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Whiteshell Provincial Park covers a large swath of Canadian Shield country in eastern Manitoba, close to the Ontario border. Granite outcrops, boreal forest, and hundreds of lakes and rivers define the landscape, a sharp contrast with the prairies to the west. Cottagers, campers, and anglers from Winnipeg have long treated it as their nearest wilderness playground.
Falcon Lake, at the southern edge, has a townsite with a beach, golf, and services, while nearby West Hawk Lake is unusually deep because it fills a crater left by a meteorite impact. The West Hawk Museum explains that history, and a fish hatchery offers a look at stocking programs. At Caddy Lake, paddlers pass through tunnels blasted through rock for the railway, an unusual canoe experience. The Mantario Trail is a rugged multi-day backpacking route, and quieter cycling routes and canoe routes cross the park. The Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary lets visitors watch Canada geese up close, and to the north, Nutimik Lake and the Winnipeg River lead to beaches and petroforms left by Indigenous peoples. Big Whiteshell Lake is popular with cottagers.
The park suits paddlers, anglers, and families who want lakes without long drives. Summer is busy with cottagers, fall colors are excellent, and winter brings snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
WiserMap travel guideWhiteshell Provincial Park Manitoba Canoe Routes and TrailsPlan a trip to Whiteshell Provincial Park in Manitoba, with West Hawk Lake crater, Caddy Lake tunnels, Falcon Lake, forest trails, canoe routes and campgrounds.Read the guide
Falcon Lake is the busiest resort area of the Whiteshell, with a townsite, beaches, a marina, a golf course and shops just off the Trans-Canada Highway. It is a good base with cabins and a campground. In winter there is a small ski hill. Summer weekends are busy, so book stays early.
West Hawk Lake fills a meteorite impact crater and is one of the deepest lakes in Manitoba, at over 100 metres. Its clear water attracts swimmers, scuba divers and anglers, and there is a beach and campground. The Hunt Lake Trail starts from its shore and is worth adding to a visit.
In the northern Whiteshell, Nutimik Lake lies along the Winnipeg River system with a campground, a beach and boat launches. Rugged Canadian Shield shoreline and pine forest make it great for canoeing and fishing. The Whiteshell Natural History Museum is close by, so combine the two.
Starting at West Hawk Lake, the Hunt Lake Trail follows rocky ridges and the shoreline to Hunt Lake, with lookouts over the water and forest. It is around 7 kilometres one way with some scrambling over Canadian Shield rock. Wear sturdy shoes and carry plenty of water and bug spray.
A popular loop of a few kilometres that winds through forest and over granite outcrops past small McGillivray Falls and several quiet lakes. It is a good half-day hike suitable for most walkers. Trail markers can be sparse on bare rock, so watch carefully for the blazes.
The Mantario Trail is a rugged backpacking route of about 60 kilometres through the Mantario Wilderness Zone, the longest hiking trail in the Canadian Shield of Manitoba. It passes many lakes with backcountry campsites. Plan three to four days, and only attempt it with route-finding experience.
At Bannock Point, Anishinaabe people arranged rocks on bare bedrock into shapes of turtles, snakes and other figures, some believed to be centuries old. The site is still sacred and used for ceremonies. Walk only on the marked paths, and do not move or touch any of the stones.
Housed in a log cabin at Nutimik Lake, this small seasonal museum shows the plants, animals, geology and Indigenous history of the Whiteshell. Displays include mounted wildlife and exhibits on the petroforms. It is free and makes a good introduction before exploring the northern part of the park.
Two tunnels were blasted through granite for the railway near Caddy Lake, and today paddlers can pass through them by canoe or kayak to reach connected lakes. Rentals are available at Caddy Lake in summer. It is a calm, unusual paddle, best on days with little wind.
Rainbow Falls is a set of small falls and rapids on the Whiteshell River near White Lake, with a picnic area, a beach and a campground nearby. Short paths lead to viewpoints over the rushing water. It is a pleasant, easy stop on a drive along Provincial Road 307 through the park.
Near Rennie, this sanctuary was started by a local trapper who raised Canada geese here in the 1930s. A visitor centre and trails surround a pond where geese nest and gather in spring and late summer. It is a calm stop with children, and binoculars are handy for spotting birds.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Ethan Sahagun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Shahnoor Habib Munmun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Shahnoor Habib Munmun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Shahnoor Habib Munmun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Shahnoor Habib Munmun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Rob Swystun from Winnipeg, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Rob Swystun from Winnipeg, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Rob Swystun from Winnipeg, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Rob Swystun from Winnipeg, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Rob Swystun from Winnipeg, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
