NatureNorth's - Narcisse Snake Dens, Snake Log 2026

Snakes Alive | Snake Den FAQs | Snake Den Videos | Spring Issue | NatureNorth's Front Page

Spring Snake Viewing Season 2026

The 2026 spring viewing season is underway! Follow the updates to the right on this page.

You can help others have a better snake viewing experience! Send us an email of how the snake viewing was on your visit with this email link: My Snake Viewing Report. We'll update this site with your feedback. Thanks!

Check out our record of previous years to get an idea of how the timing of emergence can go: Previous Years at the Dens

Can't go to the dens this year? Need a snake fix?

Take a Virtual Tour of the Snake Dens

Watch our Snake Den Videos

Follow this link for more on Manitoba's other snakes

Remember, for best snake viewing, weather matters! Check the weather for the Interlake region at this link: Weather for Gimli, Manitoba.

Snake Den Map and FAQ's - for a map to the den site and answers to some commonly asked questions about visiting the dens Click Here.

2022 Update - Media Information Package - Media outlets wishing to operate in the Narcisse Snake Dens should download the following:

Narcisse Snake Dens Media Info Package
(Provided by Manitoba Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development. In English, et version en français. 450 Kb PDF)

Thinking of a trip to see the world famous red-sided garter snakes of Narcisse? It's about a one hour drive north from Winnipeg to the Narcisse Snake Dens. Sunny days are always best for snake viewing. There's a large gravel parking lot and the trails throughout the site are well-packed crushed limestone.

Washrooms are available, but primitive (outhouses / privies). Bring your own food and drink, or you can stop in one of the towns along the way to eat. Water from the pumps on site is not potable, but suitable for washing or cooling off tired feet. Bring sunscreen as there isn't much shade along the trails. Take our Virtual Tour (below) to see conditions and facilities at the site, to help you prepare for your visit.

There are restaurants in Teulon and Inwood, and general stores and gas stations in Teulon, Inwood, Narcisse and Poplarfield.

Wheel Chair Accessible Site Manitoba Conservation has done a great job of making this site wheel chair accessible! (See the Virtual Tour below.)

Fall Viewing

The snakes return to the denning area from their summer feeding grounds in late August and September. If you can't get out in the spring, try making the trip in autumn. Snake numbers can be quite impressive on warm sunny days until the end of September.

If you rely on us for information about the Snake Dens please consider a donation to help keep this site on-line. Thanks!

SORRY, but our PayPal Donation system isn't working right now, but you could always click on an ad or two to help us out.

Update: May 19, 2026

With some warm, sunny weather forecast for this week and the weekend, this may be a great time for viewing. This coming weekend and the following weekend may be the last good weekends to enjoy the snakes, they will soon be leaving the den area.

Please send in your report of the state of things at the dens, help others enjoy the snakes!

Check back here for regular updates!

RECENT REPORTS

Val, May 17: Bit of a colder day so it wasn't too bustling. Some snakes and small mating balls out in Den 1 and 4. The most activity was in Den 2, but not much going on in 3. Plenty of snakes to find deeper in the bushy wooded areas around the fences at 2 and 3, but only a few were open to being picked up; be careful of your step and don't harass them! Also, I had to pick up somebody's stuff. Don't litter in the park!

Brigitte, May 13: We saw plenty of snakes and snake balls in dens 2 and 3. The sun was out and it was warm outside, so the snakes really put on a show.

Mark and Linda, May 11: We were at the Narcisse snake dens today (May 11) around 1pm. Overcast and about 14 degrees, but lower if you account for wind chill. Dens 1 and 4 had slight activity: maybe 10 snakes. Some snow in #4 still. 2 was pretty good and there were hundreds carpeting den #3. Had good success looking for snakes along the fence lines near the dens.

Help others enjoy the snake viewing!

If you do visit the dens please send in a report of the conditions, so we can let others know. Let us know about the snake viewing, but also: trail conditions, state of the parking lot, presence or absence or interpreters, etc. And feel free to send in a picture! We'll post what we can. THANKS!

Send in your report: My Snake Viewing Report.

Previous updates can be viewed here.

A new media information package is available (link on the left).

If you need a "snake fix" check out our videos:

Snake Den Videos

To see how things unfolded in previous years follow this link: Previous Years at the Dens.

If you're after more snake den info (please check the FAQ's first) or want to share your experiences with Manitoba's garter snakes, drop us a line at:

Email NatureNorth

For Google Earth users, here's a KML file of the locations of the Narcisse Snake Dens. (Right click and "Save as". )

You can get more info directly from Manitoba Conservation at their website: The Snakes of Narcisse.

Help Support NatureNorth - This page has been viewed more than 300,000 times! We're helping lots of people in Manitoba, across North America, and around the world learn about our garter snakes; and plan trips to see them! You can help keep NatureNorth on-line: Click here to make a donation.

Want your ad to be seen 30,000 times each year?
Contact us at: Email NatureNorth.com.

For some great information on Manitoba's red-sided garter snakes and the Narcisse Snake Dens check out the U-Haul Super Graphics website.

Click the "Learn More" button at the U-Haul site.

Check out this 1992 Masters of Natural Resource Management practicum which contains some great historical information:

An Assessment of Commercial and Recreational Management
Options for the Red-Sided Garter Snake in Manitoba (7.2 Mb PDF)

Check out this short CBC documentary from 2023 regarding the state of things at the Narcisse Snake Dens:

Snake Eyes

Take a Virtual Tour of the Snake Dens

If you can't make it to the Snake Dens or want to get ready for what you'll find when you do go, then take our Virtual Snake Den Tour. Just click the map to the right.

Before you head out, check the weather
for the Interlake region at this link:
Weather for Gimli, Manitoba.
Gimli is about 30 km east of the Narcisse Snake Dens.

Snake Den Videos

See what you're missing if you don't visit the Narcisse Snake Dens! We've added more snake videos. Watch our videos on our new dedicated Snake Videos Page.

Wildlife Haven
Rehabilitation Centre

Here's how things have been going this year:

Check the updates above or check out our FAQs.

To see how things unfolded in previous years follow this link: Previous Years at the Dens.

May 14, 2026

This coming week and weekend may be the peak of snake activity. Warm, sunny weather lately is really getting the snakes going.

Jacqueline, May 10: Visited the dens in the late afternoon, sunny and ~9 degrees. Den 1 had some snakes but not many, Dens 2 and 3 were very active but had about half the amount of snakes I saw last year at peak times. Den 4 was nearly empty, only a handful of visible snakes. I assume best is yet to come with warmer weather. Trails were dry and in good condition.

May 9, 2026

The weather looks great for this coming Mother's Day Weekend and reported numbers are good already, so this should be one of the prime weekends for snake viewing! Which means it will also be very busy at the dens!

The coming week and next weekend should be good viewing, too.

Harper, May 8: My partner and I were at Narcisse yesterday May 8th and had a blast! Den 3 was by far the most active, followed by Den 2. Den 4 still had some snow so not as much activity. Plenty of snakes along the trails, watch your step!

Dale, May 3: Went out to Narcisse Sunday midday. Lots of action in the pits! Particularly 2 and 3. Only a couple of snakes in 1 and 4. Lots of snakes along the trails too.

Jason, May 3: Pits 1 and 4 only a few snakes 2 and 3 hundreds if not a thousand visible at each den. Lots of activity in field as well with some huge females being seen there. We went on May 3rd and well worth the visit.

May 2, 2026

Finally, some warm weather. There ought to be some activity at the dens this weekend before the temperatures cool down again mid-week, then rise again for the next weekend. With warmth and sun the snakes will get going!

April 27, 2026

Wow, a crazy spring so far, but there have been sightings of snakes in some areas of the Interlake region. The forecast for the coming week is that warm temperatures are on the way, so the first snakes may start appearing at Narcisse soon. But the main emergence is certainly some weeks away yet.

Flora, April 26: I visited the dens today from 12:00-14:00. When the sun was peaking through the clouds, we saw lots of snakes in Dens 2 and 3. Very few snakes in Den 1 and none in Den 4 (still icy). Trail was a little soft throughout, some wet spots. Only saw a few other groups of visitors while we were there.

Update: April 1, 2026

The 2026 Spring Snake Viewing Season.

April Fool's, it's still winter! But the spring snake emergence should still begin in a few weeks. Once Mother Nature wakes up, melts the snow and raises the temps a bit, that is.

Winters in Manitoba are cold and highly variable. This year spring is late, but it doesn't necessarlily mean a late emergence. Only time will tell.

Help out NatureNorth!

If you enjoyed this article, videos and our virtual tour of the snake dens, please consider making a donation to help us create more great articles. Thanks for your support!

Top of page | Snake Den FAQs | Previous Years Den Activity

Are you into reptiles and amphibians? Then check out NatureNorth's Herps Atlas Project.

Return to: Snakes Alive | Spring Issue | NatureNorth's Front Page