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Park Information and Map

Introduction Natural History People in the Landscape Things to See and Do Canoeing Camping Angling Fly-in Lodges Rock Paintings Access Reference Material Map Information

In 1985 the Bloodvein-Pigeon rivers region east of Lake Winnipeg was designated as Manitoba's first wilderness park. Its 3,997 km2 is characterized by a landscape of rock outcrops and granite cliffs interspersed with a complex of bogs, fens, marshes, rivers and riverbottom forest. The park features three river corridors and associated shorelines, including the Manitoba portion of the Bloodvein Canadian Heritage River.

Classified as a Wilderness Park, its purpose is to preserve physical features and biological communities representative of the Lac Seul Upland portion of the Precambrian Boreal Forest Natural Region or "Shield Country." The park contains physical features and biological communities within its approximate 4,000 square kilometre boundary, which is about the combined size of Whiteshell and Nopiming provincial parks.

The park will:

• Provide opportunities for a range of outdoor recreational experiences from canoeing and whitewater rafting, that depend on a pristine environment, to lodges and outcamps; and
  
  
• Promote public appreciation and understanding of the park's natural features and cultural heritage.

The jewel in Atikaki's crown is the Bloodvein River that starts near Red Lake in Ontario, flows through the park, and drains into Lake Winnipeg. Both the Manitoba and Ontario portions of the river have the distinction of being designated a Canadian Heritage River. In order to receive this designation, a river must have outstanding significance in terms of human heritage, natural heritage, or recreational values. The Bloodvein is significant, to varying degrees, in all of these categories.

Gammon River

Located in a part of the Precambrian Shield known as the Superior Province, Atikaki is on some of Canada's oldest rock, formed about three billion years ago. This was once part of a mountain range that over time was reduced to a relatively flat plain by wind, precipitation and changes in temperature. Several glaciers sculpted the remaining surfaces to form the base of today's blue lakes and jade green forests.

Atikaki was buried by ice 11,000 years ago during the Wisconsinan glacial period. Meltwater from the glacier formed Lake Agassiz, which at its peak was larger than all the Great Lakes combined, and covered all of present day Atikaki 9,000 years ago. Lake Agassiz gradually drained and by 8,000 years ago, boreal forest was established east of Lake Winnipeg.

Fragrant, white water lily

The scouring and scraping effects of the glaciers have left many outcrops of exposed rock along with many small lakes and rivers where the low areas have filled with water. This often rugged terrain with an abundance of fresh water offers some of Manitoba's most beautiful scenery and some of Canada's finest water routes. In addition to the Bloodvein, Atikaki also contains all or parts of the Pigeon, Gammon, Leyond, Dogskin, Sasaginnigak and Broadleaf rivers.

Beneath the surface of rivers and lakes, aquatic habitats teem with underwater animals of many shapes and sizes. Among them are such renowned fish species as walleye, northern pike and lake trout.

Atikaki's boreal forest includes black spruce, jack pine, trembling aspen and balsam poplar while stands of white birch, white spruce and balsam fir are also quite common. Extensive moist areas are covered with stands of black spruce and tamarack; floating bogs of sphagnum are dotted with Labrador tea, bog laurel, leatherleaf, and fringed by alder and willows. Wild rice grows naturally along the shores of slow moving rivers and in the bays of shallow lakes.

Waterways are a haven for beavers that build their familiar lodges and dams throughout the park. Beavers share wetlands with muskrat, and painted and snapping turtles. Early in the morning, and as the sun goes down the call of the loon is a familiar song throughout the summer months. With a keen eye most visitors can spot a variety of birds: bald eagles, osprey and gray jays are a few of the most common, and recognizable ones.

The Ojibwe word Atikaki (pronounced: ah-tick-ah-kih) means "country of the caribou." There is an estimated 300-500 animals within Manitoba's Atikaki-Berens Caribou Range; the park is about 50 percent of this total area. Two types of boreal forest lichens are important in caribou diet: the light-coloured "reindeer moss" is eaten year-round and "oldman's beard" which hangs from branches in mature jack pine stands, is an important winter food.

Atikaki's woodland caribou are gregarious in winter and can be found in herds, or bands, of 20 to 60 animals. They winter in areas along the park's western boundary and migrate eastward, towards and beyond the Ontario boundary during the summer. They often bear their young on islands and are much more solitary during the summer months.

While there are several other herds in the province, such as those in Grass River and Nopiming parks, these secretive animals are listed as a "Threatened" species (as defined by the Committee on the status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada or COSEWIC) in Western Canada, including Manitoba.

Caribou

Archaeological evidence suggests that the area east of Lake Winnipeg has been home to a succession of Aboriginal people for several thousand years. Traditional lifestyles were woven into the fabric of the region's ecosystems. People moved with the seasons, going wherever food, shelter and clothing could be obtained.

In spring, families gathered at special places to take advantage of fish spawning and returning waterfowl; they could socialize and hold religious ceremonies. As summer progressed, berries and medicinal plants were gathered; wild rice matured and ripened in the fall at the end of the growing season. With the onset of winter, people dispersed in smaller family groups to seek out moose, caribou and smaller game including furbearers.

During the Fur Trade, Atikaki was part of a region known as "Le Petit Nord" or Little North. It included the vast area east of Lake Winnipeg, north and west of Lake Superior. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, there was intensive competition here for furs by independent traders, the North West Company from Montreal, and the Hudson's Bay Company traders based at Fort Albany on James Bay and later, York Factory.

There may have been temporary trading houses established in what is now the park, but furs were usually taken to Berens River, Little Grand Rapids, and Bad Lake (now Knox Lake) and Red Lake in Ontario. A fascinating, detailed account of these times can be found in Victor Lytwyn's book The Fur Trade of the Little North.

Today, the region's Aboriginal settlements include Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi First Nation, Bloodvein and Hollow Water.

A journey through Atikaki offers countless unique experiences, such as the intoxicating scent released by fragrant, white water lilies, as they open with the bow ripple of your canoe, or breathtaking views from granite cliffs. Each day brings new discoveries. From wolves howling at night, to the raw, awesome power of Shining Falls, nature expresses itself many ways, and the only way you can truly understand it, is to be there.

Whether you follow a trail steeped in hundreds of years of tradition, or plan a route of your own, Atikaki is one of Manitoba's finest canoeing parks. Its 1,000 km of interconnected waterways offer experiences from whitewater rivers to lakes as smooth as glass. Trips of any length are possible, from three-day loops to three-week extravaganzas. Canoeists could spend virtually the whole summer touring the park without ever seeing a road or town, or travelling the same stretch of water twice. The Pigeon River provides some of the best wilderness whitewater in North America for those using canoe, raft or kayak.

Wilderness travel is as demanding as it can be rewarding. Because the area is so remote and because of the risk involved in such activities, caution is advised. Essential to a successful, enjoyable trip is familiarity with wilderness travel basics and ethics: a reliable canoe and ability to carry out repairs; knowledge of map and compass techniques; proper clothing, camping gear and adequate food provisions; canoe handling skills; ability to "read" existing water and weather conditions; awareness of fire, wildlife and fishing regulations; good physical condition and an honest knowledge of your personal abilities and limitations.

Canoe routes marked on the map are not cleared or marked in the wilderness. They may be difficult to travel in some seasons. Contact Manitoba Conservation for condition updates when planning a canoe trip.

Atikaki's waterways are not recommended for novice canoeists, unless in the company of a reliable, experienced wilderness traveller. For the names of companies that are licensed to offer trips through the park, please contact Travel Manitoba at 945-3777 in Winnipeg or, toll-free 1-800-665-0040 (ext. LY1).

Canoeists in whitewater

No designated campsites have been developed, and no camping fees are required in the park. Visitors should practise "no trace" camping out of consideration for the land and others who follow:

• Do not harm living plants.
  
  
• Pack out empty everything you packed.
  
  
• Use a portable stove.
  
  
• When washing, use biodegradable soap in a dishpan, and rinse far enough away from water to allow soil to filter and cleanse the waste water.
  
  
• Use one latrine per party, well into the forest; bury lightly to allow microbes to decompose the waste quickly.

Campsite

Whether it's going after "big ones," keeping only a few pan-sized fish for an unforgettable shore lunch, or practising "catch and release" for the pure enjoyment of the sport, angling opportunities are unlimited. Anglers can choose the type of wilderness experience they want while fishing in Atikaki. You can relax at a comfortable lodge, enjoy the quiet isolation of a remote cabin, or savour a secluded campsite along a shoreline.

Fishing at sunset

Several fly-in lodges with outcamps provide opportunities to visit and use the park. They are set up primarily for sport fishing, but a limited amount of hunting is also offered. For current information on services and rates, contact the lodges directly or Travel Manitoba at 945-3777 in Winnipeg or, toll-free 1-800-665-0040 (ext. LY1).

For hundreds and perhaps thousands of years, Aboriginal people have used natural pigments to paint images on rock faces at the water's edge. Scattered throughout the park are rock paintings that usually depict animals and people. Their original meaning and use are unknown. Good examples can be found at several locations in the park.

Travellers are welcome to look at these works, but please do not touch or disturb them or any offerings that may have been left there. These sites are sacred to Aboriginal people; they represent teachings that have been handed down over the generations. It is disrespectful to interfere with the sites. Defacing the paintings would be similar to defacing a church, synagogue or other place of worship.

To protect important sites such as rock paintings, the provincial government proclaimed The Heritage Resources Act in 1986. Under terms of this law, it is illegal to collect, move or alter objects of archaeological or heritage significance without obtaining a permit. A fine may be levied against those who do not comply. In addition, any person finding an object or feature, such as a rock painting, should contact the nearest Manitoba Conservation district office to report the finding. By doing so, it will be possible to have such sites preserved and protected for future generations.

Rock painting at Sasaginnigak Lake

An attractive feature of Atikaki is its relative proximity to Winnipeg and its International Airport, which makes it easily accessible from other parts of Canada and the world. Most lakes in the park are no more than a one-hour flight by charter aircraft from the city. Arrangements can be made with lodges, outfitters or air charter companies in such communities as Bissett, Riverton and Lac du Bonnet. Up-to-date information on businesses that service the park is available from Travel Manitoba.

There is no direct road access into the park. A popular overland route begins at Wallace Lake Provincial Park on PR 304. One lengthy portage east to Siderock Lake and two more north lead to Obukowin Lake. Canoeists can also travel from Wallace Lake up the Broadleaf River-when water levels are high-to Aikens Lake.

Various maps of the area are available from Map Sales outlets throughout Manitoba, or from the Manitoba Conservation. These include aerial photos, National Topographic System (NTS) maps (1:50,000 and 1:250,000 scales) and general information maps prepared by Réal Bérard (Kautunigan Route, Sasaginnigak Canoe Country, Little Grand Rapids Canoe Routes, and The Oiseau-Manigotagan Waterways). Telephone or write:

Canada Map Sales
Land Information Centre
1007 Century Street
Winnipeg MB
R3H 0W4
(toll-free) 1-877-627-7226
or, in Winnipeg 945-6666

Those planning their route through Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, or other parts of Ontario should be familiar with applicable camping, fishing and hunting regulations and fees. Telephone or write for information, including a park map:

Ministry of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 5003
Red Lake, Ontario
P0V 2M0
1-807-727-2253

Hallowell, A. Irving. The Ojibwa of Berens River. ed. Jennifer S. H. Brown. Toronto: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers, 1992.

Lytwyn, Victor P. The Fur Trade of the Little North. Winnipeg: Rupert's Land Research Centre, University of Winnipeg, 1986.

Jack pine cones

Atikaki Park Map

Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park is located in the eastern part of Manitoba

View a full featured map of Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park, in Acrobat PDF format.

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Manitoba Conservation
Box 108, Bissett, Manitoba
R0E 0J0
Telephone: (204) 277-5212
or,
Box 4000
Lac du Bonnet/Lake Winnipeg East District
Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba
R0E 1A0
Telephone: (204) 345-1400

Manitoba Conservation Public Information
(toll-free) 1-800-214-6497
or, in Winnipeg 945-6784

Travel Manitoba
7th Floor-155 Carlton St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 3H8
Telephone: (toll-free) 1-800-665-0040 (ext. LY1)
or, in Winnipeg 945-3777