Pisew Falls

Pisew Falls drops about thirteen metres on the Grass River and is the most accessible large waterfall in Manitoba: a boardwalk and viewing platforms run a few minutes from the highway car park, with spray reaching the walkway at high water. The name comes from a Cree word for lynx, said to refer to the sound of the falls resembling a lynx's hiss. A suspension bridge crosses below, and from there a demanding twenty-two kilometre trail leads to Kwasitchewan Falls, about fourteen metres and the highest in the province, which most visitors never see. The boreal forest around holds moose and black bear.

What you actually see

• The thirteen-metre drop - the falls seen from boardwalk platforms.
• The suspension bridge - a crossing below the falls on the Grass River.
• The spray zone - mist and moss on the walkway at high water.
• The Kwasitchewan trail - a 22 km route to Manitoba's highest falls.

When to go

June to September for the trail and full flow; spring melt gives the most water. Winter turns the falls to ice formations but access is limited. Mosquitoes are heavy in June and July.

Honest expectations

The Kwasitchewan trail is a serious backcountry route, not an extension of the boardwalk. The site is a long drive from anywhere, with Thompson the nearest town. Facilities are basic.

Nearby

Thompson lies north; Little Limestone Lake is south.