Renowned for its big skies and sweeping landscapes, Canada’s central province of Manitoba is the perfect place for amateur star gazers and astronomers alike to revel in the wonder of space, with Spruce Woods Provincial Park becoming the province’s first ever dark-sky preserve, designated by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC).
Long known for having some of the highest-quality night-sky readings in southern Manitoba, Spruce Woods Provincial Park is a pristine dark-sky sanctuary, located just 180 kilometres west of the capital city of Winnipeg.
During the day, visitors to Spruce Woods can explore forests of spruce trees, lakes, rivers, prairie grassland and a unique desert-like area with shifting sand dunes and dazzling sunflowers. When night falls, explore the majesty of the solar system against an inky sky, completely free from light pollution.
Spruce Woods offers camping areas for an unforgettable weekend in nature. Pitch a tent and turn your eyes skyward to take in the glorious galaxy. Marvel at the reflected starlight on the glassy surface of the blue-green forest ponds.
During the day, explore meandering hiking trails on foot or from a horse-drawn covered wagon with Spirit Sands Wagon Outfitters. Step aboard a covered wagon and let two regal Percheron horses be your guides, with stops at the sand dunes and Devil’s Punchbowl (an eerie pond formed by the action of underground streams).
Cool off at the main beach at the Kiche Manitou campground and rent a paddle boat or canoe to explore the river.
Insider’s tip: The Interpretive Centre is well worth a visit. Check out taxidermy specimens of various local wildlife, learn the history, science and geology of the surrounding lands, and much more. The workshop behind the Centre houses live skinks (Manitoba’s only lizard), a bullhead snake and various other reptiles.
How to get there: From Winnipeg, travel west on Highway 1, turn south on P.T.H. 5 for 29 kilometres. From P.T.H. 2 west turn north on P.T.H. 5 for 13 kilometres.
Travelling to Manitoba
Air Canada offers daily direct flights to Vancouver from Sydney and direct flights between Brisbane and Vancouver four times per week. Direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver are also available on Qantas. Daily connecting flights are available from Vancouver to Winnipeg, in addition to the VIA Rail train service.
www.travelmanitoba.com.
