I decided this morning to head back to Spruce Woods Provincial Park. There are many trails there other than Spirit Sands and the Devil's Punch Bowl. I decided to take on the Epinette Creek Hiking Trail System. This trail varies on return trip length from 4 km to 40 km. The weather today decided that I would stick to the 4 km loop as it started raining on me about 2 km in. I'm sad to say that I was not disappointed with having to cut the trek short.
I would not recommend the Epinette Creek Trail for the hiking enthusiast. The trail is wide, groomed, and makes you feel like you are walking through a park (as in city park, not a Provincial park). While the trail does offer its challenges with sharp inclines and declines, and a soft bed alternating between loam to sand, I did not enjoy it.
I will return to take on this trail, but I will return with equipment that doesn't include hiking shoes. This trail I would strongly recommend for the off-road cycling fan, given the trail bed soil, the layout of the trail system, and the many many opportunities to fall off your bike. I would also recommend this trail to well-practiced cross-country skiers.
Unfortunately, this trail was a bust (for me) as a hiking trail, but I think it would redeem itself as a cycling and/or x-country skiing trail.
Until next time, just because a path doesn't work for you the first time, doesn't mean you have to give up on it...
