Assiniboine Forest

Assiniboine Forest is a natural wilderness park measuring 287 hectares (700 acres) located in the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The protected forest is an urban park consisting of aspen and oak trees, numerous wetland areas, grassland prairie and a selection of wildlife.

The urban forest runs parallel to various city streets. One street called Grant Avenue crosses through the centre of the parkland divided it into two halves - a north and south section. South of Grant Avenue the forest parkland highlights 14 kilometres of paved, wood chip and gravel recreation trails.

Some of the main paved trails connect to a larger trail system located in the more developed Assiniboine Park. Both the Assiniboine Forest and the Assiniboine Park trails are popular for hiking, biking, birdwatching, jogging and walking.

The main trails in the Assiniboine Forest include the Sagimay, Preston, Sterling Lyon, Trans Canada and Harte Trails. The main highlight in the forested park is the 12 acre Eve Werier Pond with viewing mounds and sitting benches. It is a popular site for birdwatching and picnicking.

The most used trail is the Sagimay Trail. It is a paved pathway measuring over 1.5+ kilometres. It was the first completed route in the forested park. The paved route connects to the popular wetland pond and a short boardwalk trail.

The Preston Trail is a crushed limestone gravel trail. It is an ideal connector route between the Sterling Lyon Parkway in the south (Trans Canada Trail) and the Assiniboine Park in the north.

There are some information signs and sitting benches in the Assiniboine Forest. Other facilities in the forest include restrooms, drinking water, viewing tower, day use picnic area and concession stand (summer).

The Assiniboine Forest is a protected environment for the cultivation of plants and animals. Some of the plants on site include Manitoba maple, Northern wheat grass, Saskatoon, Indian-hemp, Wild sarsaparilla, Prairie sage, Swamp milkweed, Rattlesnake fern, Creeping bluebell, Frog orchis, Red osier dogwood, Yellow lady's-slipper, Wild strawberry, Narrow-leaved sunflower, Wood lily, Tartarian honesuckle, Apple tree, American dragon-head, Purple prairie-clover, Red-fruited choke cherry, Seaside buttercup, High bush-cranberry, Wild gooseberry, Snowberry, Wild red raspberry, Rose and the Northern bog violet.

Birds living or migrating to the forest include the American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue-winged Teal, Bohemian Waxwing, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Cliff Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Dark-eyed Junco, Fox Sparrow, Great Crested Flycatcher, Killdeer, Magnolia Warbler, Mourning Dove, Northern Waterthrush, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, Eastern Screech Owl, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-eyed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Spotted Sandpiper, Wood Duck and Mallard.

Mammal and reptiles sighted in forest include shrews, bats, rabbits, squirrels, coyote, beaver, raccoon, mink, weasel, skunk, white tailed deer, frog, salamander, snake and turtle.

Assiniboine Forest, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada