Spruce Woods Provincial Park - Manitoba
Posted by: PeterNoG
N 49° 43.729 W 099° 18.525
14U E 477748 N 5508525
Spruce Woods Provincial Park is a large park (269 km2;104 sq mi) along the Assiniboine River about 50 km south-southeast of Brandon, Manitoba.
Waymark Code: WMECNB
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date Posted: 05/07/2012
Views: 9
The most unique feature of Spruce Woods is the Manitoba Desert; also known as the Spirit Sands. The Spirit Sands are large areas of rolling sand dunes home to plant and animal species unique to the area including the skink, Manitoba's only lizard.
Provincial Park access permit is required. Daily $3, Three-Day $8, Annual $30.
Park Type: Overnight, Day Use
Activities: picnicking, camping, hiking, fishing, swimming
Background: This region was originally not recognized as having prime agricultural potential and a Forest Reserve was created in 1895 to conserve the land. Permits for the grazing of cattle and horses were issued in 1915. The forest was an important source of fuelwood for the local population and some logging operations were carried out in mature spruce stands in the 1940s. Today, grazing and fuelwood operations still continue.
In 1915, the Department of Militia and Defense leased the western portion of the Forest Reserve for training troops from Camp Hughes (replaced by Camp Shilo in the 1930s). Today, military training is still carried out by Canadian troops. "Thunder" in Spruce Woods may be the tank and artillery training on the base.
Spruce Woods Provincial Park was created from the eastern portion of the Forest Reserve in 1964. Kiche Manitou campground was officially opened in 1970. Part of the military lease was returned to the provincial government in 1975 and developed into the Spirit Sands area.
~ extracted from the website below ~
Date Established?: 1964
Link to Park: [Web Link]
Additional Entrance Points: N 49° 38.867 W 099° 16.070
Park Fees: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
To log a visit to a waymark in this category, please include the following ...
1. A picture you took at the park.
2. Your favorite activity at the park.
3. How do you like the park.