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CANADIAN BASES

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Atikokan, Ontario and Bissett, Manitoba

Two Canadian Canoe Bases are satellites of the Ely Base, each providing a unique opportunity for wilderness canoe trips with specialties that complement and enhance the program.

ATIKOKAN, ONTARIO
The Donald Rogert Canoe Base sets the stage for the Atikokan program that is characterized by an increased canoeing area including the northern and western portions of the Quetico Provincial Park. The canoeing area north of Atikokan is the real focus point of the Base. A paved road bisects this canoeing area and consequently makes for several alternatives such as; numerous drop off / pick up points, float plane access, and extended one-way trips. Much of the area north of Atikokan is zoned for multiple use recreation. This multiple use recreation fits well with wilderness canoe trips. The area around Atikokan is referred to as "The Canoe Capital of Canada".

BISSETT, MANITOBA
The Bissett program specializes in fresh water fishing, particularly for walleye, and remote wilderness canoe trips. All crews fly by crew-chartered float plane from the Base, which is located in the townsite of Bissett, to the Northern Tier canoe cache on Scout Lake. Scout Lake is about thirty miles north of Bissett.

Bissett is approximately 150 miles northeast of Winnipeg. It can be reached by float plane (Blue Water Aviation of Pine Falls, Manitoba) or by paved and gravel highways. The last 25 miles of the highway is gravel, and this is the route from Manigotogan to Bissett. Several highway routes are available to Powerview, Manitoba, and then by highway 304 to Bissett. The trip from Winnipeg takes about three hours.

The canoeing area for the Bissett Base is primarily the Atikaki (where the caribou are) Park. This is a remote wilderness park and includes many lakes and several rivers flowing west into Lake Winnipeg. This canoeing area, like the area around Ely and Atikokan, is characterized by glacial lakes and what is called the "Canadian Shield".