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Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park, Manitoba
Name
In the spring of 1997 Hecla Provincial Park and its close neighbour Grindstone Provincial Park were merged to form Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park. However, the old names for the two separate parks still remain in common use.
Location
Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park is on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, about eighty or so miles due north of the city of Winnipeg.
From the mainland Highway 8 runs over a causeway onto Hecla Island, through Grassy Narrows Marsh, then continues on to Hecla Village and Gull Harbour, near where it terminates. This road is certainly paved at least as far as Grassy Narrows Marsh. Beyond there the Rand McNally road atlas shows it as being paved all the way to its terminus but the official Manitoba road map shows it as changing to being unpaved at some point between Grassy Narrows and Hecla Village. Hecla Village is about ten miles from Grassy Narrows Marsh; Gull Harbour is about fifteen miles from Grassy Narrows Marsh.
An unpaved road runs from Highway 8 into the Grindstone area of the park on the mainland but this road does not extent as far as Grindstone Point.
What to See and Do
Immediately after passing over the causeway onto Hecla Island Highway 8 passes through the wetlands area of Grassy Narrows Marsh. From the Grassy Narrows Marsh parking area a number of trails lead over boardwalks through the marshes to lookout points from which an extensive range of ducks, birds and other wetlands wildlife can be seen. I seem to recollect that you need to exit from the main highway some distance before the parking area, the two roads then running parallel to each other for half a mile or so.
Just beyond Grassy Narrows Marsh is the entrance gate into the park proper. Since we only had a limited amount of time and spent it exploring the marshes, we have not yet ventured beyond. Nor have we explored the Grindstone area at all.
Some Ideas for Places to Stay
The little town of Gimli, on the lake shore south of the park, was founded by Icelandic immigrants and has a Viking theme. It's a fairly pleasant resort town, but because of that accommodation is relatively expensive.
The small farming town of Arborg, south west of the park, provides less expensive accommodation options but is less interesting than Gimli.
Accommodation might also be available in Hecla Village and Gull Harbour.
External Links
- Hecla Provincial Park - official Manitoba Department of Natural Resources and Provincial Parks site. Checked Jan-98.
Manitoba
State and Provincial Parks
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Most recently modified 30-Apr-00