The following are some references that I have used in the past for learning canoe skills. Although all of these books provide some suggestions and tips on technique and skills the best way to learn is actually getting into a canoe and paddling - take a course, go to an open paddle, paddle with someone 'in the know', read & try. Out of the list below my preference is Path of the Paddle by Bill Mason.
American National Red Cross [The]. Canoeing. The American National Red Cross, 1977
American Canoe Association, Canoeing: Outdoor Adventures Pamela S. Dillon and Jeremy Oyen Eds. Human Kinetics, Inc. 2008
American Canoe Association, The Beginners Guide to Canoe & Kayak Paddling PaddleDog Nation, 2006. PDF copy found here Oct 2018 The American Canoe Association Beginners Guide is also available with similar information dated 2009.
Burke, Shawn. The Science of Paddling. Shawn Burke, 2023
Callan, Kevin. The Happy Camper; An Essential Guide to Life Outdoors. Boston Mills Press, 2005
Chase, John. Power to The Paddle, Exercises to improve your canoe and kayak paddling John W. Chase, 2014
Conover, Garrett. Beyond the Paddle (A Canoeists' Guide to Expedition Skills: Poling, Lining, Portaging and Maneuvering through Ice), 1991
Glaros, Lou, and Charlie Wilson. Freestyle Canoeing Contemporary Paddling Technique. Menasha Ridge Press, 1994 (second printing 1996)
Gray, Daniel A. Canoeing for Everyone. Morris Books Pblishing, LLC. 2009
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. An Introduction to Canoeing/Kayaking, A Teaching Module. Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 2008.
Jacobson, Cliff. Basic Essentials; Canoeing third edition. A Falcon Guide, Morris Book Pub., 2007
Kesselheim, Alan S. The Wilderness Paddler's Handbook Ragged Mountain Press., 2001
Goodwin, Ray. Canoeing Pesda Press, 2011.
Mason, Bill. Path of the Paddle; An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Canoeing. Van Nostrand Reinhold Ltd, 1980
Mason, Bill. Song of the Paddle; An Illustrated Guide to Wilderness Camping. Key Porter Books, 1988
McGuffin, Gary & Joannie. Paddle your own Canoe; An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Canoeing Boston Mills Press, 1999
Stringer, Omer. The Canoeist's Manual The Friends of Algonquin Park, 1989 (Original publication Dan Gibson Prod. Ltd., 1975)
Ray, Slim. The Canoe Handbook. Stackpole Books, 1992
Goodwin, Ray. Canoeing Pesda Press (8 July 2011)
Roberts, Harry. Basic Essentials; Canoe Paddling third edition rev. by Steve Salins. A Falcon Guide, Morris Book Pub., 2007
Rock, Harry. Canoe Poling Little Dancer, 2005
Rutstrum, Calvin. North American Canoe Country Macmillan Pub, 1964
Stetter, Sebastian. Solo Freestyle Canoeing (in German). Shaker Media, 2015
Weir, James. Discover Canoeing, A complete introduction to open canoeing Presda Press, 2010
Westwood, Andrew. Canoeing; The Essential Skills and Safety The Heliconia Press, 2007
Other associated references
Gilbertson, Ken, Timothy Bates, Terry McLaughlin, and Alan Ewert. Outdoor Education: Methods and Strategies. Human Kinetics. 2006
Amrose, Susan A., Michael W. Bridges, Michele DiPietro, Marsha C. Loyett, Marie K. Norman, and Richard E. Mayer. How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching. Jossey-Bass, 2010
Before you go romping off into the wilderness make sure you are prepared and have a realistic idea of your limitations and skills. The following resources are just starting points I would expect you to pickup appropriate topographic maps, suitable equipment, local knowledge, etc... Several of the books are out of print but you may be able to find them from local libraries or used book stores. A few of the suggested routes or locations are based on old (possibly out dated) information. Some of these resources are also included for neighbouring provincial or state regions. This is not an exhaustive list of sources; it was developed for personal information and interest.
You can get topographic maps and other canoe route information at the stores listed below or from Canada Map Sales (1007 Century Street, Winnipeg, MB) or from Canoe Maps Canada. Digital topographic maps can be found online through the Atlas of Canada (Natural Resources Canada), GeoGratis has CanMatrix Print Ready maps in PDF or TIFF or CanTopo maps in GeoTiff format or if you are handy with GIS then go to GeoGratis (Natural Resources Canada) for more detailed GIS data.
Hard Copy
Archer, Laurel. Northern Saskatchewan Canoe Trips: A Guide to 15 Wilderness Rivers Boston Mills Press, 2003
Berger, Jonathan, Thomas Terry. Canoe Atlas of the Little North. Boston Mills Press, 2007
Beymer, Robert. A Paddler's Guide to Quetico Provincial Park. W.A. Fisher Co. 2001.
Real Berard's hand-drawn canoe route maps from: Canada Map sales
Buchanan, John. Canoeing Manitoba Rivers; Vol. 1 South Rocky Mountain Books. 1997
Gahlinger, Paul. Northern Manitoba From Forest to Tundra; A Canoeing Guide and Wilderness Companion. G.B. Communications. 1995
Greenstone Community Futures Development Corporation. Canoeing The Precambrian Edge; Wilderness, Adventure and Legend. Gordon Soules Book Publishers ltd., 1998.
Kives, Bartley. A Daytripper's Guide to Manitoba Great Plains Publications, 2015.
Manitoba Conservation provincial park maps see electronic copies below.
Molinski, Dusty. By Paddle, Pack, and Track Through the Whiteshell. The Ripple, Paddle Manitoba Newsletter. Paddle Manitoba, 2008, pp9-12 Site link no longer works - looking for an update
Molinski, Dusty. Through Field and Forest, A CanoeCompanion for the Brokenhead River. Art Bookbindery (printed/bound), 2012
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Canoe Routes of Ontario. McClelland and Stewart Ltd. 1981.
Paddle Manitoba. Canoeing in South Eastern Manitoba. Paddle Manitoba (MRCA), 2010.
Penner, Kyle. Who goes canoeing with their Mother-in-Law Friesen Press, 2019.
Savoie, Denis. Seine River Greenway map. Save our Seine River Environment Inc.
Schick, RoseAnna. Live the song of the paddles, Canoe routes for every level of skill, Winnipeg Free Press, March 23, 2014
Travel Manitoba Unearthed Outdoor Adventure Guide Travel Manitoba, 2009. Site no longer works, looking for an update
Wilson, Hap. Lake Superior to Manitoba by Canoe Fire Fly Books, 2017.
Wilson, Hap, Stephanie Aykroyd. Wilderness Rivers of Manitoba: Journey by Canoe Through the Land Where the Spirit Lives. Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association. 2001
Electronic (web based)
Unfortunately the nature of the web makes some links ephemeral - if you find a broken link please let me know (especially if there is a replacement).
Burchill, Charles. Winnipeg - Canoe Destinations and Access Points Self Published, 2010
Burchill, Charles. Day trips - 2016
IISD|ELA. Experimental Lakes Area Map. IISD. 2016. From IISD|ELA Experimental Lakes Area website. Note: this is not really a route but the map contains portage locations. Also see the old Fisheries and Oceans map from tbaycoc on wordpress
Canadian Canoe Routes, Jacobs, Allan (moderator). Manitoba Discussion and Resources. Canadian Canoe Routes Forum, Wilderness Canoe Association
Canadian Canoe Routes. Manitoba Canoeing Regions. CCR Inc. 2007-2009. NOTE: Limited selection see the CCR Manitoba forum for additional route/resources information.
Canadian Canoe Routes. North Western Ontario Canoe Routes from Ontario Canoeing Regions. CCR Inc. 2007-2009.
Canadian Canoe Routes. Saskatchewan Canoeing Regions CCR Inc. 2007-2009. Note: Limited selection see Sask. gov. site below.
Canoe Saskatchewan. Routes and Trips 2011.
Canoeing.com. Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, 2015.
Dewit, Vern.Canoeing 2009
Emerson-Franklin, municipality. Map of the Roseau River. PDF copies: Stuartburn to Roseau River Park, Roseau River Park to PR 218
Sioux Narrows - Nester Falls Canoe Routes in Area.
Kocay, Bill. Bill Kocay's River Running Pages. Self Published, 2009
Lambert, Steve. Paddling the Seine, 2018
Manitoba Conservation. Parks and Natural Areas, Outdoor Recreation Canoeing. Manitoba Conservation, 2010. All of these need to be updated - 2020 In the meantime see: Manitoba Conservation Canoeing Page
Manitoba Conservation. Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park. Manitoba Conservation, 2001.
Manitoba Conservation. Duck Mountain Provincial Park. Manitoba Conservation.
Manitoba Conservation. Grass River Provincial Park Manitoba Conservation, 2002.
Manitoba Conservation. Nopiming Provincial Park. Manitoba Conservation, 2001.
Manitoba Conservation. Paint Lake Provincial Park. Manitoba Conservation, 2001.
Manitoba Conservation. Turtle Mountain Provincial Park. Manitoba Conservation, 2001
Manitoba Conservation. Whiteshell Provincial Park. Manitoba Conservation, 2002.
Manitoba Eco-Network. Manigotagan River. Manitoba Eco-Netowrk, 2008.
Minnesota Dept. Natural Resources. Minnesota's water trails. Minnesota Dept. Natural Resources, 2009
Natural Resources Canada. The Atlas of Canada - Toporama - Topographic Maps Natural Resources Canada, 2010. Note: This site does not contain routes but it is a source for topographic information.
Natural Resources Canada. GeoGratis Natural Resources Canada, 2010. Geospatial data available online at no cost and without restrictions, including Topgraphic map sheets in PFD and TIF format. Use CanTopo or CanVec depending on needs. This site does not contain routes but it is an excellent source for topographic map information.
North Dakota Parks and Recreation, Canoeing in North Dakota, 2015.
North Dakota Water Science Center. Canoeing North Dakota's Rivers US Geological Survey, 2008 Note Canoeing information is no longer available on this site - 2015 - looking for an update
Paddle Manitoba. Paddle Manitoba Resources, Routes Paddle Manitoba (MRCA). An original archive of the MRCA routes page is still available.
Paddle Manitoba. Booklet W Routes Demonstration Charles Burchill, 2010 based on Paddle Manitoba (MRCA) Trip Reports from the 1990s
Paddle Planner Paddle Planner.com Interactive map in the Whiteshell last accessed 2016. See http://www.paddleplanner.com/
Path of the Paddle Association Trails. 2015.
Saskatchwan, Government. Saskatchwan Canoe Routes. Saskatchwan Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, 2009
Storie, Ken. River Journeys in Southwestern Manitoba Self Published, 2009.
Trails.com Minnesota Flatwater Paddleing & Canoeing | Minnesota Water Trails Trails.com, 1999-2009. Note: Detailed information requires registration - see MN DNR site
Travel Manitoba Paddling In Manitoba - Unsurpassed Waters Travel Manitoba, 2010. The web page is not longer for Travel Manitoba - no replacement found
also see: Travel Manitoba's Outdoor Adventure Guide, 2009. Page appears to be down
Travel Manitoba 2011 Outdoor Adventure Guide, 2011.
True_North's Rablin' boy. Canoeing The Bloodvein River Ramblin' boy, True_north's blog of trails travelled and rivers paddled. Aug 24, 2014.
Wallace Lake Lodge Wallace Lake Canoe Routes and Loops, 2015. Site is down
Whitemouth RM Whitemouth River Recreation Map, 2020.
Wilderness SupplyWinnipeg Assiniboine River Canoe Route Map and Guide, 2015. On related pages there are a number of other trips etc... Look under Resources to the right.
I was not sure where to put this one but see the Historical Canoe Route Maps from Canada Map Sales (Real Berard's hand-drawn canoe route maps). Routes listed as of Sept 2009: Assiniboine, Grass River, Kautunigan, Land of Little Sticks, Little Grand Rapids, Mistik Creek, Bird-Manigotagan, Riviere aux Rats, Sasaginnigak, Middle Track & Hayes, Waterhen, Whitemouth, Winnipeg River.
Paddle Manitoba home page
or Find Paddle Manitoba on Facebook, or Instagram
Canadian Canoe Routes (See the Forums) owned and operated by: Wilderness Canoe Association
Canoeing.com - Lots of paddling information
Series of articles on paddling and equipment from Paddling.net
John Winters - Technical Articles on Canoe and Kayak design, terminology, and resistance measures.
Hearts and Minds - some technical explanations for lay-person on paddlesports (pivots, energy/momentum).
How to Solo a Tandem Canoe more generally the whole site paddlinglight.com
Canadian Heritage Rivers System
Brian Johnston's Canoeing Site
Flash Earth - higher res satellite based on Bing and Yahoo
Vector Math - it is a sailing article but some great explanations
The Science of Paddling, The intersection of physics, physiology, and paddle sport by Shawn Burke, Ph.D This is a great set of articles, a good read.
If you want to buy or rent canoe equipment in Winnipeg these are the places I recommend. There are other places, some are probably great, but I have not rented or bought at other places that I would recommend. Remember to do a little homework first, before you buy - try. All of these stores have options for trying out equipment and the staff, who actually use the equipment, provide excellent advice.
Wilderness Supply (50 Isabel St.) Downtown
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) Downtown