thank you!
This park looks very inviting and interesting. I hope you had a wonderful holiday!
It was also very quiet. We hardly saw any other hikers on the trail, which is just how we like it. Our holidays were lovely, but it goes by way too quickly. And there’s always so much food! Hope you had a Merry Christmas as well. Enjoy the rest of the holidays. Linda
The steep climb up a sand dune looks like a proper workout ( we have a good few large sand dunes in Sligo we often try to climb, but it’s so hard because of how the dune is always moving, it’s quite soft sand so it just sinks below you as you climb up!). Spruce Woods Provincial Park looks like a wonderful place to visit as it has rolling hills of native prairie, majestic white spruce, cute little ponds and lush deciduous forests. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 I hope you had a wonderful festive season 🙂 Aiva xx
The climb up the sand dunes was definitely quite the workout!! I’m so glad it wasn’t my turn to hike with the baby in her carrier! The terrain in Spruce Woods was so different compared to anything else we saw in Manitoba. It was really neat to explore the sand dunes. Thanks for reading. Hope you had a lovely Christmas. Cheers. Linda
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The sand dunes at Spruce Woods park remind of Sandbanks and Presquile a bit in Ontario and must’ve felt nice to walk on.
I couldn’t help but notice how flat the horizon seemed in your photos but I guess that’s Manitoba in general!
Hope you three and your loved ones had a nice Christmas. Can’t believe it’s the start of another new year soon!
Totally! It’s too bad there wasn’t a lake though! And yes, we found the terrain in Manitoba relatively flat, except for the next park we went to in Pembina Valley.
Our Christmas was lovely. Thankfully most of our family lives nearby. I still can’t get over how quickly the year went! And now back to work. Sigh. But hey, now that I’ll be commuting into Toronto, we should finally meet up for a coffee!
Enjoy the rest of your time off!
When do you go back to work?
And yes, when you’re more settled in, coffee sounds like a great idea! Be kind with yourself as you settle back to work as a parent! The first few months are hard.
Thanks! Yesterday was my first day back at work. Thankfully I’m able to work from home this week. But my first day back into the physical office will be next Monday. Then it’ll feel more real!!
Oh jeez, good luck!!! At least you can ease your way into back to work. When you’re more settled in, let me know. I’m in the office Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Thanks! It helps that it’s also a short week! And yes, I’ll let you know when I’ve settled back in at work. I typically come into the office Monday and Thursday. We’re actually supposed to come in on a third day but I’m just going to pretend I didn’t know that! Sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission!
Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best in 2025!
Good plan! 😂
Linda I have the Manitoba with sand dunes.Cheers are so many amazing images. Anita
Thanks so much for your kind words and for leaving a comment. The scenery in Spruce Woods is so fascinating with all the sand dunes. I’m glad we were able to explore part of them. Hope you had a happy Christmas. Cheers. Linda
The stretches of sand in Canada always surprise me; I identify them more with seashores or deserts. I’ve also come across some in Saskatchewan in the Great Sand Hills Park.
Oh I know! The sand dunes seemed so out of place in western Manitoba. Good to know about the Great Sand Hills Park. We’re hoping to visit Saskatchewan at some point soon, perhaps next year or the year after, as we’ve never been.
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Wishing you and yours a happy New Year as well! Cheers! Linda
Very nice! We would’ve opted for the harder route as well!
For sure. I always enjoy a good challenge, especially when it leads to a viewing platform!
Love all those boardwalks. Thanks for taking us along on all your adventures this past year. It’s been so fun to read your blog and see your photos. ❤️ Happy New Year!! 🎉
Thanks for your lovely comment and for following along on our adventures. It’s been fun trying to navigate travelling and hiking with a baby now. I’m just glad she loves the outdoors as much as us! Happy New Year to you as well! Wishing you all the best in 2025!
I love how the weather progressively improved on your first day. The combination of dirt path, boardwalk, and wooden ladder makes the hike look like a fun one. But Day 2, oh how glorious the skies look! When I saw the second from last photo, I couldn’t help but think of a scene from the Lord of the Rings where there are dead bodies in a swamp. I’m sure the one you went to was far less sinister.
Your journey through Spruce Woods Provincial Park was an unforgettable adventure, Linda!
The Spirit Sands reminded me of our visit to the Great Sand Dunes National Monument in Colorado back in 2008. Climbing the dunes there, much like your experience, was both challenging and awe-inspiring. It’s fascinating how these unique landscapes, shaped by ancient forces, tell such rich stories!
Here’s to a New Year 2025 of more exploration and learning. Mike
This makes me want to return to Colorado to visit the Great Sand Dunes. The sandy terrain definitely comes with its own challenges, but it’s also so fascinating and beautiful. Wishing you a happy New Year as well. Here’s to many more adventures and enjoying life! Cheers! Linda
That steep path through the sand looks a bit difficult, even with the rope stairs. We have the Great Sand Dunes here in Colorado, which I have visited many times. It’s peaceful to get out there on the sand, having it all around you as far as you can see. Almost like being on another planet
Oh it was! I’m so glad it wasn’t my turn to wear the baby in her carrier! We missed out on the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado when we were there in the spring. I guess that means we’ll just have to return someday. It’s always a wonderful feeling to have the place to yourself. Hope you enjoyed the holidays! Happy New Year!
Beautiful place. The stairs in the sand doesn’t look easy to walk. I hope you had a nice Christmas and wishing you and your family a happy New year.
Thanks! Christmas goes by way too quickly and there’s always so much food! I could probably benefit from climbing some of those sand dunes in Spruce Woods right about now! Hope you enjoyed the holidays as well! Cheers! Linda
We did thank you 😊. Same a lot of food and drinks.
That’s how it always is! But I wouldn’t have it any other way! The New Year always seems to be a good reset and to focus more on eating healthy again anyway.
I have been to Spruce Woods many times as a kid, but not for the past 20 years so it was nice to return there today with you. By the way, I’m still not getting your posts so I may unfollow and refollow. Maggie
The landscape in Spruce Woods is so different compared to anything else we saw in Manitoba. It was neat to see the sand dunes. I could have easily stayed another day. And it turns out they have yurts in the campground! Ugh, hopefully the unfollow/refollow works! Keep me posted!
Beautiful park! I love the subtle pops of color here and there in the green and the log ladder helping you up the sand dune. I hope the year ahead brings you all good things 🙂
The landscape in Spruce Woods is beautiful. It was nice to visit in the fall after all the bugs and crowds have gone. The sand dunes were a lot of fun to explore, even if it meant having to climb up a few massive dunes! Wishing you many more adventures and all the best in 2025 as well! Cheers. Linda
Thanks for taking us to that park, dear Linda. Looks great.
All the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words. We had a lot of fun exploring the sand dunes. Cheers. Linda
Never heard of it before. Thx for showing us.
The landscape here is pretty neat. I would love to come back and stay for longer as there’s quite a few hiking trails. And there’s even a few yurts in the campground, which is always a nice alternative to tent camping.
Very interesting landscapes, and the sand dunes are beautiful! That is also amazing that they are were formed so long ago, you can literally see history on your hike!
Oh I know! It was fascinating to learn more about the geological history of the area and how the sand dunes were formed. The terrain here was a lot of fun to explore. And I’m so glad it wasn’t windy when we visited as hiking through blowing sand doesn’t sound very appealing!
What an unexpected place for sand dunes! Cool park!
Totally, the sand dunes seemed so out of place. It was a neat park to explore and learn more about the geology of the area. Plus it gave us a good workout with all those sand dunes we had to climb!
The steep climb at the Isputinaw Trail was definitely worth it – such a lovely view. And what an interesting place to find sand dunes (you’d really think there was a desert or even an ocean nearby). Has your little one had a chance to play in the sand?
Absolutely! The climb makes you appreciate the views even more! The timing worked out well as the clouds were starting to clear by the time we got up the ridge.
We ended up going to Curacao to celebrate baby M’s first birthday last month. It was her first time playing in the sand (and going in the ocean). She loved it!
Her first birthday already? Wow, time went by fast, didn’t it!
Oh I know! It’s crazy how quickly the year has gone and how much she’s grown! I wish I could just hit the pause button every so often.
Beautiful pictures!!, those views look so peaceful. Also, I love picnics !!!, my mom and I would have them all the time when I was a kid . My sis, bro and I havf them when we hike, too, sometimes. It’s such a a fun way to communicate and spend time
Thanks! Agreed, a picnic is a great way to hang out, snack, and enjoy the outdoors. I’m looking forward to having more picnics with our little one.
I can believe it ! I can’t wait to have them, again. Miss them
Me too. The nice thing about having a kid is that you’re able to relive things that you enjoyed from your own childhood, like playing in a park, playing with certain toys and having a picnic. And you get to experience it through their eyes too, which has been special.
Yes! I’m looking forward to that so much