A Fall Tradition Your Family Will Love

Katie Borgfjord

9 months ago

2025 Spooktacular Halloween Hike

by Katie, Digital Marketing Coordinator

Crisp leaves, cool air, and a hint of Halloween magic—what could be better? Bundle up the family and join us for the 5th Annual Family-Friendly Halloween Hike at the Chickadee Trail in Birds Hill Provincial Park! 🍂✨

Come dressed in your spookiest—or silliest—costumes and wander the forest together. Along the trail you’ll discover playful activity stations, sweet treats, and plenty of fresh fall air. It’s a magical way to spend the afternoon before the big night of trick-or-treating: laugh, explore, and soak in the colours of the season.

👉 Costumes on, candy bags ready—let’s make some wildly spooky memories in nature!

What to Expect

Our Nature Club’s Halloween Hike is a welcoming, multilingual event facilitated by the CPAWS Manitoba team, in collaboration with Sports en Français, Green Kids, and our amazing volunteers. Everyone is encouraged to join, no matter what language you speak at home.

It’s a wonderful chance to connect, share, and maybe even pick up a few new words with your family along the way.

“The hike was well organized and great for everyone, especially the kiddies! Truly a family event!,” said a 2024 attendee.

This October 25, we’ll transform Birds Hill’s Chickadee trail into an outdoor playground with some activity stations!

Wishing Web & Bug Facts

Leave a wishful note for nature with our Wishing Web! At this station, we invite participants to write down a commitment they want to make to nature or a wish they have for the planet and attach it to the Wishing Web. New this year is Bug Facts, featuring entomologist Alex. Have a burning question about the lives of spiders, or moths? Ask Alex!

Wishing Web in 2024, featuring Carly dressed as a snail.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Need a little extra motivation to get the kids walking those 2 km? We’ve got just the thing—a Halloween-themed nature scavenger hunt! As you wander from station to station, keep your eyes peeled for eerie sights like a spooky-looking tree, a glistening spider web, or even a mysterious witch’s home hidden in the woods.

Spooky Spoon Race

Test your balance in our classic spoon race, where you’ll be racing with a skeleton hand and a wobbly eyeball (don’t worry, they’re totally fake!). Can you make it to the finish line without dropping your creepy cargo?

Pumpkin Balancing Game

Think you can balance a tiny pumpkin on your head and conquer our mini obstacle course? Test your skills and see if you can make it to the finish without a pumpkin tumble!

Character Creation

We’re excited to welcome Green Kids, whose mission is to spark climate action and awareness through the magic of theatre. They’ll invite participants to dream up their own character—maybe even inspired by their Halloween costume—by creating a unique name, walk, and voice. Then, together, you’ll dive into an imaginative scene or game that brings your new character to life.

Why We Hike

Nature is the best playground. This event is designed to get kids outside through movement and education, helps families connect with nature, offers a safe and festive trick-or-treating experience, and showcases the beauty of a Manitoba provincial park.

“Great way to get my kid excited about hiking,” said a 2024 attendee.

Candy stations are sprinkled along the trail, but this isn’t your average trick-or-treat. We share the principles of Leave No Trace, rewarding hikers who return candy wrappers with extra treats. It’s a fun—and tasty—way to teach kids about caring for the environment.

Trail Details

The Chickadee Trail in Birds Hill Provincial Park offers a scenic 2 km (or 4 km) loop that’s perfect for a leisurely one-hour walk.

The Chickadee Trail is well-shaded, with a brief patch of open prairie amidst the mixed forest of trembling aspen, burr oak, and fir trees. At 2 km (or 4 km on the longer loop) — with a mild elevation gain — speedy hikers can complete the Chickadee Trail in about an hour. People who stop for snacks or to appreciate the wildflowers, birds, and occasional deer should plan to be on the trail for up to a couple of hours. People seeking a longer hike have three other trails to choose from that connect to Chickadee: Aspen (6.5 km), Esker (6.0 km), and Bluestem (14.0 km).