South - Douglas Provincial Park
Public Trails
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Douglas Provincial Park, 11 km S of Elbow on Hwy 19.
Latitude: 51.04908° N,
Longitude: -106.4686° W
Longitude: -106.4686° W
Take some time to discover the diverse features of Douglas Provincial Park's natural environment. Explore the massive sand dunes towering 25 m over windswept grasslands, check out the isolated clusters of rich, aspen woodlands that dot the prairie landscape and enjoy miles of natural sand beach.
The park's Cacti/Dune Trail provides visitors with access to one of the park's main natural features, and perhaps its best kept secret - the large, picturesque sand dunes that are constantly moving with the prevailing wind. The Cacti portion of the trail is 5 km and the Dune portion of the trail is 6.5 km. The trail is for hiking use only. It is rated moderate to hard, and can take two to three hours to complete. The trail starts at the large trail head sign located across the highway from the park's entrance. There is an adjacent parking lot for vehicles. The trail will take hikers to the active dune area. Once in the dune area there are no marked trails so be sure to follow the same path out again. For a shorter hike, hikers can take the same trail back as they came in on. Hiking the other trail home and completing the circle is about 1.5 km longer. Allow at least two hours for this hike. Be sure to take ample drinking water and wear proper footwear. The best time to hike to the dunes is during the cooler part of the day, either in the morning or evening, as the trail offers very little shade.
The Sunset Hiking Trail, 2 km in length, is rated easy and is for hikers and cyclists. This short, looped trail offers a diverse range of habitats. Trail users will notice moister meadows and large pockets of rich, lush woodland. These forested areas are found in low areas near the lakeshore where the water table is close to the surface. Underground streams surface in scattered depressions near the lakeshore, causing lush, forested oases called seepage areas. Plants and animals that are not usually found on the prairies occupy this special habitat. Tree species like trembling aspen and balsam poplar can be found here as well as a variety of shrubs including: red-osier dogwood, twining honeysuckle, river birch, high bush cranberry, Saskatoon bush, chokecherry and buffaloberry. The trail is also an excellent area to see and hear birds, especially in the early morning. There are interpretive panels located along the trail to add to the hiking experience. Park vehicles in the lot near the picnic shelter and take the trail that stars by sites 320 - 323. This short trail continues on as the Sunset Trail or it can connect with the Trans Canada Trail.
The Wolf Willow Trail is 12 km with a short loop measuring 4 km and a middle loop measuring 8 km. The trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail. It is rated moderate and is for hikers and cyclists. Parking is available at the boat launch, and the trail begins at the sign on the south side of the boat launch road. The trail has several loops so users can decide how long a hike they'd like to take. Trail users can also start on the opposite end of the trail by parking at South Beach, 5 km south from the park's entrance on Hwy 19. There is a small park boundary sign there and a dirt road down towards the lake. This end of the trail is quite shaded and beautiful. Before going on the trail, individuals might want to check out the lookout point just a little further south on Hwy 19, before the highway curves down the valley.
The Juniper Trail is a short loop and an enjoyable easy hike that can be done anytime of the day. This 2.5-km trail is rated easy to moderate and is for hiking only. Starting at the Dunes Nature Centre, the trail allows hikers to experience the severe conditions of the prairie environment. Sun, wind and drought have all impacted the vegetation of the area. Plants have adapted by creating an armour to protect themselves against the harsh environment. Some of the adaptions that help prevent water loss include the waxy coatings of juniper and cacti as well as plants with leaves that are small in size, that have fine hairs or a blue-gray colour.
South - Douglas Provincial Park
