Pipestone River (Kenora District)

Pipestone River
Pipestone River (Kenora District) is located in Ontario
Pipestone River (Kenora District)
Location
Canada
ProvinceOntario
DistrictKenora
Physical characteristics
Mouth 
 • location
Wunnummin Lake
 • coordinates
52°53′20″N 89°23′18″W / 52.88889°N 89.38833°W / 52.88889; -89.38833
 • elevation
242 m (794 ft)
Basin features
ProgressionPipestone→ Winisk→ Hudson Bay

The Pipestone River is a river in northwestern Ontario, Canada.[1] It is a major tributary of Winisk River via Wunnummin Lake.[2] This pristine river flows through the rugged wilderness of Ontario's northern boreal forest, and drains into Wunnummin Lake.[3][4]

The river has extensive whitewater sections, including 37 sets of rapids ranging from Class 1 to 5+. The portion of the river from Nord Road (formerly Highway 808) to its mouth is protected in the Pipestone River Provincial Park.[3] Because of its remoteness and lack of facilities and services, canoeists require well-skilled wilderness and whitewater experience.[4]

At Misamikwash Lake (formerly known as Big Beaver Lake), the Hudson's Bay Company operated a fur trading post and outpost called Big Beaver House, that operated from 1911 to 1965. It was established by William King Oman as an outpost in 1911 and became a full trading post in 1945. In 1948, a store and warehouse were built. It closed in 1965 and moved its business to Wunnummin Lake.[5]

  1. ^ "Pipestone River". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Winisk River". www.britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Pipestone River Provincial Park Management Plan". ontario.ca. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Pipestone River Provincial Park". www.ontarioparks.com. Ontario Parks. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Hudson's Bay Company. Big Beaver House". pam.minisisinc.com. Archives of Manitoba. Retrieved 20 March 2023.