Kayaking and Canoeing Manitoba: Rabbit River

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Name: Rabbit River to Cole lake
Flows: No gauge (went in mid July)
Length: 30km (round trip)
Class: -----
Highlights: good fishing, beaver dams, warm water
Put In: Rabbit River put in off highway 315
Take out: Rabbit River Put in off highway 315
Nearby Towns: Lac du Bonnet, Bird Lake, Bissett

The Rabbit River is 15 kilometers long and for the most part, shallow, winding, and swampy. But that isn't all the Rabbit has to offer. The river, runnable from May to Au also flows through rocky granite outcrops, lakes, and fen. Most of it is slow moving but there are sections of fast water and rock gardens, which during times of very high water may create fun rapids.

The put-in of the trip is located just off highway 315. From Lac du Bonnet, follow highway 11 North. Turn right at highway 313. You will cross a bridge over the Winnipeg River. Several kilometers later you will cross a bridge over the Pinawa Channel. Turn left onto highway 315. You will cross Rice Creek and the Bird River. The road will turn to gravel. Follow this extremely bumpy gravel road for 45 km then turn right at the sign that marks the put in. If you reach the turn off to the Black Lake campground, you have gone too far.

Directions to Put in From Lac du Bonnet

Once on the river you will find that beaver dams are plentiful, but if you get bored of paddling the winding passages through the reeds you can always try to paddle over the them!

Carl attempting to paddle a small dam

Carl paddling a larger dam

The author paddling over the same

The wildlife is plentiful and diverse. Moose, beaver, wolf, and bear are among the many creatures that inhabit this area. There are also many birds including geese, and eagles. Before you know it you will reach Cole Lake, a large, warm lake at the end of the trip. If you have a small group (1-3 tents) I recommend camping on the small island on the South end of the lake.

The island camp

If you're there to fishing, go to the North side of the lake. There are lots of Jack and small walleye on the south end but the North end is filled with large walleye.

First pike of the trip

A good lookin' walleye

Some "rapids" are wide enough for your boat to go through but you can't paddle due to the shallow water. Instead, you can push your boat through these spots.