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I remember the first time I drove a trailer full of kayaks into the town of Whitemouth on my way to the river. At the gas station a young boy asked me why I had all of those toboggans with me during the summer. After a quick chuckle, I explained that they were whitewater kayaks and that we were teaching a group of beginners to paddle on the river. He gave me a strange look and rode off on his bike. Upon reflection, I have to admit we were an odd sight back then and we were often met with stares and curious questions. But times have changed. In the RM of Whitemouth these days, from spring thaw to late fall, cars hauling kayaks and canoes share the back roads with tractors and combines. Strange looks have been replaced by friendly waves and when we walk into the local restaurants, we know the owners by name.
The Whitemouth River has been recognized as a “paddling river” for 100’s of years, but its recent gain in popularity started back in 1995, when Glen Klapprat generously opened Cooks Falls Campground at the request of the local paddling community. We were looking for easy access to one of the best beginner / intermediate kayaking rapids in the region, and Glen owned the land adjacent to the river. Over the past decade, this family owned campground has grown from a patch of grass with a picnic table and fire box, to a beautiful site with showers, barn and kitchen rental, hydro, and a great selection of serviced and non-serviced sites. Glen and his wife Marion, have truly created a beautiful and welcoming destination and continue to demonstrate their country hospitality by sharing a beverage or smokie-dog around the fire. If you visit the site on a weekend in the summer, you may find a group of kayakers mingling with local groups on a picnic, family reunions, wedding celebrations, or gatherings of baseball teams all enjoying the unique river side setting.
Over the past 13 years, hundreds of people from all walks of life have experienced the thrills of whitewater kayaking using the exciting rapids of the Whitemouth River. Multiple outfitters and camps have used the site for staff training and in 2003, the Manitoba Whitewater Club hosted it’s first annual whitewater festival at this location. The festival now attracts paddlers from Alberta, B.C. Ontario, and several Northern States and it continues to grow each year. That same year, WAVpaddling Kayaking School, a nationally certified kayak instructional company based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, made Cooks Falls Campground it’s primary base camp and started running the bulk of it’s river and sea kayaking programs from that location. Many of the courses are run on the Whitemouth River and often right at the campground. And with all levels of world class river running, freestyle playboating, and sea kayaking within an hours drive, Cooks is the perfect spot to pitch your tent and unwind beside a fire after a long day on the water.
Nestled between Winnipeg and the Whiteshell Provincial Park, the Whitemouth River is recognized as the place to camp by local paddlers. We still get the occasional stare or curious glance when we show up with our boats, but now when the locals refer to us, they cheerily say “those crazy kayakers” and flash us a smile. And hey, at least they don’t think we’re hauling toboggans anymore.
See you on the water!
Mick Lautt |
