Staff Pick
Road Trip Winnipeg to Birds Hill – Folk Festival & Equestrian Park
Winnipeg
Parc Birds Hill
25
km
0h30
drive
Summer
season
The Itinerary
Birds Hill Provincial Park (35 km², 25 minutes northeast of Winnipeg), created in 1967 on glacial eskers and moraines, is the Manitoba capital's green lung — 1.7 million visits yearly. It's also the annual site of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, one of the world's largest folk music festivals.
The Winnipeg Folk Festival (since 1974, 2nd week of July) draws 70,000 people over 4 days on 8 simultaneous stages — Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Loreena McKennitt have played here. The temporary campground becomes the province's second-largest "city." Festival du Voyageur (existing) in winter is its francophone counterpart.
The park itself offers: beach and artificial lake (Cropo Hill), equestrian centre (since the 1967 Canada Summer Games), 60 km of bike and cross-country ski trails, 18-hole golf, Whyte Ridge Aspens, and Birds Hill Lookout (panorama of Winnipeg). For families: Tinkertown Family Fun Park at the park entrance, Sandilands Provincial Forest (1 h away) and the Sunova SnoMan in winter. Tip: entry steeply reduced with a Manitoba Parks annual pass.
The Winnipeg Folk Festival (since 1974, 2nd week of July) draws 70,000 people over 4 days on 8 simultaneous stages — Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Loreena McKennitt have played here. The temporary campground becomes the province's second-largest "city." Festival du Voyageur (existing) in winter is its francophone counterpart.
The park itself offers: beach and artificial lake (Cropo Hill), equestrian centre (since the 1967 Canada Summer Games), 60 km of bike and cross-country ski trails, 18-hole golf, Whyte Ridge Aspens, and Birds Hill Lookout (panorama of Winnipeg). For families: Tinkertown Family Fun Park at the park entrance, Sandilands Provincial Forest (1 h away) and the Sunova SnoMan in winter. Tip: entry steeply reduced with a Manitoba Parks annual pass.
Points of Interest
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Winnipeg Folk Festival70,000 visitors in July, since 1974.
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Birds Hill BeachArtificial lake, sand, family swimming.
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Equestrian CentreSince 1967 Canada Summer Games, classic facility.
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60 km TrailsSummer cycling, winter cross-country skiing.
Practical info
- Departure Winnipeg
- Destination Parc Birds Hill
- Distance 25 km
- Duration 0h30
- Category Short (< 100 km)
- Best season Summer
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