RABBIT RIVER
Name: Rabbit River to Cole Lake
Prime Flows: Flood levels (we went in mid July with low water)
Length: 30 km (round trip)
Class: N/A
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
Directions: 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.
Prime Flows: Flood levels (we went in mid July with low water)
Length: 30 km (round trip)
Class: N/A
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
Directions: 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.
The Rabbit River is 15 kilometers long and for the most part, shallow, winding, swampy, and full of beaver dams. But that isn't all the Rabbit has to offer.
The river, usually runnable from May to August 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.
Aside from a few lakes, the river is entirely narrow and windy. 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!
Every once in a while the swamp is broken by some "rapids" which are usually 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.
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. The swampy sections also make nice areas for bird watching. 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.
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 supposedly filled with larger walleye.
From Cole Lake there is only one way back. Unfortunately, that would be the way you came. All in all I would say that the Rabbit River might be worth checking out, but I wouldn't say it should be high on your to-do list.
Happy Paddling!
Braeden
Braeden