Morning Group Hike at Sandilands Provincial Forest

Thousands of acres of sand hills, forests, and wetlands make up Sandilands Provincial Forest in the southeastern region of Manitoba. While a popular spot for cross-country skiers in the winter, the forest is also a wonderful place for hiking, with multiple trails throughout the area. It's an easy daytrip from Winnipeg about 100 km southeast of the city.

Join us for a group hike on the Sandilands Black Loop Trail, a 7 km loop that takes you through a rich forest of mixed hardwoods and majestic pine. The high sand ridges of the Sandilands area, known as Bedford Hills and Cypress Mountains, are the second-highest point of elevation in Manitoba. This trail is considered a moderately challenging route due to the sandy soil. It will likely take us around an hour and a half to complete.

Our bilingual event is being offered in partnership with Sports en français, an organization that contributes to the development of Manitoba's Francophone community through sport and physical activity in French.

While French language skills are not required to participate, we welcome Francophones and Francophiles to join! For English speakers, it's a great opportunity for you and your family to practice your French language skills.

We are also offering a 2 pm hike.

How to Get There

Type 'Sandilands Provincial Forest' into a smartphone map or GPS.

Or follow these directions:

• From Winnipeg, head south on HWY #59 to the junction of HWY#52.
• Head east on HWY#52 and continue on past Steinbach. This road eventually turns into PR #210.
• Continue on this HWY past Marchand. You will eventually get to Sandilands Provincial Forest.
• You can park in the parking lot located near the Ranger office. Most trails loop from there.

Amenities

There is a spacious parking lot at the trailhead and clean outhouse-style toilets.

The town of La Broquerie is nearby for groceries and other basics.

What to Bring on Your Hike/Activity

• A park pass is required for all vehicles entering provincial parks. An annual pass (which can be used in two vehicles) is $44.50. Daily permits are $9.50.
• Bring at least two bottles of water: you can leave one in your vehicle on a short hike; you’ll want both on a long hike.
• Snacks are a great way to keep your energy up along the trail. Many trails don’t have restaurants or stores nearby so you may also want to pack a picnic lunch.
• Hand sanitizer (Most trails have outhouses, not modern toilets.)
• Any medication you may need (like antihistamines, your asthma inhaler, or an EpiPen)
• A safety whistle, pocket flashlight, and a basic first-aid kit (not required, but a good idea any time you’re in the wilderness)

Outdoor Fun: What to Expect on Your Group Hike/Activity

Sometimes we just want to have some fun and enjoy a friendly chat with a stranger.

Our group hikes and activities are an easy way to get outside and explore Manitoba’s beautiful parks with other people.

CPAWS staff will share their love of nature on a relaxing hike along our favourite trails.

There won’t be any lectures along the way: when we stop for water and snack breaks we’ll keep the conversation casual and light.

If you’ve got questions we’ll do our best to answer them. However, we are not formally trained park interpreters. We encourage people seeking learning opportunities to check out our outdoor learning programming or try an interpretive event offered by Manitoba Parks.

Most hikes will take around two hours to complete and will be moderately challenging. Most will also be close enough to Winnipeg to make a pleasant day trip. Check out the event descriptions for more details.

How can we help?

If you have any questions or require any additional accommodations to participate, please email us at outreach@cpawsmb.org.

About CPAWS Manitoba:

CPAWS Manitoba has been instrumental in establishing 22 new parks and protected areas in our province. That's an area larger than Lake Winnipeg at nearly 26,000 square kilometres. Our goal is to protect half of Manitoba’s lands and waters.

About the CPAWS Manitoba Nature Club

CPAWS Manitoba’s Nature Club is designed to help Manitobans get outside, make new friends and learn about the wonders of nature.

We’ve developed a wide range of programming and activities to help Manitobans of all ages and abilities enjoy the health and wellness benefits of nature.

Find out more at our website - www.cpawsmb.org - and be sure to subscribe to our events newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so you don’t miss out on upcoming events.

Safety Protocols

CPAWS Manitoba takes the safety of all program participants seriously.

All CPAWS Manitoba staff members have cleared a criminal record and vulnerable sector background check with the Winnipeg Police Department.

All CPAWS Manitoba staff members voluntarily disclose that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We adhere to all public health recommendations and guidelines.

CPAWS policy requires that at least one person leading programming that may involve children must be certified in first aid. This applies to staff or to volunteers.

This program is possible thanks to the generous support of The Winnipeg Foundation.