Whiteshell Provincial Park Photo: Ethan Sahagun / CC BY-SA 4.0
Canada › Manitoba

Whiteshell Provincial Park

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Established: 1961
  • Size: about 1,060 square miles (2,752 km²)
  • Lakes: more than 200
  • Signature route: the Mantario Trail, about 40 miles (64 km), Manitoba’s longest backcountry hiking trail
  • Gateway: Winnipeg, about 90 minutes west
  • Managed by: Manitoba Parks

The landscape

Whiteshell covers a broad sweep of the Canadian Shield along the Ontario border: rounded granite ridges, boreal forest and lakes and rivers of every size. The Mantario Wilderness Zone in the south is roadless and wild. Ancient petroforms, rock arrangements made by Indigenous peoples, are found at Bannock Point. Moose, black bears, wolves, beavers and loons live throughout the park.

Best time to go

Summer is lake season, with cottages, beaches and campgrounds busy. Late spring and early summer bring bugs. September and early October are ideal for backpacking the Mantario Trail. Winter brings cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.

Rainbow FallsPhoto: Vince pahkala · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Bannock Point PetroformsPhoto: User:Josephprymak · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons
West Hawk LakePhoto: Shahnoor Habib Munmun · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Pine Point RapidsPhoto: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Falcon LakePhoto: Jon Eben Field from Vancouver, BC, Canada · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
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Getting there and around

The Trans-Canada Highway crosses the south of the park at Falcon Lake. PR 307 and PTH 44 cut through the park past campgrounds, lakes and trailheads. The Mantario Trail is reached from trailheads near Big Whiteshell Lake and Caddy Lake, and many canoe routes start from the highways.

Things to do

The Mantario Trail is a demanding multi-day hike over bare rock ridges and around lakes. Shorter hikes include the Hunt Lake Trail and the trails at Pine Point Rapids. Paddlers explore canoe routes across the park, and the Caddy Lake tunnels, cut through the granite for a railway, make a popular short paddle.

Staying safe

The Mantario Trail is rocky, hilly and slow, with river crossings and a rope-assisted section at Rae Creek. Parts of it have burned, so expect burned areas, hazard trees and thick regrowth. Wind builds quickly on the larger lakes. Store food away from bears, carry a satellite messenger and leave a trip plan.

Know before you go

Backcountry trips need registration, and fire can close areas at short notice. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current trail status, fire restrictions and reservations with Manitoba Parks before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
50.0221, -95.5560
Magnetic declination
1.4° E (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

113 places in Whiteshell Provincial Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

Getting there 1

Visitor centre

On the trail 25

Trailhead

Route

Campgrounds

Huts and shelters

Sights 87

Viewpoints

Waterfalls

Lakes

Beaches

Heritage site

Point of interest

Islands

Peak

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeCar campingWeekend backpackingMulti-day/expeditionCanoeing & kayakingWinter trip

Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →

Terrain
LakesRiversForest
Key hazards
Burned areas and hazard treesRuggedrocky backcountry trailWind and cold waterBlack bearsBiting insects
Best seasons
Summer, Early fall, Winter (skiing and snowshoeing)
Difficulty
Easy to strenuous
Access / trailheads
From Winnipeg, the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) runs about 78 miles (126 km) east to Falcon Lake. PR 307 from Seven Sisters Falls and PTH 44 from Rennie also cross the park.
Water
Lakes and rivers; filter or treat all backcountry water.
Cell / satellite coverage
Fair near highways and resort areas, little to none in the Mantario Wilderness Zone. Carry a satellite messenger.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911. Manitoba Parks: 1-800-214-6497.
Permits & regulations
Backcountry trips need registration with Manitoba Parks. Campgrounds are reservable.
Leave No Trace
Camp at designated backcountry sites, store food from bears, stay on marked trails and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high50°F(10°C)10°C(50°F)
Average low33°F(0°C)0°C(33°F)
Rainfall1.6 in(40 mm)40 mm(1.6 in)
Daylight, mid-month10 h 50 minSunrise 7:43 a.m., sunset 6:32 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1981–2010 from Environment Canada climate normals, measured at the Pinawa Wnre station, 25 miles (40 km)40 km (25 miles) away at 875 feet (267 m)267 m (875 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

Looking for somewhere closer to home?
See every park and monument within a day’s drive of where you are.

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