Cautions & Advice

A waterproof trail map, published by Manitoba Department of Natural Resources Parks Branch, is available for $10 from the Manitoba Naturalists Society (phone the MNS Office at 943-9029) and Manitoba Government Map Sales. The map might also be found in outdoor stores or book stores in Winnipeg. The cover of the version shown here is older so it does not include the rerouted south end of the trail.

It is easy to get disoriented on the trail at Lake Three, at Caribou Lake, and at Olive Lake.

Watch for signs and flagging tape put up by hikers that provide easier hiking around the bogs just north of Ritchey Lake campsite, at the top end of Lake Three, and north of the Caribou Lake campsite.

When crossing over the stream at Olive Lake take the left trail (when hiking to the north) rather than hiking along the shore of Olive Lake. If you hike on this less traveled trail, called the Circle Trail, you may find yourself disoriented and your hike may become longer than you anticipated.

There is a smaller "Circle Trail" which extends from Mantario Lake along Spyder Lake and then along Olive Lake where upon it links into the Mantario Trail to Moosehead Lake past "Lost Lake" and back to Mantario Lake.

Cellular phones have worked from the high ridges along Mantario Trail. This experience is based on cellular phones homed on MTS Mobility cellular service supported by MTS Mobility cellular base stations at Falcon Lake and/or Lac du Bonnet; it is not known if AT&T cellular service works in the area.

Firearms and motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trail.

During years of heavy spring run-off and after long periods of rainfall the trail can be very difficult due to high water levels.

Giardia lamblia or "Beaver Fever" has been contracted from water in the area, so it is important to filter your drinking water or boil it a minimum of 10 minutes.

Human waste and toilet paper should be buried beneath the top 10 cm of soil at least 50 metres from water.

Garbage and unused food should be carried out, even if it is someone else's. Do not feed or leave food for animals.

Black bears have harrased hikers and canoeists at the Ritchey Lake campground, the Hemenway Lake campground, where the trail crosses the Crowduck Lake - Big Whiteshell Lake portage and at other locations on the trail. Handle your food, packs, tents and clothing properly; for information on recommended methods get a copy of the MNS Trip Leader's Guide from the MNS Bookstore at the link above.

Do not widen existing trails just to avoid some mud.

Open fires are prohibited; if necessary use the fire pits provided at the designated campsites.

Do not cut down trees or branches for firewood, a lean-to, shelter or sleeping pads.

Carry and use camp stoves and lightweight tents to minimize your impact.

Mountain bikers use the trail but the steep gradients up and down the ridges require bikers to be agile and experienced and should wear appropriate safety gear.

The trail has been hiked as early as April and as late as November. Thanksgiving weekend is often a good time to hike the trail as there are few bugs, few people and the water levels are usually low so the trail is drier and bog crossings are easier. A couple of warm days are usually had on this weekend, but hikers should plan for one or more days of cold temperatures (night time lows of -5°C to -10°.C and day time highs of 0°C) accompanied by rain, sleet or snow.

Often the hike is taken onto the lakes and over the portages once the lakes are frozen to a safe thickness which usually happens by mid-December. Hikers and skiers have broken through the ice on the lakes at different times of the year so you must be prepared for this (travel with a buddy and don't go onto questionable ice).

The Mantario Wilderness Experience Organized Trips web page has a number of trip reports describing the trail and area during different seasons and using different modes of travel.

Black flies, mosquitoes, horse flies and other stinging insects on the wing are prevalent during the summer months. Wood ticks are common to Mantario Hiking Trail in May, June and July; deer ticks are being found in Manitoba. Protect yourself against ticks by tucking your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants, and check yourself for ticks at least twice a day. Wear a "bug shirt" (cotton shirt with hood with no-see-um netting covering the face and undersides of arms from wrist to waist).

If you encounter anyone that is abusing or defacing the campsites, trail, or is harrassing or feeding animals or that is being a nuisance or disturbing the peace, do not confront them yourself. Gather what information you can about them and report their activities and whereabouts to the Manitoba Natural Resources at the Seven Sisters office (204-348-2203) or at the Rennie office (204-369-5246). Leave a note or phone message if there is no one at the Natural Resources office. This will not only help to identify such persons but it also raises the awareness of Natural Resources to the need for more active monitoring of the trail.