Whiteshell Provincial Park

Whiteshell Provincial Park was designated a provincial park by the Government of Manitoba in 1961. site 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 Anishinaabe, including the Ojibway, and among them the Midewiwin practitioners. The historic Winnipeg River and the Whiteshell River are the main rivers that run through the park. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples used the area for harvesting wild rice, hunting, fishing, trade, ceremonies, teaching, and dwelling. In 1734, La Vérendrye was the first European to explore the area during his quest for a route to the Western Sea. First Nations, fur traders, and trappers used the Winnipeg River as the main travel route through this area, as well as the Whiteshell River. Whiteshell Provincial 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 ancient copper trading, prehistoric quartz mining, and stone tool making in the area. The copper trade, which extended toward Lake Superior, began approximately 6,000 years ago. Many artifacts and prehistoric camps were discovered in Whiteshell Provincial Park and are protected under the Heritage Act of Manitoba. The park is still used by Indigenous peoples for wild rice harvesting and ceremonies. Around 1920, the development of roads brought tourists into the Whiteshell area. The first summer cottages were close to the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railway. In 1922 Brereton Lake Dominion Park was created. A decade later and in 1930 the park was transferred to the province of Manitoba and established the Whiteshell Forest Reserve. Further roadwork continued, linking the reserve to Ontario in the east and campgrounds and picnic sites further north. A Manitoba Historical Plaque was erected in the community of Falcon Lake by the province to commemorate the role of the Dawson Road in Manitoba's heritage. ==Geography==

Three rivers flow through the park forming strings of lakes. The Winnipeg River defines the northern edge of the park from Eaglenest Lake, straddling the Manitoba-Ontario boundary flowing west through Numao Lake, Nutimik Lake, Dorothy Lake, Margaret Lake to Natalie Lake on the park's northwestern edge. The Whiteshell River enters in the south-eastern corner linking West Hawk Lake, Caddy Lake, South Cross Lake, North Cross Lake, Sailing Lake, Mallard Lake, Lone Island Lake, Jessica Lake, White Lake and Betula Lake before joining the Winnipeg River at Nutimik Lake. The Rennie River forms a third chain of lakes, arising in Shiaro Lake within the park through Jean Lake, Brereton Lake, Rice Lake, Heart Lake before joining the Whiteshell River just below Betula Lake. Falcon Lake lies to the south of the TransCanada Highway. Big Whiteshell Lake is the largest of a number of lakes lying to the north of the Whiteshell River. ==Visiting the Park==

The park is located along the eastern side of Southern Manitoba, along the Ontario border. It is the first area that is entered when arriving in Manitoba from the east on the Trans-Canada Highway which runs east west through the park. Provincial Trunk Highway 44 joins West Hawk Lake with Rennie. Provincial Road 309 connects Provincial Road 307 at White Lake with Lone Island Lake and Big Whiteshell Lake. Park vehicle permits are typically required year-round in Manitoba Provincial Parks. Permits are available at all campgrounds and district offices, or can be purchased online. The Province operates ten serviced campgrounds in the park May through October. Reservations for these sites must be made through the Manitoba Parks Reservation Service. Fees vary depending on facilities and services provided. Summer • 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 located 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. • Sailing and boardsailing – Falcon Lake and West Hawk Lake maintain sailing clubs. • Fishing – There are a dozen species of fish that will provide fishing enjoyment. • Swimming – Numerous public beaches permit swimming and many lakeside cottages allow swimming at the shoreline area. • Hiking – Trails range from short 1.5 km routes to the more challenging 60 km Mantario Trail, connecting Caddy Lake with Block 2 of Big Whiteshell Lake. Part of the Trans-Canada Trail is contained in the park, although construction is incomplete. • Cycling – A 4.2 km loop is available at Betula Lake on Provincial Road 307 and a 9 km trail at Big Whiteshell Lake on Provincial Road 309. The South Whiteshell Trail is a multi-use trail system that accommodates cyclists. The trail connects Falcon Lake to Caddy Lake and will be approximately 29 kilometres in length. Winter • Icefishing • Snowmobiling – Over 200 km of marked and groomed snowmobiling trails offer winter recreation. • Snowshoeing – In winter, this snow allows for snowshoeing on the trail systems and on the frozen lakes. ==North Whiteshell==

The northern portion of the park may be accessed by road from the west via PR 307 at Seven Sisters Falls or Highway 44 at Rennie. Pointe du Bois can be reached by road via PR 313. Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary The Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary and Interpretive Centre is located at PTH 44, slightly east of Rennie. The sanctuary protects nesting Canada geese each spring. The interpretive centre provides information about the biology of the geese and the history of the sanctuary, as well as an observation gallery for the lake and interpretive programs. Whiteshell Trappers Museum The Whiteshell Trappers Museum is located on the grounds of the Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary. Built in 1997, the museum resembles a fur trapper's cabin. Interpreters discuss the history of fur trapping, trapping techniques, and local wildlife. ==South Whiteshell==

The park may be accessed from the south side via exits on the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1), where visitors may enter near Falcon Lake on the western side or West Hawk Lake on the east. The main park entrance is located at Falcon Lake, immediately south of the Trans-Canada Highway. It is the west end of Manitoba Provincial Road 301 which runs east through Faloma, Toniata, and Star Lake to the community of West Hawk Lake. West Hawk Museum Located at West Hawk Lake, the West Hawk Museum features exhibits about the area's geology, area gold mining, and the formation of the lake from the impact of meteorite that formed the West Hawk crater. Whiteshell Fish Hatchery Interpretive Centre The Whiteshell Fish Hatchery Interpretive Centre allows visitors to learn about the hatchery's activities in raising lake sturgeon, trout and walleye. The hatchery is located along the Whiteshell River just north of West Hawk Lake. The fish in the hatchery are used to help stock lakes throughout Manitoba. It is open during the summer months. ==Ecology==

Fauna Whiteshell Provincial Park is home to a variety of large mammals including black bear, moose, white-tailed deer, timber wolf and lynx. Smaller mammals such as river otter, marten, fisher, red fox, mink, hare, beaver, bats, skunk, raccoon, muskrat and red squirrels also inhabit the park. The birds in the park include owls, bald eagles, ruby throated hummingbirds, chickadees, blue jays, grosbeaks, turkey vultures, redpolls, woodpeckers, osprey, loons, ruffed grouse, ducks and Canada geese. Snakes, turtles and a wide variety of insects are found in the park. The lakes and rivers contain perch, walleye, jackfish, lake sturgeon, black crappie, burbot, whitefish, trout, white bass, smallmouth bass and mooneye. Smoked mooneye meat is highly valued and sold as "Winnipeg goldeye". ==Gallery==

File:Pelicans on Big Whiteshell Lake.jpg|Pelicans on Big Whiteshell Lake File:Big Whiteshell Lake in the Fall.jpg|Big Whiteshell Lake in the Fall File:Longpine creek winter.jpg|Longpine Creek File:West hawk lake sampson's cove.jpg|Sampson's Cove File:McHugh Lake Loop.jpg|McHugh Lake Loop File:West Hawk Lake Whiteshell Provincial Park Manitoba Canada Summer 2008 (2).JPG|Sand Art at West Hawk Lake ==See also==