A beautiful day in Sandy Bay

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/06/2021 (1569 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

My husband Jeff and I are always on the lookout for new adventures. Because COVID-19 has curtailed our foreign travels, we are discovering some of the beautiful areas of Manitoba.

Our son recently bought some property in Sandy Bay, a subdivision of Victoria Beach. So, on a warm sunny day, we set out to explore the region.

Sandy Bay is situated on the north shore of the Victoria Beach peninsula, about an hour’s drive from our house at the end of Hwy. 59 (504). 

On the day we visited, the lake was very low, which enabled us to walk from Sandy Bay Beach across the sandbar to Elk Island Provincial Park. When the water is high, visitors need to wade through the water to reach the island.

On our hike, we saw many gulls and pelicans, but few people. Elk Island is free of development and traffic. The island offers sandy beaches, limestone outcroppings, thick forest, and hiking trails.

On our return hike, we visited Sandy Bay Beach. The beach has white sand and many dunes. Climbing over the main dune and down the stairs leads to the Hidden Lagoon where you can spot frogs and waterfowl.

We brought bikes along for our day’s adventure and biked to Victoria Beach along a forested trail, which took about 15 minutes. 

Victoria Beach was very quiet. We spent a long time sitting on a bench overlooking the lake and listening to the birds. Victoria Beach is restricted to vehicle traffic during the summer months and so is a lovely place to bike.

To finish our day, we packed up the bikes and drove to the sand cliffs located off the highway at the end of King Edward Road East. We had heard about the cliffs from a couple we had met at Sandy Bay. They are a hidden treasure. You can see the cliffs from the benches located at the top. For the more adventurous, there is a ladder that leads down to the lake. A sign indicates that you must stay off the cliffs as they can be dangerous due to erosion.

Part of the Trans-Canada Trail can be picked up near the cliffs. We walked a short distance and climbed up an incredible white sand dune – great exercise and a view from the top.

Our day at Sandy Bay was perfect. This summer, we hope to spend more days discovering and enjoying this area of Manitoba. 

Joanne O’Leary is a community correspondent for Riverbend. Contact her at jeffandjoanne@hotmail.com