Manitoba Backcountry Canoeing
If you have already explored the superb canoeing in Whiteshell and Nopiming provincial parks or want some real wilderness, then you are spoilt for choice in Manitoba. Much of the best water is in the eastern half of the province in the remote Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park, which has impressive stands of thick forest, several ancient pictograph sites and moose, timber wolves, coyotes and black bears. Its dramatic Bloodvein River to Lake Winnipeg is particularly outstanding with rapids, falls and wild twisting balanced by peaceful drifts through quiet lakes and wild-rice marshes. In the far north the Hayes, Seal and Deer rivers all drain into Hudson Bay among Beluga whales and make for exceptional trips in sub-arctic waters.
All the above are very remote an only experienced, highly skilled and self-reliant backcountry canoeists should attempt trips here. You will need to organize floatplane transportation and plan carefully using information from Paddle Manitoba (www.paddle.mb.ca) and Manitoba Conservation (www.gov.mb.ca/conservation), as well as purchase topographic, angling and illustrated maps, as well as aerial photographs; all are available from Canada Map Sales (www.canadamapsales.com). Several outfitters offer trips that can spare you that level of preparation.