Mantario Journey: Canoe Route

On the journey from Big Whiteshell Lake to Mantario Lake a total of 4 km of portaging is encountered over 6 portages between 7 lakes:

Big Whiteshell Lake to Crowduck Lake—750 meters
Crowduck Lake to Ritchey Lake—500 meters
Ritchey Lake to Lake One—250 meters
Lake One to Lake Two—500 meters
Lake Two to Lake Three—750 meters Up & Over
Lake Three to Mantario Lake—1000 meters

The same lakes are traveled in the opposite direction on the trip from Mantario Lake back to Big Whiteshell Lake.

If it is not too wet, a 1.5 kilometer portage can be taken from Big Whiteshell Lake to Ritchey Lake instead of the two Crowduck portages.

The portages MAKE one appreciate the lakeside Finnish sauna at the cabin!

There is also 16 km of paddling enroute, the total trip taking from 4 to 6 hours depending on how ambitious you are. One of the summer trip leaders, Steven Fletcher, and his brother Gordon once made the trip in 2.5 hours race-paddling a 40 lb Kevlar canoe and running on the portages; this is not required of Summer Program paddlers.

The Up & Over

The Up & Over is named eloquently compared to the mundane names of the lakes it connects, Lake Two and Lake Three. This portage is 750 meters long and involves steep climbs at each end, especially on the south end which drops about 35 meters at a 45 degree grade to Lake Three on smooth rock faces, scree and loose rocks. A slip would make for a dangerous trip, but voyageurs carrying a canoe usually do so carefully and no major injuries are known. There is an official campsite (with fire grate) at the south end of the portage. Between the ends of the portage the trail goes up and down, around spreading juniper, large boulders and a number of trees, for about 500 meters. If you like portages the Up & Over is for YOU!