Pisew Falls Provincial Park
Pisew Falls Provincial Park is a provincial heritage park in the southwestern portion of Mystery Lake, Manitoba, Canada.
Located near Kwasitchewan Falls, Manitoba's highest waterfall, Pisew Falls stands at the approximate midpoint between the small community of Wabowden and the much larger industrial and service centre of Thompson55°11′52″N 98°23′48″W / 55.19778°N 98.39667°W / 55.19778; -98.39667 (Pisew Falls Provincial Park).[1] It is also located approximately 700 km (430 mi) north of Winnipeg, and 500 m (1,600 ft) from Highway 6.
The name Pisew is translated from words for "lynx" in the local Cree language, named for the sound of the hissing water which bears a resemblance to the sounds made by the wild lynx.
Pisew Falls' creation was due to the intensive geological activity in the area hundreds of thousands of years ago, when violent tectonic effects caused the creation of first a fault, and then an upheaval of the southern side of the fault-line. This has left a rift in the landscape with a waterfall riotously cascading over and through it.
Micro-climate
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/Pisew01.jpg/200px-Pisew01.jpg)
Because of the continuous flow of water over the falls, the localized area has developed its own microclimate. A wide variety of mosses, lichens, and fungi can be found in the immediate area around the base of the falls. There are also a variety of ferns whose origins date back to before the last ice age. The dominant winter feature downstream and to the right of the falls is the ice that builds up on top of a small island there. This island only rises a few feet above the downstream water level in summer, but by late February, the ice accumulates to approximately 3–5 metres thick from the months of freezing spray.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/50/Pisew02_07-2005.jpg/200px-Pisew02_07-2005.jpg)
At the periphery of this barrier between liquid water and frozen surroundings lies a thin ridge of plant growth that continues to survive throughout the harshest of the -45 degree Celsius days in this frigid northern wilderness. Normally the process of photosynthesis ceases in the surrounding area.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Pisew_Falls_June.jpg/200px-Pisew_Falls_June.jpg)
It is common to see one or more of the local otters using the large ice buildup as a "slide", providing the otters and lucky spectators with hours of amusement.
Officers of Manitoba Conservation ask that visitors keep the area clean and stay well away from the areas below the falls, which are clearly marked as "Environmentally Sensitive". As long as everyone co-operates in this respect, this remarkable piece of geography will be here for many generations to come.
Activities
Camping and hiking
Camping is not permitted at the falls themselves. There are no shower facilities, no electrical services, and the only toilet facilities are of the outhouse variety. There is a picnic area, and another place for a stopping if travelling further north or south.
There are two hiking trails with rugged campsites leading from the Picnic and Falls areas. The trails are very rugged, and only recommended for experienced backpackers to attempt. The trail to Kwasitchewan Falls is 22 km (about 13 miles) return.
Canoe and kayak
The campsites are accessible by water and a short portage via the Grass River and Phillips Lake.[2]
Motorized boats over 14 ft (4 m) are generally not recommended because of the lack of boat launching facilities.
Caution
There are several warnings about wildlife including bears. There are a number of black bears who reside in this area, as well as wolves, and cougars which have been spotted as far north as Thompson, Manitoba.
Due to the relatively high humidity present year-round, it is possible to slip on fresh wet greenery in the summer, and slick ice in the winter. It may be dangerous to stray too far off the clearly marked path. There has been one fatality at the falls in recent years,[3] and a Memorial Trail-Marker is there to mark it. The ledges are steep, the fall is long, and the current below is swift. Caution is advised at all times.
See also
References
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/40px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Pisew Falls at the Manitoba Department of Conservation.
- v
- t
- e
- Asessippi
- Atikaki
- Bakers Narrows
- Beaudry
- Beaver Creek
- Bell Lake
- Birch Island
- Birch Point
- Birds Hill
- Burge Lake
- Camp Morton
- Caribou River
- Chitek Lake Anishinaabe
- Clearwater Lake
- Colvin Lake
- Criddle/Vane Homestead
- Duck Mountain
- Duff Roblin
- Elk Island
- Fisher Bay
- Grand Beach
- Grand Rapids
- Grand Valley
- Grass River
- Hecla-Grindstone
- Hnausa Beach
- Hyland
- Kettle Stones
- Kinwow Bay
- Lake St. Andrew
- Lake St. George
- Little Limestone Lake
- Lockport
- Lundar Beach
- Manigotagan River
- Manipogo
- Marchland
- Margaret Bruce
- Memorial
- Moose Lake
- Neso Lake
- Netley Creek
- Nopiming
- Norris Lake
- North Steeprock Lake
- Nueltin Lake
- Numaykoos Lake
- Oak Lake
- Overflowing River
- Paint Lake
- Patricia Beach
- Pembina Valley
- Pinawa Dam
- Pinawa
- Pisew Falls
- Poplar Bay
- Portage Spillway
- Primrose
- Rainbow Beach
- Red Deer River
- River Road
- Rivers
- Rocky Lake
- Sand Lakes
- Sasagiu Rapids
- Seton
- South Atikaki
- Springwater
- Spruce Woods
- St. Ambroise Beach
- St. Malo
- St. Norbert
- Stephenfield
- Sturgeon Bay
- Swan River
- Trappest Monastery
- Turtle Mountain
- Twin Lakes
- Upper Fort Garry Heritage
- Wallace Lake
- Watchorn
- Wekusko Falls
- Whitefish Lake
- Whitemouth Falls
- Whiteshell
- William Lake
- Winnipeg Beach
- Woodridge
- Yellow Quill
- Zed Lake
- Agassiz
- Belair
- Brightstone Sand Hill
- Cat Hills
- Cormorant
- Duck Mountain
- Moose Creek
- Northwest Angle
- Porcupine
- Sandilands
- Spruce Woods
- Swan-Pelican
- Turtle Mountain
- Wampum
- Whiteshell
- Armit Meadows
- Baralzon Lake
- Birch River
- Brokenhead River
- Brokenhead Wetland
- Cedar Bog
- Cowan Bog
- Holmgren Pines
- Jennifer and Tom Shay
- Kaweenakumik Islands
- Lake St. George Caves
- Lake Winnipegosis Salt Flats
- Lewis Bog
- Libau Bog
- Little George Island
- Long Point
- Palsa Hazel
- Pelican Islands
- Piney
- Pocock Lake
- Red Rock
- Reindeer Island
- Ste. Anne Bog
- St. Labre Bog
- Walter Cook Caves
- Wampum
- Whitemouth Bog
- Whitemouth Island
- Whitemouth River
- Woodridge
- Alonsa
- Assiniboine Corridor
- Basket Lake
- Bernice
- Brandon Hills
- Broad Valley
- Broomhill
- C. Stewart Stevenson
- Catfish Creek
- Cayer
- Churchill
- Delta Marsh
- Deerwood
- Dog Lake
- Ebor
- Gerald W. Malaher
- Grant's Lake
- Gypsumville
- Harrison
- Hilbre
- Holmfield
- Kasatamagan Sipi
- Kasatamagan
- Lake Francis
- Langruth
- Lauder Sandhills
- Lee Lake
- Lee River
- Little Birch
- Little Saskatchewan
- Manatagao
- Maple Lake
- Mars Hill
- Marshy Point
- Moose Creek
- Narcisse
- Oak Hammock Marsh
- Observation Point
- Oranole
- Otter Lake
- Parkland
- Pembina Valley
- Penonan Point
- Pierson
- Point River
- Portage Sandhills
- Proven Lake
- Proulx Lake
- Rat River
- Red Deer
- Riverside
- Saskeram
- Sleeve Lake
- Souris River Bend
- Spruce Woods
- Spur Woods
- St. Malo
- Steeprock
- Stuartburn
- Thalberg Bush
- Tiger Hills
- Tom Lamb
- Turtle Mountain
- Upper Assiniboine
- Wakopa
- Washow Bay
- Watson P. Davidson
- Weiden
- Wellington
- Westlake
- Whitemouth Bog
- Whitemud Watershed
- Whitewater Lake
World Biosphere Reserves
- Assiniboine
- Bruce
- Central
- Kil-Cona
- Kildonan
- King's
- Living Prairie Museum
- Maple Grove
- St. Vital
- Stephen Juba
Category
- Conservation Districts
- Parks Canada
Commons