On the July long weekend, I set off an a solo mini road trip for the day from to explore deeper in my home province of Manitoba, more specifically, to hike the Spirit Sands/Devil’s Punch Bowl trail in Spruce Woods Provincial Park.

Spruce Woods Provincial Park is located about 170 km west of Manitoba’s capital city of Winnipeg and 76 km east of Brandon and hiking or camping there makes for an easy day or weekend trip from either city.

The Spirit Sands trail is unique in that it passes through Manitoba’s desert, complete with sand dunes – a stark contrast to the prairie farmland that covers much of the southern portion of the province!

Hiking the Spirit Sands and Devil’s Punch Bowl was challenging but rewarding as the trail passed through a variety of beautiful and unique landscapes – from arid desert and sand dunes to wooded forests to grassy meadows with rolling hills. There were also some spectacular views from various look-out points along the trail.

Hiking the Spirit Sands/Devil’s Punch Bowl Trail

After a two hour drive from my home, I arrived at the trail parking lot at around 10 AM and it was already filled with quite a few cars. I parked and began hiking the trail!

The beginning of the trail was on a sandy trail which lead through a combination of wooded forests with grassy clearings along the way. The trail started to become more sandy after about 1 km and I knew that I was getting closer to the desert and the dunes. Not long after, I arrived at a steep hill of sand with slanted wooden “steps” to climb up. The climb was exhausting and challenging but when I made it to the top, I found myself standing in the desert with rolling sand hills everywhere! It was so cool and it definitely didn’t feel like I was in Manitoba. The sand dunes had various desert plants and flowers growing in certain areas.

Walking through the sand in the desert was exhausting, especially climbing up and down the dunes and sometimes it felt like I was going nowhere, but the sprawling desert landscape was so unique and beautiful and made for some great photo opportunities. After finding my way through the sand dunes, the remainder of the trail passed through a variety of landscapes – a combination of grassy meadows with rolling hills and wooded forests. I was completely alone on the trail, aside from passing a couple of small groups along the way during stops at some of the shelters/rustic washrooms along the trail. I enjoyed the peaceful and calm atmosphere and just being in solitude with nature.

Before reaching the Punch Bowl, I arrived at a series of wooden steps descending down a grassy valley onto a boardwalk bridge across a marshy lake area. The steps then ascended back up the hillside to the top, where they continued onwards to the Punch Bowl. The lake and surrounding landscape was gorgeous!

After a long and challenging but beautiful hike (with several elevation changes throughout the way), I followed a sign with the symbol of a camera on it and made my way to a look out area, overlooking the Devil’s Punch Bowl. The punch bowl was beautiful and consisted of a medium-sized pond resting at the bottom of a wide grassy depression in the ground, which was surrounded by forests of tall trees. The colour of the water was an incredible blue-green turquoise, but unfortunately, my photos did not accurately capture the beauty of the colour.

The views of the punch bowl and forests from the top of the look-out area were amazing and I took some time to admire my surroundings and the stunning views and landscape while taking some photos. When I first arrived at this look out area though, I did not realize that I had made it to the Punch Bowl. Although there had been signs all along the trail indicating how many kilometres you were from the Punch Bowl, I didn’t notice any signs at the actual Punch Bowl saying something along the lines of, “You are here.” Maybe I missed something, but I found it a bit strange that it wasn’t very obvious that I had made it to the trail’s main attraction.

I then followed the trail on a short detour to another lookout point that was reached after climbing a few sets of steep wooden steps. At the top, I was rewarded with beautiful panoramic views of the Assiniboine River.

After checking out the views from that look-out, I began making my way back to the parking lot. It was approximately 3 km from the Devil’s Punch Bowl and the return trail was different than the going there trail. It did not pass through the sand dunes again but instead lead through beautiful treed forests for most of the way with some openings along the way. The hike back was much easier than getting to the Punch Bowl and it was relatively flat with fewer elevation changes.

It took me two and half hours in total to hike this 8 km (round trip) trail and included in that time are all of the stops that I made along the way to take a break, eat a snack, have some water, admire the natural beauty in my surroundings and take lots of photos. By the time I got back to the parking lot, I was sweaty, exhausted, and sore and even though the trail was challenging, it was such a rewarding hike!

Hiking the Spirit Sands/Devil’s Punch Bowl trail was definitely a worthwhile day trip from Winnipeg! There were lots of fantastic photo opportunities along the way and I enjoyed the variety of beautiful and unique landscapes. I would definitely recommend it for both beginner and avid hikers, outdoor adventurers, and nature lovers alike.

Exploring an Abandoned House in Carberry

Along the two hour drive back home, I made a quick stop at an old abandoned house located roughly 1 km south of the town of Carberry along Highway #5. I had seen photos of this house online before my visit, had searched out its location and planned on exploring there after my hike in the Spirit Sands.

The house was only slightly visible from the highway but mostly hidden behind tall trees and thick vegetation that had grown in front of and around the house over many years. The property was covered in tall grass. I parked my car in the muddy and overgrown driveway and began walking to the front of the house. As I waded through the tall grass and got closer, I realized how deteriorated the house was. It was obvious to me that this house was once a beautiful and elegant mansion, but sadly now, it was completely abandoned. Former windows were exposed to the outdoors with vegetation creeping inside and the house was seriously tilting and looked like it could topple at any moment.

I stepped inside the open door frame of the house and stood in a hallway. The floor throughout the interior of the house was covered in debris – pieces of wood, dirt and other things – and there were electrical wires hanging down from the ceiling. Speaking of the ceiling, it was wide open in some areas and when I looked up, I could see into the second floor of the house. There were no in-tact walls inside the house and all that remained were the wooden frames of former walls. I walked down the hallway, hoping that the floor wasn’t going to cave in. I could see areas further into the house where there were holes in the floor and it had caved into the basement. At the end of the hallway, it opened up to what was once a spacious living room area and kitchen. The kitchen was interesting as remnants of the counter-tops remained, including a sink, covered in debris. At the far end of the kitchen, I could see a doorway which led to a portion of the house which had completely collapsed into itself and lay in shambles, as it had caved into the basement. Although I really wanted to explore in that direction, it looked pretty dangerous so I stayed far away from that.

Also situated along the hallway were a set of stairs leading to the house’s second floor. Surprisingly, the wooden stairs were still in tact and they appeared relatively stable. I walked up a few stairs just high enough so that I could get a glimpse of the upstairs, but I didn’t feel that it would be safe to walk around up there, fearing that the floor might crumble beneath my feet. The second level appeared the same as the main floor – covered in debris with only the wooden frames of walls remaining. I watched closely where I stepped as I made my way back out of the house, being careful not to fall into any holes or step on unstable ground.

Exploring inside this abandoned house was eerie yet fascinating with an element of danger. After checking out the interior, I walked around the exterior of the house. It was completely overgrown with dense vegetation and large trees were growing through window frames into the house. Behind the house, I found an old rusting VW Beetle among the grass, which was cool to see.

I took some photos of the exterior and interior of the house and then headed home. It was so interesting to explore this abandoned place!

After returning home from my day trip, I did some research on the history of the house and discovered some interesting facts about it. The house was built in 1896 for a local businessman and politician in Carberry, Robert F. Lyons who lived there until 1919. It was then occupied by a few other individuals and families before being abandoned on its property in 1964 and being sold to a local farmer.

If you live in Manitoba or are traveling through the province and are interested in finding other abandoned buildings, you can see a list of them here.

What To Pack for Hiking the Spirit Sands

This is a list of what I brought with me during my hike:

Daypack – I brought my small 12-litre Pacsafe daypack to carry all of my belongings. It’s size was perfect and it was comfortable on my back the entire way.

– I brought my small 12-litre Pacsafe daypack to carry all of my belongings. It’s size was perfect and it was comfortable on my back the entire way. Water – I brought three water bottles with me. Two of them contained 1 litre of water each and the third one contained 500 ml of water mixed with Emergen-C electrolyte replacement. I loved using my new water bottle!

– I brought three water bottles with me. Two of them contained 1 litre of water each and the third one contained 500 ml of water mixed with Emergen-C electrolyte replacement. I loved using my new water bottle! Hiking Shoes – I wore these hiking shoes from Merrell and they were so comfortable. The ankles have extra padding and the sole is sturdy. They were great for hiking this trail and no sand got inside my shoes!

– I wore these hiking shoes from Merrell and they were so comfortable. The ankles have extra padding and the sole is sturdy. They were great for hiking this trail and no sand got inside my shoes! Energy Bars – I brought one of these GoMacro energy bars with me. It was my first time trying this brand and type of bar and they were so delicious! I loved the fact that they were healthy, gluten-free and organic, contained natural and wholesome ingredients and didn’t have a lot of added sugars.

– I brought one of these GoMacro energy bars with me. It was my first time trying this brand and type of bar and they were so delicious! I loved the fact that they were healthy, gluten-free and organic, contained natural and wholesome ingredients and didn’t have a lot of added sugars. External Battery – This external battery from Anker is my absolute favourite. I take it with me whenever I am going on a day trip somewhere and won’t have access to a power outlet to charge my phone. Having a fully charged phone is especially important to me when I am traveling, exploring or hiking solo, in case of an emergency. Although I didn’t need to use it on this hike, I had it in my backpack just in case.

– This external battery from Anker is my absolute favourite. I take it with me whenever I am going on a day trip somewhere and won’t have access to a power outlet to charge my phone. Having a fully charged phone is especially important to me when I am traveling, exploring or hiking solo, in case of an emergency. Although I didn’t need to use it on this hike, I had it in my backpack just in case. Camera – I always bring my Canon Rebel with me, pretty much wherever I go, so that I am able to capture the memories. There were lots of great photo opportunities along the Spirit Sands trail and I was happy with how my photos turned out!

– I always bring my Canon Rebel with me, pretty much wherever I go, so that I am able to capture the memories. There were lots of great photo opportunities along the Spirit Sands trail and I was happy with how my photos turned out! Phone – I brought my iPhone with me on the hike so that I could capture some photos with it for easy posting to social media afterwards.

– I brought my iPhone with me on the hike so that I could capture some photos with it for easy posting to social media afterwards. Mosquito Repellent – Although I didn’t use it, I did bring mosquito repellent just in case the bugs had gotten bad. I saw a few mosquitoes and there were quite a few bumbly flies, but it wasn’t too bad.

– Although I didn’t use it, I did bring mosquito repellent just in case the bugs had gotten bad. I saw a few mosquitoes and there were quite a few bumbly flies, but it wasn’t too bad. Anti-Itch Cream/After Bite – I brought these just in case I happened to get a bad bug bite, as I swell up a lot!

– I brought these just in case I happened to get a bad bug bite, as I swell up a lot! Sunscreen – Sunscreen is definitely necessary on the trail, as you are in the hot desert with no shade. I would have gotten a nasty sunburn if I hadn’t worn any.

– Sunscreen is definitely necessary on the trail, as you are in the hot desert with no shade. I would have gotten a nasty sunburn if I hadn’t worn any. Hat – I was so glad that I brought my hat along! I ended up wearing it during the entire hike and it kept my face shielded from the hot sun and protected my scalp from a sunburn.

Tips for Hiking the Spirit Sands Trail

Arrive Early – I arrived to the trail at around 10 AM and there were already quite a few cars in the parking lot. Thankfully though, I felt like I was completely alone during the hike and only passed a few small groups of people. When I returned to the parking lot after my 2.5 hour hike, the number of cars there had probably doubled and the trail was very busy. If you enjoy hiking in solitude and being alone with nature, I recommend arriving earlier in the morning in order to have a peaceful atmosphere to hike in.

– I arrived to the trail at around 10 AM and there were already quite a few cars in the parking lot. Thankfully though, I felt like I was completely alone during the hike and only passed a few small groups of people. When I returned to the parking lot after my 2.5 hour hike, the number of cars there had probably doubled and the trail was very busy. If you enjoy hiking in solitude and being alone with nature, I recommend arriving earlier in the morning in order to have a peaceful atmosphere to hike in. Bring Lots of Water – I brought three water bottles with me and although I didn’t finish all of them, I was glad that I had them with me. It gets very hot in the desert and there is little shade along that portion of the trail.

– I brought three water bottles with me and although I didn’t finish all of them, I was glad that I had them with me. It gets very hot in the desert and there is little shade along that portion of the trail. Wear a Hat – It’s hot and sunny in the desert and I was so glad that I wore a hat! It likely protected my scalp from a nasty sunvurn and also kept my head cool and my face shielded from the intense sun. Plus, it kept all of my hair together. I recommend wearing a hat during this hike.

– It’s hot and sunny in the desert and I was so glad that I wore a hat! It likely protected my scalp from a nasty sunvurn and also kept my head cool and my face shielded from the intense sun. Plus, it kept all of my hair together. I recommend wearing a hat during this hike. Wear Sturdy Hiking Shoes or Runners – I was slightly shocked when I passed by a group of girls on the trail, who were walking barefoot through the forested section of the trail and were only carrying flip flops with them!

Practical Information – Spirit Sands/Devil’s Punch Bowl Trail

Location – The Spirit Sands Trailhead is located along Highway #5 (south of Carberry), just north of the entrance to Spruce Woods Provincial Park, across the Assiniboine River. The provincial park is situated approximately 180 km west of Winnipeg (Manitoba’s capital city) and 85 km east of Brandon (Manitoba’s second largest city).

Getting There – A car is required to get to Spruce Woods as there is no public transportation that can take you there. From Winnipeg, drive east on Highway #1 (Trans-Canada) and turn south on Highway #5, after passing through the city of Portage la Prairie. Drive past the town of Carberry and keep driving south until you see a large sign for the trailhead with the words “Spirit Sands” on it, on the right hand side of the highway. Drive along the narrow gravel road up the hill, which will lead you to the trail’s parking lot.

Trail Distance – 8 km round trip (there is also the option of taking a 1.6 km scenic route through more of the sand dunes which would make the trail 9.6 km in total).

Time to Complete – Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours

Other Things To Note – There are a few wooden shelters with trail maps and rustic outhouse-style washrooms situated at various points along the trail, if you need to rest. There is also a more modern and clean but still outhouse-style washroom in the parking lot at the beginning of the trail. Also in the parking lot, are a few picnic tables.

Map of the Spirit Sands/Devil’s Punch Bowl Trail

TripAdvisor Reviews of the Spirit Sands Trail

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