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This page provides an interactive map and some interesting botanical side notes about the trip to Mantario and the day hike that is often taken. The day hike is usually done on the Wednesday of the summer program and follows part of the Mantario trail. The information provided here is supporting material for the 'Botanical' week run as part of the Mantario summer program. More complete information about the summer program and the trip to Mantario should be obtained from Nature Manitoba.
Big Whiteshell
Big Whiteshell
Start the trip to Mantario from the dock at the south campground, Big Whiteshell. If you come with your own canoes you can start further along your route from the boat launch at Block 9. Carefully check out the colony of Brittle Prickly-pear cacti on the island just south of Post Island. Please do not disturb or take portions of this plant off of the island. On the way to Mantario, or back, stop near Castle Rock to climb the caves. Here you will be able to cool off and look at liverworts (Marchantia polymorpha).
Into Richie and The Mantario Wilderness
Into Richie and The Mantario Wilderness
You can cross from Big Whiteshell to Ritchie either by taking two shorter portages through Crowduck Lake or the longer portage directly. In recent years most groups of chosen to take the longer route as it is a little faster - although the Big Whiteshell can be quite a slog through the mud.
There is some poison ivy on each of the portages. Consider staying out of the bush through the dryer sections of the portages and at the start of the portages intoCrowduck Lake.
The portage into Ritchie Lake marks the entry into the Mantario Wilderness Zone. No motorized traffic is allowed without appropriate permission.
Lunch and portage into One
Lunch and portage into One
Lunch on Ritchie provides an opportunity to go for a swim, a break, and rest after the last portage(s). This is one of the common campsites along the Mantario Trail. There is a picnic table and a 'Green Thrown'.
The next portage takes you into One Lake, it is the shortest of all of the porages. There is a small creek on One Lake that can be paddled in most years, but be prepared for a trudge through a wet sedge meadow if the water is low.
Into Two Lake and Carnivorous Plants
Into Two Lake and Carnivorous Plants
Even though it is often a little wet and muddy on the Lake One side this is really a nice portage with some neat plants to see. In July I usually find a few dewberries along the trail. On Two Lake there is a small bog that boasts two of Manitoba's carnivorous plants - Look for the small round leaf sundew and the pitcherplant. There is another common aquatic carnivorous Common Bladderwort, another carnivorous plant, can be spotted along the edges of the marshy sections. The small trees in the bog are predominantly Tamarack - the only Manitoba coniferous tree that loses its leaves in the fall.
The "Up-and-Over" into Three Lake
The "Up-and-Over" into Three Lake
This portage goes over a height of land that is quite steep at both ends and reasonably level across the top. Just over half way across the portage into Lake Three there is a canoe rest setup. Take advantage of the pole between two trees to hold the canoe, take break and look around. This portage, in my opinion, should be renamed to 'onion' portage because of the abundance of onions on the south facing section overlooking Three Lake. On the steep section look for wild onions and smooth sumac.
Mantario (finally)
Mantario (finally)
The longest portage (unless the beaver dam is rebuilt). The portage has moved several times over the years because of beaver dam flooding. Look at the changes in the shrubs and trees where the portage has been in the past. Over the summers of 2005/6 beavers had enlarged a dam at the Mantario end of the portage making it possible to paddle.
I took the video in 2021 to provide an idea of the portage - but you really can't count on what you are going to find. Every year it is a new adventure - sometimes a long walk, sometimes a quick jaunt and a paddle, and other years a long mud fest.
The Cabin
The Cabin
Enjoy a nice hot sauna and swim. On the last leg across the lake look at the level of algae in this lake, count the cabins. Think back to Big Whiteshell and the impact that we have had.
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