Whiteshell Provincial Park: Big Whiteshell-Crowduck-Eaglenest-Saddle Loop (4 days / 75 km)

In the late fall of 2017 a group of friends and I decided to take on a shoulder season canoe trip over the Thanksgiving Weekend. Given that we all had roots in spring paddling, we decided to take on a route that we deemed “stupid hard”. I followed lines on a map of the Whiteshell that would take us through massive lakes, unmaintained portages and finished with an epic 2 km hike between Saddle and Crowduck Lake. The boys were fired up for the challenge, and we took it on, finding it to be just as hard, painful and epic as we’d imagined. This loop is not for the faint of heart, but for a paddler looking to take on full days and tough portages, it offers beauty, solitude and an epic wilderness challenge.

Trip Completed: October 2017

Trip Summary

Starting Point: Big Whiteshell Lake Campground

Ending Point: Big Whiteshell Lake Campground

Total Distance: 75 km

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

Difficulty: Advanced. The route requires lots of kilometres and has long difficult portages. Paddlers should be familiar with big lake paddling and be prepared to deal with strong winds.

Location

This route takes place in Whiteshell Provincial Park, located in Eastern Manitoba. The put-in is about 2 hours from Winnipeg.

Traditional Territory: This route takes place on the traditional territory of the Anishinabewaki and Michif Piyii (Métis).

Maps & Resources

Guidebook: No official guides, some resources available on MyCCR.

Map: Canada-052L03, Manitoba Government Map. You can also see campsite and portage information on the last page of the Whiteshell Provincial Park Backcountry Map and Trip Planning Guide.

Campsite Permits: A Manitoba Parks permit is required for vehicles, however backcountry travel and random camping are allowed and unregulated.