W-05 Bird River (Tulabi L. to Eden L. – Wingiskus L. to Tulabi L.)
Geographic Location:
- Nopiming Provincial Park (Manitoba), North of Kenora, Ontario.
Name of Trip:
- Bird River (Tulabi L. to Eden L. – Wingiskus L. to Tulabi L.)
Major Lakes/Rivers:
- Tulabi L, Elbow L, Snowshoe L, Chase L, Midway L, Eagle L, Eden L, Bee L, Wingiskus L, then return to Tulabi via Bird R.
Source of Information:
- Topographical maps: 52 L/10, 52 L/11).
- Bird (Oiseau) River – Elbow Lake Canoe Route Map
- MRCA paddler: Jerry Ameis.
Duration of Trip:
- 6 days paddling.
Total Distance:
- 100 kilometres.
River Rating:
- Bird R: up to a Class 3.
River Rating:
- About 23 portages. The longest portage is from Wingiskus L. to the Bird R. It is 1500m in total, done in two stages.
Start (Put In):
- Tulabi L. (road access).
Finish (Take Out):
- Tulabi L.
Alternate Access:
- Enter the Bird River system at Snowshoe Lake via Davidson Lake to Wilson Lake route.
Remoteness:
- There are lodges on Snowshoe, Chase, and Eagle lakes.
Comments:
- This trip up the Bird River takes you to the headwaters of two river systems: Manigotagan and the Moose.
- Traveling up the Bird River to Eagle Lake is straight-forward. The portages are easy to locate and well-maintained. There are many good campsites along the way. The Bird R. is a picturesque small river that sometimes winds through swampy areas. Most often it flows through areas bordered by forest and/or rocky terrain. It may not be wise to travel through Elbow Lake on a weekend because it is a popular weekend canoeing destination. Elbow and Snowshoe lakes can be trouble when there is a strong west or east wind blowing.
- Reaching the headwaters of The Manigotagan River is a bit of work. The route from Eagle Lake to Eden Lake (part of the headwaters of the Manigotagan River) is not well-traveled. The portage (700m) to Kangaroo Lake (between Eagle and Eden) is hard to find. It is about two-thirds of the way into the first bay to the northwest just as you enter Eagle Lake from Midway Lake.
