Section One: Cranberry Portage to Gyles Park Campground
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Put in: Cranberry Portage via Hwy 10, turn east to boat launch onto First Cranberry Lake
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Take out: Gyles Park Campground via Hwy 39
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Classification: Beginner
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Distance: 29 km
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Time: 1-2 days
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Summary: This is a good canoe trip to start out with as there are usually boats around and lots of islands on the lakes to hide behind in case winds start to pick up. It is all lake paddling with no river paddling.
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River Travel: none
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Lake Travel: Novice
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Portaging: none
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Remoteness: Intermediate
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Number of Rapids: none
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Number of Portages: none
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Details: Northeast through First Cranberry Lake. Northeast through Second Cranberry Lake. Access to Simonhouse Lake from here.
Section Two: Gyles Park to Iskwasum Campground
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Put in: Gyles Park Campground via Hwy 39
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Take out: Iskwasum Campground via Hwy 39
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Classification: Beginner to Novice
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Distance: 73km
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Time: 3-4 days
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Summary: This is a lovely mixture of both lake and river paddling plus some easy portaging. The quiet headwaters of the Grass River are an excellent place to see moose and eagles. You’ll see an old abandoned CN train trestle. Backcountry campsites and portages are well maintained in this area.
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River Travel: Beginner to Novice
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Lake Travel: Novice to Experienced Novice
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Portaging: Easy
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Remoteness: Intermediate
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Number of Rapids: 1 (may be able to run one of portages if have experience)
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Number of Portages: 3
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Details: Access Simonhouse Lake via Hwy 39. Northeast through Third Cranberry Lake. Northeast on river towards Elbow Lake. Into south end of Elbow Lake, then exit south side immediately on river. Southwest on river Under abandoned CNR tracks. P 210 m around rapids. P 190 m around rapids. P 145 m around rapids. South into Iskwasum Lake.
Section Three: Iskwasum to Reed Lake Campground
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Put in: Iskwasum Campground via Hwy 39
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Take out: Reed Lake Campground via Hwy 39
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Classification: Beginner to Experienced Novice
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Distance: 33km
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Time: 2-3 days
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Summary: A good section to do if do not want to do a great distance of paddling and the portaging is easy - but do watch out for the winds on Reed Lake. Lots of places to rest along portages to fish or collect medicinal plants (in Flag Lake there is Sweet Flag or Weegas). Backcountry campsites and portages are well maintained in this area..
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River Travel: Beginner to Novice
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Lake Travel: Novice to Experienced Novice (Reed Lake can get very windy)
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Portaging: Easy to Moderate
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Remoteness: Intermediate
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Number of Rapids: 0 (all portaging)
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Number of Portages: 3
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Details: South through Iskwasum Lake. East through Loucks Lake. P 155 m R around Loucks Falls. East through Flag Lake. P 145 m around rapids. P 135 m around rapids. East through Reed Lake.
Section Four: Reed Lake to Wekusko Falls Campground
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Put in: Reed Lake Campground via Hwy 39
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Take out: Wekusko Falls Campground via Hwy
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Classification: Beginner to Experienced Novice
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Distance: 53km
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Time: 3-4 days
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Summary: This section is best known for the ancient Petroglyphs at the end on Tramping Lake. Not necessarily a hard trip but need to watch for winds on Reed Lake on first day (start super early in morning will help!) and there is one long portage - but if you give yourself lots of time to complete, its not too bad at all! The portage also not as well maintained as with the portages on the first half of the Grass River canoe route. There is a swift (a CI or Level 1 rapid) where the Grass river empties into Tramping Lake for those that want to try out their whitewater skills too. So a great trip for those that want to take their canoeing to the next level!
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River Travel: Beginner to Experienced Novice
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Lake Travel: Novice to Experienced Novice (Reed Lake can get very windy)
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Portaging: Moderately Hard (long portage)
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Remoteness: Intermediate
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Number of Rapids: 1 swift
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Number of Portages: 1 but long
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Details: East through Reed Lake. East on river. P 875 m around series of rapids and ledges (possible to run portions and shorten portage). East on river through swifts. Northeast through Tramping Lake (excellent pictograph site on north side at exit please treat with respect). Paddle to Wekusko Falls and exit river right at lodge boat launch.
Section Five: Wekusko Falls to Setting Lake
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Put in: Wekusko Falls Campground
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Take out: Setting Lake Wayside Park out of Wabowden via Hwy 39
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Classification: Novice to Experienced Novice
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Distance: 133 km
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Time: 6-7 days
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Summary: From Wekusko Falls on, the rest of the Grass River canoe route is remote and not maintained so communication through satellite phone is critical (Aurora can set you up with this!). But there are so many hidden gems in this section that no one rarely sees - like several magnificent waterfalls and scenes along the Grass River straight from a postcard! Paddlers need to more experienced here as campsites are not as plentiful occurring mainly at the waterfalls - so longer paddling distances are required and portages are not maintained so sometimes are bush crashes. A great canoe trip to work your way up to and Aurora can help you plan for it!
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River Travel: Novice to Experienced Novice
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Lake Travel: Novice to Experienced Novice (Wekusko Lake can get very windy)
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Portaging: Moderate to Hard (some bush crashing)
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Remoteness: Remote
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Number of Rapids: 2 swifts (CI) and possibly 1 CII depending on water levels
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Number of Portages: 8 (can be hard as not maintained and access to portages sometimes very close to Falls)
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Details: East across Wekusko Lake. Northeast on river. Southeast on river. Swifts. P 100 m R around falls. P 75 m L around falls. Class I rapid. East on river. P 50 m R around falls. P 55 m L around falls. P 100 m L around falls. South then east on river. P 75 m L around White Forest Falls. P 15 m around Skunk Rapids. P 125 m L around Whitewood Falls. North on river. Past entrance to Pakwa Lake. North into Setting Lake across to Wayside Park Campground.
Section Six: Setting Lake to Paint Lake Campground
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Put in: Setting Lake Wayside Campground outside of Wabowden on Hwy 39
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Take out: Paint Lake Campground via Hwy 39
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Classification: Beginner to Novice
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Distance: 88 km
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Time: 4-5 days
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Summary: This last section of the Grass River Canoe Route boasts the two largest waterfalls in Manitoba - starting at Pisew Falls and then camping at the second Kwasitchewan Falls. Not as long paddling distances to cover as the previous section but still remote, this section is a great combination of paddling and portaging around beautiful rapids - so great if you like to get out of the canoe and break up the paddling day! The portages in this section are longer but are better maintained as the long portage is part of the Kwasitchewan Falls Backcountry Hike.
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River Travel: Beginner to Experienced Novice
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Lake Travel: Novice to Novice
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Portaging: Moderately Hard (two longer portages)
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Remoteness: Intermediate
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Number of Rapids: no rapids to run, all portages
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Number of Portages: 6
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Details: North through Setting Lake. P 250 m around Sasagiu Rapids. P 475 m around Pisew Falls. North on river. P 700m R from Grass River west towards Phillips Lake. Paddle to base of Kwasitchewan Falls. North through Phillips Lake. P 50 m R around rapids. P 700 m R around Kachikaswatainok Rapids. P 25 m L around Sasisgigwan Rapids. North on river. North then west through Paint Lake. Finish at Paint Lake Provincial Park.