C-01 Grass River (Cranberry Portage to Wekusko Falls)
Geographic Location:
- Northern Manitoba
Name of Trip:
- Grass River (Cranberry Portage to Wekusko Falls)
Major Lakes/Rivers:
- Cranberry L, Grass R, Reed L, Tramping L.
Source of Information:
- Maps: 3 K/11, K/10, K/15, K/9, K/16.
- Book/Brochures: Government of Manitoba Canoe Routes – Grass River.
Duration of Trip:
- 8 Days paddling.
Total Distance:
- 176 kilometres.
River Rating:
- The river sections between lakes are punctuated by sets of rapids which may or may not be run, depending on water level and the skill level of the canoeists.
Portages:
- 10 Portages. Easy to locate and clear.
- The longest is 1.5 km at the east end of Reed Lake.
Start (Put In):
- Cranberry Portage. From Winnipeg, 9 hour drive up Hwy #6, turn on the Eastern Road.
Finish (Take Out):
- Wekusko Falls are situated at the north end of the Tramping Lake. There is a Government campground there.
Alternate Access:
- PTH #91 to campground at Reed Lake.
Remoteness:
- Many motor boats/fishermen and two fly-in lodges. The area is heavily traveled in June by fishermen at lodges and Provincial Park visitors at Isquasum Lake.
Comments:
- The Grass River is a very popular canoeing route in Northern Manitoba. This delightful little river has a number of advantages which recommend it both to novice and verteran. In terms of size, the river section of the Grass are ideal. It is large enough to be easily navigable even in low water, yet it is small enough to present limited dangers to the prudent canoeist. The route does have a number of large lakes which can create problems however. Wekusko and Reed Lakes in particular have reputations for sudden violent storms and must be treated with respect.
- The route has the added advantage of flexibility. One can start at the headwaters at Cranberry Portage and follow it’s course all the way down to Split Lake – a course of some 565 kilometres. There are numerous entry and exit points along the way, making it possible to tailor the trip to the desires, and ambition and skill level of the canoeists.
- The Grass River has been dealt with by Real Berard in his Canoe map series and we recommend Berard’s map to anyone considering this route.
- Designated campsites only; each have a metal firepit/grate.
- Fires went through this area after 1989.
- There are petroglyphs on Tramping on a rock cliff on the west shore of the lake. These petroglyphs are found towards the south end of the long narron section of the lake.
