About the Epinette Creek Trail
The Epinette Creek Trail is located in Spruce Woods Provincial Park, about 180 km from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The trail system consists of four connected loops that together create a total return distance of 41.7 km. These moderate trails—Spruce, Juniper, Tamarack, and Newfoundland—take hikers through prairie grasses, mixed forests, and rolling sandy hills.
The Epinette Creek Trail is a multi-use trail with year-round traffic, permitting hiking, biking, and winter activities. The backcountry campsites include cabins equipped with wood stoves. These are most often used in winter, as mice tend to be active during the summer months. Cabins are generally intended for emergency shelter, except for Jackfish Lake cabin, which can be reserved. One of the perks of the Epinette Creek Trail is that you don’t need reservations. When we hiked in 2025, park entry fees were waived until March 31, 2026, making it an especially budget-friendly adventure.
After moving from Labrador to Manitoba this summer, we were eager to find a short weekend hike to scratch the itch of getting outdoors. Google suggested a few options, but the Epinette Creek Trail stood out because it allowed us the flexibility to shorten our trip if needed.
While Oliver had hiked the Arizona Trail earlier in the year, Cheryl was just coming out the other side of medical roadblocks and hadn’t been on a hike since her diagnosis. This would be her first strenuous exercise, and we weren’t sure if her body would be as willing as her mind. We needed a trail that would let us opt out of sections if necessary, but still continue if things went well. It also had to not be too challenging, since we didn’t know how much would be too much. The Epinette Creek Trail turned out to be the right choice for our circumstances. On September 12, 2025, we set out from Winnipeg with our dog, Watson, to explore Spruce Woods Provincial Park.
Day 1: Epinette Creek Trail Trailhead to Cabin 3
Driving to Spruce Woods Provincial Park
We began our drive from Winnipeg after Cheryl’s specialist appointment that morning. The drive was uneventful as we made our way west past Portage la Prairie and into Austin, where we stopped at Subway for a quick bite to eat. We then turned south toward Carberry before finally reaching Spruce Woods Provincial Park.
Our first stop was the Friends of Spruce Woods Provincial Park Gift Shop, where we looked for additional information about the route before hitting the trail. The gift shop hours do change, so check their calendar for the dates and times they are open. The Visitor Centre was already closed for the season, so it was a very short visit. We then went back up the road to the turnoff for Epinette Creek Trail. The signs off the main road are well marked with large wooden signs to direct you where to go.
Trailhead and Parking
The road in passes through an open grassy field before you arrive at a dirt parking lot. Here you’ll find the access points for Epinette Creek Trail and a portion of the Trans Canada Trail, which eventually leads to the Yellow Quill Trails. There were a few cars already in the parking lot, but we weren’t concerned about space since there was plenty for everyone. If you aren’t in a rush to start hiking, you can wander around and read the interpretive signs in the area.
Cabin 1 is located right at the parking lot. If you arrive extremely late and don’t want to hike in the dark, I could see why you might camp here. It would be most appropriate in the winter months, when it’s ideal for staging cross-country ski trips, warming up while switching into winter gear, or waiting for friends to arrive.
Hiking to Cabin 2 (1.5 km)
The first trail sign for the Epinette Creek Trail is beside Cabin 1. You’ll have no difficulty spotting the trail—it’s a wide, two-track path that has been worn from use and frequently mowed. The ground was quite level as well, which meant we could walk without worrying about twisting an ankle or tripping on roots. We had wondered if the trail would eventually narrow, but it stayed this wide for all four loops.
Approximately 1.5 km from the parking lot is Cabin 2. The hike in is an easy stroll through open grassy plains before leading into the trees, where the cabin is tucked down a hill. There is adequate signage to find your way, and the trail leads straight to the entrance. At Cabin 2 you’ll find a hand pump, a firepit surrounded by benches, picnic tables, garbage and recycling bins, and an outhouse. Inside, there’s a logbook to sign.
We had heard from other hikers who camped there that mice were active in the evening, so they preferred to pitch their tents outside instead of sleeping in the cabin.
Toward Cabin 3 (~7.5 km): Tree Tunnels, Fall Colors, and Wildlife
We didn’t stay long at Cabin 2 and continued down the trail. There were sandy patches here and there, but eventually we were led into tree tunnel after tree tunnel. This wasn’t an issue, since we appreciated the shade when temperatures rose. Bear scat soon became frequent, evidence that they had been eating berries in the area.
Since we went in the fall, the trail was surrounded by vibrant color. We enjoyed greens, yellows, oranges, and reds, with leaves gently falling to the ground in front of us. We spotted mushrooms and wildflowers along the way.
Before a large sandy hill we had to climb, we came across a creek running through a culvert. A beaver had built a dam both at the culvert and a little further upstream. This was the only water source between Cabin 2 and Cabin 3, but we recommend stocking up at Cabin 2 rather than drinking from the beaver pond. As we climbed the sandy hill, we saw beaver prints in the dirt and a freshly chewed stump from the resident.
We continued on, passing more bear scat and deer tracks along the way. What impressed us most was how easy the trail remained. The condition was consistent—well mowed and clear—and the difficulty never increased. Rolling hills broke up the terrain, but aside from the sandy climb by the creek, there were no steep sections. We stopped for a snack at a viewpoint bench and then carried on to finish the last few kilometers.
Arriving at Cabin 3
The trail pointed straight to the water pump, so we knew we had reached our destination when it came into view. Several tents were already set up nearby. As we explored, we found the outhouse, the cabin, and two picnic tables with firepits. Unfortunately, there are no bear storage lockers on these trails, and we even noticed bear scat near the outhouse. We used the garbage bins to get rid of food wrappers and stored our bear-proof food canisters inside the cabin.
Since we were hiking with our dog Watson—and Cheryl wanted practice setting up her own gear for future solo hikes—we opted to bring two tents. Cheryl camped in the Durston X-Mid 2p with Watson, while Oliver camped in the Durston X-Mid 1p that he had used on the Arizona Trail.
Evening in Camp
After dinner, the students from the other tents returned from day-hiking the Newfoundland Loop, which we planned to hike the next day. They were on a school trip working toward their Duke of Edinburgh Award and had been practicing fire-starting with flint and steel. We shared fire starting tips before we finally turned in for the night.
Watson curled up happily on his sleeping mat, and we quickly fell asleep—thankfully with no bear visitors that we were aware of.
Epinette Creek Trail Conditions and Scenery
Trail conditions on the Epinette Creek Trail were excellent. The path was wide, with no concerns about packs snagging on branches or needing to climb over fallen trees. We even noted the lack of spiderwebs across the trail, likely because the path is so broad.
Since we hiked in the fall, the leaves were just beginning to change colour. A few were starting to fall, creating a beautiful seasonal backdrop. The trail was very well maintained, with few branches or roots underfoot that could trip you up. There were several scenic viewpoints to pause and enjoy a snack—though only one spot had a bench.
The scenery shifts often along this section, alternating between open spaces and denser vegetation. Even though the trail itself is easy, it never feels monotonous because there’s always something new to see in the plant life around you.
Cabin Amenities and Tips
Water: The pump at Cabin 3 was functional but noisy. If you’re an early riser, consider collecting water the night before to avoid disturbing others in the morning.
Outhouses: At Cabin 3, the outhouse had no hand sanitizer left, which isn’t unusual since it appeared to be the most used cabin of the four. If you want sanitizer, be sure to pack your own. Toilet paper wasn’t an issue, though we always bring extra just in case.
Firewood: We noticed very little firewood at Cabin 2, but we didn’t stay long enough to search thoroughly. Cabin 3, however, had plenty.
Final Thoughts on Epinette Creek Trail – Day 1
Day 1 on the Epinette Creek Trail made for a smooth and enjoyable start. The trail was wide, well-marked, and very well maintained. Campsites were clean and thoughtfully equipped with basic amenities. There was plenty of toilet paper, the water pumps worked, and we found enough firewood for a campfire. Having garbage and recycling bins available was an unexpected bonus, something you don’t often see in backcountry hiking. It was nice not to have to pack out every bit of trash.
We aren’t accustomed to such wide trails, as most of our hiking has been on narrow singletrack with some overgrowth. While we had expected this style of trail on the Mantario, wildfires had closed it this year. Even if it had been open, easing back into hiking after medical issues would have made us hesitate.
One surprise was the sheer amount of bear scat. We had originally left the bear spray at home, thinking it unnecessary this far south in Manitoba. After seeing fresh scat along the trail and later hearing from another hiker who had a stand-off with two bears by Cabin 4 earlier this year, we decided that bringing bear spray would be a good idea next time.
Day 1 Summary
- Date: September 12, 2025
- Distance: Trailhead to Cabin 3 – 9 km / 5.5 mi
- Elevation Gain: 521 ft
- Amenities:
- Cabin 1: Pit toilet, warming cabin with wood stove, water pump, bear-proof garbage and recycling bins
- Cabin 2: Pit toilet, warming cabin with wood stove, water pump, firepit, picnic tables, benches, bear-proof garbage and recycling bins
- Cabin 3: Pit toilet, warming cabin with wood stove and sleeping loft, water pump, firepit, picnic tables, bear-proof garbage and recycling bins
- Water Sources: One beaver-occupied creek; otherwise, only available at cabin water pumps
- Wildlife: Deer tracks, beaver prints, and plentiful bear scat (especially between Cabins 2 and 3, and near Cabin 3’s outhouse)
- Navigation: Wide, mowed trail with clear signage showing distances to the parking lot and next cabin
- Best Time to Hike: Spring (before ticks) or fall (after ticks)