Just because Brandon is located thousands of kilometers from the nearest ocean it doesn’t mean we don’t have any beaches, it just means we just don’t have many. However one of the best and closest beaches in the area is located only half an hour North of Brandon Mb.

Cool sand and warm waters are exactly what you’ll find at Minnedosa beach. With over 200 meters of sandy beach front sitting by the side of the scenic Minnedosa lake, you’ll be sure to enjoy this wonderful beach. The water is very clean, although not too clear. Occasionally you’ll find that some leaches have attached themselves to you, but this is Manitoba and that’s a given.

Just behind the beach there is a play structure for the little ones as well as a large field to play in. The beach also has a boat launch and a large parking area. There are no animals allowed on the beach but if you want to go check out some animals, you’ll find a herd of plains bison just a few minutes away from the beach at the bison enclosure.

Also situated around the beach is a great marshy walking path, the flag walk which represents the various flags of the people of Minnedosa and a look out tower over the marsh and bison enclosure. A round-trip walk from the beach will only take at max 1 hour and you’ll be amazed at all the things you’ll see. It’s common to find deer in the middle of the path ways as you walk on the trail. There is also a small swinging bridge in the middle of the marsh.

To see the exact locations of all the nearby attractions, please reference the map.

Thousands of years ago, most of Manitoba was covered by a great lake. Lake Agassiz was a glacial lake around 12000 years ago that formed by melting and retreating glaciers in Canada. The lake grew to be so huge that if it were to exist today, it’d be bigger then the Caspian Sea.

The lake flooded and retreated multiple times. So much so, that some scientists suspect that the drainage of the lake could account for early human flood stories as the amount of water that would have reached the sea would have actually increased the sea level.

The lake finally drained around 8000 years ago leaving some remnants such as Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba and Lake of the Woods. It also left over is sandy shores, which became known as the Spirit Sands.

This Manitoba’s only “desert”. Not really a desert due to the amount of precipitation it receives. The provincial park that surrounds the area allows you to hike through the sands, in your barefeet if you want too, and observe this unique place. The trails will lead you to the Devil’s Punchbowl where underground running water have caused the surface to collapse and create this unique depression.

On the trail you can also expect to see Manitoba’s only cactus and our only lizard the blue tailed skink. There have also been some unconfirmed sightings of cougar in the area.

Total Time to Hike: 2-5 Hours

Located only 10km West of Brandon, this park is on top of an important archeological site in the Westman area. The area was used for hunting bison hundreds of years ago by the aboriginal people of the area and many artifacts and bison bones have been found.

The park offers a short 2km interpretive trail which tells you about the methods used to hunt the bison and the relationship between the animals and the people. Also featured is a bison enclosure that was used to trap and kill the animals. At the end of the trail there is a watch tower that will give you a great panorama over the Grand Valley.

Directions: Head West on Grand Valley Road from 18th st. until you reach the #1 highway. The park lies right beside the #1.

Cost: Free

Time to see everything: 1-2 hours
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Located along the scenic banks of the Assiniboine river, these trails wind for over 4.5km all over the Northern riverside area of the city. They are exceptionally maintained and can be used by any roller blader, cyclist or pedestrian alike.

Along the trails you can expect to see a whole variety of wildlife that will come alongside the trails with little fear of the pedestrians. You can expect to see deer, beavers, Canadian geese, red winged blackbirds, mallards and a whole host of other animals all within a 30 minute walk.

Make sure not to miss these other attractions found on the walking paths.

1. Riverbank Discovery Center, where you kind find more tourism and city information for the Brandon and surrounding area. Plus you can take a stroll in the marsh trails behind the building or feed the fishes and geese from the small dock. You’ll find informative signs dealing with the flora and fauna of the prairies along the path.
2. Eleanor Kidd Gardens, where you can stroll through a beautifully planted garden and enjoy it’s serenity. A walk from the discovery center is around 2km but there is also parking at the gardens via access from 18th st.
3. Red Willow Pedestrian Bridge, a large walking bridge built in 1997 that allows you to traverse the river without getting your feet wet. During June, come watch the cliff swallows nesting underneath of the bridge as they fly out of their nests in the hundreds.