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1914
Sunbathers
Group
of people on the beach at Lake
Winnipeg.
NA/PA-181068
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Southern Sand and
Surf: Lake Winnipeg's Beguiling Beaches
Warm, blue waters and fine white sand -
on the doorstep of Canada's prairies! First-time
visitors to Lake Winnipeg's southern basin
are astonished by its expansive beaches
and sweeping sand dunes. With their distinctly
tropical feel, the Lake's southern beaches
are ranked as some of the finest in North
America. The Lake's summer playgrounds attract
day-trippers, campers, cottagers, and tourists
from around the world. Their destination
choices include:
Cross-Country
Skiing at Grand Beach Provincial
Park
Lake Winnipeg's beaches are year-round
destinations. For some of southern
Manitoba's finest cross-country
ski destinations, head to Grand
Beach on the eastern shore of
Lake Winnipeg. The Jack Pine (2.6
kilometre), and Blueberry trails
are recommended for novices. Intermediate
skiers can challenge themselves
on the Boulder Hill (6.1 kilometre)
and Beaver Pond ((13.3 kilometre)
trails, while expert skiers can
tackle the rugged 2.6 kilometre
"Squirrel Run." All
trails begin and end at the same
staging area.
Snowmobilers will find over 23
kilometres of trails at Grand
Beach, connected to longer distance
touring destinations such as Gimli,
to the west, and Whiteshell Provincial
Park, to the east.
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Grand Beach -
Bird-watching or people-watching? At Grand
Beach, Manitoba's most famous strip of sand,
you can take your pick. Take a hike along
the Wild Wings Trail of this Provincial
Park's Grand Beach Marsh, or stroll the
bustling Boardwalk of the beach itself.
Spread your beach blanket on the 3 kilometre
stretch of clean, white silica sand, backed
by stunning 8 metre-tall dunes. Grand Beach,
80 kilometres north of Winnipeg, has been
a favourite Manitoba holiday destination
ever since 1916, when it was developed as
a destination attraction by the Canadian
National Railway. In addition to offering
lots of scope for swimming, sunbathing,
windsurfing, sailing and socializing, visitors
to Grand Beach Provincial Park can also:
• Hike 30 kilometres of back
country trails, including the Ancient Beach
Trail, a vestige of the beach line of glacial
Lake Aggasiz (now covered by a mixture of
deciduous and coniferous forests), and the
Spirit Walk Trail, with views of Lake Winnipeg,
and immense glacial boulders.
• Boat, water ski and board
sail in the sheltered lagoon area.
• Fish for perch, walleye, northern
pike, silver bass, carp and catfish near
the Park's causeway bridge.
• Camp in the well-equipped
campground, featuring easy access to the
beach.
• Berry-pick in the mixed forest
of the parkland. Look for Saskatoon berries
in June, chokecherries and blueberries in
August.
• View (carefully) the Park's
endangered bird species, the Piping Plover.
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