Birds Hill Park has 38K of classic ski trails: Bluestem, Aspen, Lime Kiln, Esker, and Chickadee.
The Group Use #1 Road (5.2K) plus its center connecting road (.5K) and its two interior options (1.2K + .6K) is groomed for skate skiing and skijoring, as is the out-and-back Spruce trail (5.5K one way).
Trails map
Approved Trails Plan
There are 5 trailheads for cross country skiing:
– Riding Stables parking lot, north end: Esker and Lime Kiln trails (classic).
– Riding Stables parking lot, south end: Bluestem and Aspen trails (classic).
– Chickadee parking lot: Chickadee, Bluestem, and Aspen trails (classic). Group Use #1 Road (skate ski / skijor).
– Group Use #1 Road access at the locked yellow gate (winter parking lot): Bluestem and Aspen trails (classic). Group Use #1 Road (skate ski / skijor).
– Nimowin parking lot: Spruce trail (skate ski / skijor).
The Riding Stables trailheads have a warm-up building that is available for park users during regular park hours. It has a common area and two wheelchair-accessible washrooms / change rooms. The warm-up building is attached to the restaurant.
The other three trailheads have pit toilets.
Please do not ski on trails that are designated for other uses. Skiing on a horse trail, snowmobile trail, and walking trail does not have the same negative impact as walkers, snowmobiles, horses, and ATVs have on ski trails, but it does add to the level of conflict between different users.
There are signs at the trailheads that inform park users that groomed ski trails are for cross country skiing only: this sign and this sign and this new-in-2021-2011 sign.
The Birds Hill Park Patrol works on weekends: 204-792-1849
Birds Hill’s Park Manager is Kathleen Brown (as of 2021) — kathleen.brown@gov.mb.ca 204-654-6730.
Trail Conditions reported by Manitoba Parks.
See below for reports submitted by skiers.
Group Admins
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Alison Steele posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 10 months, 3 weeks agoThanks to the groomer for the excellent fresh grooming on Spruce. Conditions were optimal for skijoring with my dog Friday morning.
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Bert Graef posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 10 months, 3 weeks agoDark and foggy night in BHP but the trails are fast. GUR makes for easy cruising. Classic trails are worn and sloppy close to parking lots, but get better further away.
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Kevin Miller posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 10 months, 4 weeks agoTuesday afternoon, -4°.
Skate — Group Use Road: Friday’s re-grooming resulted in a very nice firm flat track (now with some foot holes that only marginally affect enjoyment). The middle metre of width has gotten too hard-packed, but the rest of the track width ranges from very good to perfect.
Classic — Bluestem, north Chickadee, west Aspen: very…[Read more] -
Arni Jakobson posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoDoes anyone know if the skate loop on the GUR has been groomed yet? They didn’t groom during the holidays I noticed which is understandable, but i’m hoping to get out to skate there soon. Any update on this would be much appreciated. Thanks
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Was out yesterday afternoon, and was fairly smooth . Dont know if they did anything today, probably not. Some were still wallking on the trail even with all the alerts and things, but it’s still mainly good. Best to probably go when temperature dips below zero, and after sunset then the trail is quite fast. I like to go on both classic trails…[Read more]
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I finished skating the GUR today about 1:00 it was fast and not too many boot holes, but more than yesterday. overall it is okay. It is not getting soft at all, the center area is a little harder than I like. There were quite a few skaters today, if you read the park report it indicated that they will not groom until more snow. It would be nice…[Read more]
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Thanks Bert and Allan for the replies! Yeah I love to get some double poling in as well Bert as it’s a fun way to mix up the exercises. Was fun when they also had the classic tracks around the GUR loop for quick ins and outs!
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Arni Jakobson posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoIn BIrds Hill 3 times this weekend and conditions were near perfect! Besides the odd footprints here and there on Aspen close to the Chikadee parking lot, the trails were fast and in general great shape! Hope this nice weather doesn’t melt off too much of our recent snowfall. Looking forward to a few cm’s of snow later this week to get…[Read more]
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the mild weather wont affect the trails that much, as the sun is still very low in the sky. After sunset and cooling off, the trails are quite fast. You may find a bare spot in places, or those loose spruce cones may jolt you if you arent careful around them, but the trails will last. They are probably quite glazed from the traffic and some…[Read more]
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Yeah i agree Bert! I have been loving the fast trails. One or 2 spruce cones gave me a bit of a halt yesterday(haha) but other than that, it was great! I love the early morning skis or the twilight ones as well!
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Chris Ashley posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoBirds Hill absolutely packed but no one hiking on trails!!! YAAY!!! Now we just need more snow.. My first classic ski of season as Ive been skating.. you can def tell the trail system has taken a beating and we need more snow.. for the most part OK, about 45 mins into my ski could feel things softening up. Need snow…
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paul krueger posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoSkied Esker,Lime Kiln and parts of Chickadee this morning. Tracks were fast on the further out trails and holding relatively well with significant usage. The park staff were able to run the track setter over parts of the chickadee to help maintain a track under heavy usage. The group use road was machine groomed several days ago and appears to be…[Read more]
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GUR was in excellent condition for skate. Was pleased to see Park staff at the GUR parking lot as well. The same large “no hiking” signage that’s at the Chickadee and stables parking lots is now also at the GUR parking lot trailhead. Grateful for the effort the park is putting in in terms of education and enforcement.
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Alison Steele posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoSaturday morning – had a fabulous ski on Lime Kiln and Esker…conditions are very good, even though the trails are well-used….busy place!! Thanks to Park Staff for the extra signage at park gates and trailheads telling hikers which trails are designated for walking. We only saw one hiker, but she kept off the ski tracks.
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Eric Sokolowski posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoSat.Jan.2 Skied west Bluestem and west Aspen in a.m..Good condition . The snowmobile damage on west Bluestem was to one set of tracks for about a minute of skiing. The GUR was groomed and getting worked in by some skiers.Park patrol on duty in Chickadee lot!
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paul krueger posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoTrails are holding up well 1 km+ away from the chickadee parking lot and the glide was great today a.m. and p.m. The esker, lime kiln extension and most of the west bluestem provided superb skiing conditions. The 1 km of the bluestem west of the chickdee parking lot has been badly messed up. A snowmobile went down several hundred metres of trail,…[Read more]
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WadeK posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoSkier Bluestem today and the conditions were nice and fast! It was great to see the Park Patrol turning away hikers when we arrived and when we left!
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Arni Jakobson posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoEarly Friday morning New Year ski on Aspen! Conditions were perfect! I highly recommend getting out there today. Fast conditions and beautiful looking trails with all of the horfrost(probably not spelt correct haha). Have fun out there today and get moving!!!
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Kevin Miller posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoThursday afternoon, -9°.
Classic — Lime Kiln, Aspen: Tuesday’s 5 cm snowfall has been skied into the tracks, so they are nicely refreshed. Very good.
Skate — Group Use Road: The edges had been a bit soft; the new snow made them softer. The centre is much firmer, but Wednesday’s Vs had only partially packed the new snow. It took me a lap to get…[Read more] -
Bert Graef posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoSkied Limekiln, Esker, Chickadee ,Aspen trails after I posted earlier govt report ,and was pleasantly surprised. The trails are worn, yes, but still very decent, even near parking lots. Some sloppy areas and some railroading due to recent snow , but still very very good . If you wish to avoid crowds on New Years and weekend, go early or late.…[Read more]
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The GUR also looks very good. A mix of an inch of powder and some skate tracks. I think if the trail was more used by skaters , it would be excellent and very fast in these temps even without grooming.
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Eric Sokolowski posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoWest bluestem classic skied Dec.31 a.m. New snow packed by Weds. folks was very welcomed.Good to very good conditions.All debris and bare spots gone.The skate ski areas are poor with grooming needed. Happy New Year everyone!
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Bert Graef posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoTrails have been highly used this
week causing deteriorating
conditions.
Need fresh snow for trails to be
groomed again,
Birds Hill -
Gary Wickens posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months agoSkied the west Bluestem this a.m. Classic tracks were still good – not too much wear and tear.
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paul krueger posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months, 1 week agoSkied sections of the Chickadee, Esker, Lime Kiln, and Bluestem this afternoon. The more remote tracks are generally still in good shape. The west Bluestem had a walker in and out of the track for the entire length but is still skiable. The Group Use road appeared to be heavily walked on across the width. Given the significant skier usage from the…[Read more]
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Thepassouthpaw posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months, 1 week agoSkied Esker this afternoon. Lots of skiers, no walkers encountered. Trail was in great shape, with a light dusting of fresh snow serving to help cover some of the bare spots and “dirty” areas. Some washouts in areas, due to the heavy usage the trail has seen these opening few days and Xmas break, but overall, great condition. Thoroughly enj…[Read more]
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Roy O posted an update in the group
Birds Hill Provincial Park 11 months, 1 week agoSkied Aspen this afternoon. Trail was good despite several spots having grass showing through and other spots covered with leaves and twigs. I did have a conversation at the onset with a group of three adult walkers and their dog who were walking on the Aspen trail. They admitted to knowing the trail wasn’t for hiking (apparently three other s…[Read more]
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