The Louis Riel long weekend is coming up Feb. 15-17 and now is the time to start making plans on how to embrace the outdoors in rural Manitoba.
Depending on your winter recreation of choice, that might involve a trip to Manitoba’s parks, a day on the downhill slopes, some time in the bush on a cross-country ski or snowshoe trail or any number of local outdoors opportunities in your area.
The province’s provincial parks aren’t just for summer, and they’re now free to enter for the month of February after the provincial government announced they were waiving fees for the month.
They’re often a hub for a mix of organized and individual activities. Spruce Woods Provincial Park offers several groomed ski trails, as well as snowshoeing, two toboggan hills, a skating oval, a hockey rink and jam pail curling. They also host organized and interpretive activities on weekends. More information on their agenda for the Louis Riel weekend can be found on the Friends of Spruce Woods Facebook page, or by calling 204-827-8850.
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If you prefer ice fishing, the same provincial press release that announced free park entry also noted the ice fishing shelters on Lake Winnipeg, accessible from Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park.
Riding Mountain National Park is another good site for outdoor sports and family activities. Many kilometres of groomed trails provide opportunities for skiers to choose between group skiing or an individual, wilderness experience. The Friends of Riding Mountain, with a building location at 154 Columbine Street in Wasagaming, has snowshoes, fat bikes, snow tubes and sleds for rent.
Free activities planned for the Louis Riel weekend include a bannock roast, snow sculpting, maple syrup rolling and various kids’ program events. There will also be a French Canadian pea soup fundraiser. Check out [email protected] or call 204-848-4037 for specific times.
Also at Wasagaming, visitors will find the skating loop weaving through the trees behind the park’s interpretive centre. This skate trail is lit at night. A ski trail in the town is also set up with night lighting.
Manitoba’s cross-country ski clubs offer many spots for outdoor recreation on the long weekend. One such event is scheduled for the Bittersweet Ski Trails south of Rossendale, southwest of Portage la Prairie. Check their website at ccsam.ca/where-to-ski/trails/groups/bittersweet/ for directions and detailed information.
This year’s Bittersweet event includes a poker rally and raffle fundraiser. Skiers should register at the Bittersweet Nordic Centre and can buy a poker hand (one for $5 or three for $10). The event involves skiing to three other checkpoints, with cash prizes for the best three hands. Raffle tickets will also be available, as well as free chili and refreshments.
Another good family activity for the Louis Riel weekend is a visit to the tubing hill at Valley View Bible Camp, south of MacGregor. Those planning a trip there should pre-book. Entries are by advance booking and numbers are limited each day. See their website at valleyviewbiblecamp.com or call 204-685-2999 for more information.
Three time slots of about four hours are shown for weekends, including evening slots under the lights for a little extra excitement. Weekday slots are available for group bookings only. Tubers can be pulled up the hill or can walk up on their own if line-ups form.
If you opt to spend the weekend close to home, you might enjoy taking part in the “Great Backyard Bird Count,” slated this year from Feb. 14-17. The bird count website at www.birdcount.org invites participants to “Let birds bring you closer to nature.”
The count is an inter-organizational effort spearheaded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society and Birds Canada. Statistics obtained help to keep track of bird populations and patterns of movements around the world.
Participants can count for as little as 15 minutes one day in one yard, or several hours at various locations. They then create an account with the website and submit lists of birds counted, with separate lists for different locations or days. All data is submitted online. If you count with other people, only one person in the group should submit the data.
This would be a good time to watch for some of the rarer winter birds such as the Eurasian collared doves that are becoming more common across southern Manitoba. I always hope to spy a pileated woodpecker or some red crossbills at my feeders during these days.
Many towns and municipalities will also be organizing events over the weekend. Hockey games or hitting some of the many local snowmobile trails are options. Use the weekend to celebrate winter in Manitoba.
