Group Hike on Bois des Esprits

Name: Group Hike on Bois des Esprits
Start: 2025-12-06T11:00:00-06:00
Location: Bois-Des-Esprits

Schedule

Sat, 06 Dec, 2025 at 11:00 am

UTC-06:00

Location

Bois-Des-Esprits | Winnipeg, MB

Discover the Magic of Bois Des Esprits!
Join us for a stroll through one of Winnipeg’s hidden gems—a beautiful urban forest filled with captivating hand-carved wood sculptures, winding trails, and natural charm.
Remember this is not a guided interpretive nature hike, just a group hike to meet some new people, get outside, and have fun!
Trail Highlights:
Length: 3.7 km
Average Time: 1 hour
Type: Loop
Difficulty: ⅕ (lots of kids-friendly activities)
Accessibility:
NOT wheelchair accessible (uneven terrain)
Possibility of being stroller accessible
Bathrooms: No (however close to other businesses that may have public bathrooms)
Parking: Street parking only, or nearby business lot. No accessible parking.
Dogs: must be leashed
Park Pass: not required
Picnic Area: Benches throughout the trail
We hope to see you there for this delightful outdoor experience!
Our 11:00am 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.

What to Bring on Your Hike (Winter Edition)
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.
Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately! See our winter clothing tips below.
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)
How to Dress for Winter Hiking/Activities
The key to enjoying winter activities is to stay warm and dry.
Layers are your best friend.
Hiking is good exercise. You don’t want to get sweaty while you’re moving and then catch a chill when you stop. So be aware of your body temperature and take layers off -- or pile them on -- as needed.
Start with a lighter puffer jacket or windbreaker supplemented by a sweater or fleece and a long sleeve shirt (a moisture-wicking fabric baselayer if you have one, cotton if you don’t.)
You may overheat in a heavy parka unless it’s very, very cold out.
Snow pants or windbreaker/shell pants are well worth the investment. They don’t have to be expensive. They just need to keep your bottom half warm and dry, especially when you sit down for a snack break.
Don’t forget a warm hat, mitts, and either a scarf or neckwarmer.
You can layer thin gloves under heavy mitts for added warmth and flexibility.
Warm, comfortable, and sturdy boots are a must. You don’t need expensive hiking boots. But you will not enjoy walking through the woods in sopping wet sneakers or leather boots with a high heel.
We recommend getting spikes or a traction device for your shoes for icy conditions. You can find them at Wilderness Supply, MEC, or even Costco!
How can we help?
If you have any questions or require any accommodations to participate, please email us at [email protected].

About CPAWS Manitoba:
CPAWS Manitoba has been instrumental in establishing 23 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, X, and TikTok 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. 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.
Weather & Cancellation Policy
We try not to let the weather stop us from getting outside. With the right gear, you can have a great time in most weather conditions.
That being said, safety must always be our top priority. We can’t be outside in a thunderstorm and may need to cancel if roads are hazardous.
Weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable. While we will do our best to monitor and make good judgment calls, there will be times when we decide to cancel and the skies clear and other days when a storm or high winds pop up unexpectedly.
We’ll send out an e-mail alert the day before an event letting registrants know if there’s a good chance we need to cancel. We will check the forecast again a few hours before the event to determine if we can try to go ahead.