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Whiteshell Provincial Park is a 2,729 km2 park centrally located in Canada in the province of Manitoba. It can be found in the southeast of the province along the Manitoba-Ontario border, approximately 130 km east of Winnipeg. The park is located in the Canadian Shield region and has many rivers, remote lakes, boreal forest and bare granite ridges. It provides a variety of recreational opportunities as well as cottaging, camping and boating.
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History
The Ojibway people and various other groups before them initially populated the area. The Ojibway, or Anishinaabe, first mapped some of the area on birch bark. The name of the park is derived from the cowrie shells that were used in ceremonies by the Ojibway, Anishinaabe, and Midewiwin. The historic Winnipeg River and the Whiteshell River are the main rivers that run through this remote park and wilderness area. For thousands of years aboriginal peoples used the area for harvesting wild rice, hunting, fishing, trade, and dwelling. In 1734, Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Verendrye was the first European to explore the area during his quest for a route to the Western Sea. Natives, fur traders, and trappers used the Winnipeg River as a main travel route, along with the Whiteshell River.
Whiteshell Park has many pink granite ridges, cliffs, and flat granite areas used for petroform making by First Nation peoples. There is also archaeological evidence of copper trading, prehistoric quartz mining, and stone tool making in the area. The copper trade, going east to Lake Superior, began approximately 4000 years ago. Many artifacts and prehistoric camps were discovered in the Whiteshell Park and are protected under the Heritage Act of Manitoba.
Around 1920, the development of roads brought vacationers into the Whiteshell area. The first summer cottages were close to the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railway. A decade later, the province of Manitoba established the Whiteshell Forest Reserve. Further roadwork continued, linking the reserve to Ontario in the east and campgrounds and picnic sites further north. In 1961, Whiteshell was given Provincial Park status and was set aside for future generations to enjoy.
Directions
The Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) will take visitors to Falcon Lake and West Hawk Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park. Additional entry points to the park include Provincial Road 307 at Seven Sisters Falls and Provincial Trunk Highway 44 at Rennie.
Park Permits
Park vehicle permits are required year-round in Manitoba Provincial Parks. Permits are available at all campgrounds and district offices, as well as most business locations where fishing and hunting licenses are sold.
Wildlife
Whiteshell Provincial Park is home to a variety of large mammals including black bear, moose, white-tailed deer, wolves, lynx and smaller ones like otter, marten, fisher, red fox, mink, hares, beavers, bats, skunks, raccoons, and red squirrels. The birds that can be seen in the park include owls, bald eagles, ruby throated hummingbirds, chickadees, blue jays, grosbeaks, redpolls, woodpeckers, osprey, loons, ruffed grouse, ducks and Canada geese. There are also snakes, muskrats, turtles and a wide variety of insects found in the park. The lakes and rivers within the park are home to perch, walleye, jackfish, lake sturgeon, black crappie, burbot, whitefish, trout, white bass and smallmouth bass.
Activities
- Boating – Boat launches are accessible at a variety of lakes and many resorts offer boat rentals.
- Canoeing and Kayaking – Up to 325 km of canoe routes are within the park. Paddlers on the Caddy Lake Canoe Route pass through tunnels in a wall of rock that were created when the railways came through this area more than a century ago.
- Camping – Camping is available at multiple sites in the park. Camping fees vary depending on facilities and services provided. Reservations must be made through the Parks Reservation Service. In Winnipeg call 948-3333. Outside Winnipeg call 1-888-482-2267.
- Cycling – A 4.2-km loop is available at Betula Lake on Provincial Road 307. The South Whiteshell Trail is a multi-use trail system that accommodates cyclists. When completed, the trail will connect Falcon Lake to Caddy Lake and will be approximately 29 kilometres in length.
- Fishing & Icefishing – There are nine species of fish that will provide fishing enjoyment.
- Golf – Falcon Lake Golf Course is an 18-hole course and is one of Manitoba's premier courses.
- Hiking – Trails range from short three km routes to the challenging 60 km Mantario Trail. Part of the Trans-Canada Trail is contained in the park.
- Horseback riding – The Riding Stables atFalcon Lake provide horseback riding.
- Museums, Interpretive Centers & Archeological Sites – A variety of historic and educational places of interest that can be found throughout the park.
- Sailing & Boardsailing – Falcon Lake maintains a sailing club.
- Scuba Diving – West Hawk Lake, the deepest lake in the province, was formed by a meteorite, and is a popular spot for scuba diving and ice diving.
- Skiing – Cross-country and downhill skiing are available at Falcon Lake.
- Snowmobiling – Over 200 km of marked and groomed snowmobiling trails offer winter recreation.
- Snowshoeing – In winter, there is usually a thick layer of snow on the ground that allows snowshoeing on the trail systems and on the frozen lakes.
- Swimming – Numerous public beaches permit swimming and all lakeside cottages have swimming off their docks.
Lakes
Whiteshell Provinical Park has twelve main freshwater lakes that are used for recreation which would include boating, watersports and angling. These lakes are:
- Falcon Lake
- West Hawk Lake
- Caddy Lake
- Brereton Lake
- War Eagle Lake
- Jessica Lake
- White Lake
- Big Whiteshell Lake
- Betula Lake
- Nutimik Lake
- Dorothy Lake
- Eleanor Lake
In addition there are many more remote lakes throughout the park that are not easy to access, such as George Lake, Crowduck Lake, and Horseshoe Lake.
Where to Stay
There are a variety of campgrounds available throughout the park. Hotels, resorts and lodges in the park and in nearby towns offer year round accommodations and amenities.
Today
The park is still used by aboriginal peoples for wild rice harvesting and ceremonies. Today the park is popular for swimming, boating, canoeing, hiking, cottagers, camping, fishing, and more. It contains part of the Trans-Canada Trail, although construction is incomplete. The species of fish that this section of the Winnipeg River System is best known for is its lake sturgeon. These gigantic bottom feeders can reach lengths of up to 20 feet long and can be up to 200 years old.citation needed Lake sturgeon are an endangered species and have to be released upon catching them.
Gallery
 Longpine Creek |
 Mountain Biking |
 Sampson's Cove |
 Mc Hue Lake Ski Trail |
See also
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