Found 193 km northwest from Saskatoon, the RM of Spiritwood No. 496 features a strong community with a population of 1,347 and a population density of 0.6/km². Within the RM lies the town of Spiritwood, the village of Shell Lake, the resort villages of Echo Bay and Big Shell, the hamlet of Spruce Bay, and the localities of Bapaume, Capasin, Leoville, Mildred, Norbury, Penn, and Ranger. The RM also surrounds the Witchekan Lake First Nation Reserve 117B and Pelican Lake First Nation Reserve 191B.