The Turtle Lodge

Turtle Lodge Location

Location and Site Directions

The Turtle Lodge is situated in Sagkeeng First Nation (also known as Fort Alexander), Manitoba, Canada. The City of Winnipeg is the closest major centre to Sagkeeng.

Located on the Southern tip of Lake Winnipeg, Sagkeeng First Nation is located 120 km North of the City of Winnipeg and has a band registration of 6,640 people. The Reserve is located on both shores of the Winnipeg River. The Anishnabe (Ojibwe) named this area Sagkeeng, which means “mouth of the river”. From Winnipeg, one can easily travel by car (about a 1 hour drive from the Perimeter) or bus (a 2 ½ hour ride) to Sagkeeng.

Driving Directions from Winnipeg International Airport (1 1/2 hour drive)

Take Wellington Ave from the airport to Century St North/Rte 90
Go NORTH on Century St/Rte 90 for 10 km
Merge RIGHT onto Provincial Rte 101 EAST/Perimeter EAST
Take Perimeter EAST 16 km (10 miles) to Hwy 59 NORTH/Lagimodiere Boulevard (Grand Beach exit) for approximately 90 km - you will pass the Casino, anticipate another 15-20 mins drive after the casino
Turn RIGHT at Highway 11 by the Traverse Bay Corner Store – has an Esso gas station.
Travel for 10 km – you will pass the sign welcoming you to Sagkeeng First Nation, and over Catfish Creek
Shortly after entering Sagkeeng First Nation you will see the Sagkeeng Jr High School on your RIGHT – a building with a red roof
Turn RIGHT onto the long gravel road just BEFORE the Sagkeeng High School. (You can see the Turtle Lodge from the highway)
Follow road ½ km into the Turtle Lodge

Driving Directions from Winnipeg Airport to Powerview-Pine Falls Hotels (Papertown & Manitou Lodge) (1 1/2 hr drive)

Take Wellington Ave from the airport to Century St North/Rte 90
Go NORTH on Century St/Rte 90 for 10 km
Merge RIGHT onto Provincial Rte 101 EAST/Perimeter EAST
Take Perimeter EAST 16 km (10 miles) to Hwy 59 NORTH/Lagimodiere Boulevard (Grand Beach exit) for approximately 90 km - you will pass the Casino
Turn RIGHT at Highway 304 toward Pine Falls
Travel for 20 km – you will see the Papertown Motor Inn on your LEFT just before the turnoff left to Hwy 11
If going further into Pine Falls, turn LEFT on Hwy 11, continue through Pine Falls, pass the gas station and you will see the Manitou Lodge directly on your LEFT

Driving Directions from Powerview-Pine Falls to Turtle Lodge (10 min drive)

From the Papertown Motor Inn (Hwy 304), turn LEFT onto Hwy 304, and immediately LEFT onto Hwy 11
Take Hwy 11 straight through Pine Falls, pass the Manitou Lodge on your LEFT just past the Shell gas station, which is on your RIGHT
Continue past the railroad tracks – you will see a sign welcoming you to Sagkeeng First Nation
Continue about 8 km, passing the Sagkeeng Arena Multiplex on your RIGHT – which is about your halfway mark from Powerview
You will see the Sagkeeng Jr High School on your LEFT – a building with a red roof
Turn LEFT onto the long gravel road just AFTER the Sagkeeng High School. (You can see the Turtle Lodge from the highway)
Follow road ½ km into the Turtle Lodge

Driving Directions from Winnipeg airport to the SOUTH BEACH CASINO HOTEL and Birchwood Hotel

Take Wellington Ave from the airport to Century St North/Rte 90
Go NORTH on Century St/Rte 90 for 10 km
Merge RIGHT onto Provincial Rte 101 EAST/Perimeter EAST
Take Perimeter EAST 16 km (10 miles) to Hwy 59 NORTH/Lagimodiere Boulevard (Grand Beach exit) for approximately 90 km - you will pass the SOUTH BEACH CASINO AND HOTEL, anticipate another 15 mins drive after the casino to get to the Birchwood - keep going on Hwy 59
Instead of Turning RIGHT at Highway 11 by the Traverse Bay Corner Store – has an Esso gas station (that's the way to the Turtle Lodge...) instead STAY on Hwy 59 and drive about 1-2 mins
The Birchwood is located on Hwy 59 on the left hand side of the road

Please Click here for map.

Bus Service

There is bus service from the Winnipeg Bus Terminal to Fort Alexander. The bus service takes 2 ½ hours. Contact: www.greyhound.ca or 1-800-661-8747. You can ask the bus driver to drop you off just outside the school, at the entrance to the road to the Turtle Lodge. Please let us know when you want to come so we can open the doors.

Camping At the Turtle Lodge

During most major Events/Programs/Ceremonies, it is possible to camp at the Turtle Lodge. During the warmer seasons, you can pitch your own tent or tipi on site. Alternatively, one can often choose to stay inside the Turtle Lodge, an experience which many have found very enriching. We have a limited number of foam mattresses; school groups are encouraged to bring mattresses for their students, as well as bedding.

Accommodations Near the Turtle Lodge

There are a number of motels and hotels within driving distance in the area around Sagkeeng First Nation:

Manitou Lodge (7 mins drive): (204) 367-2252
Papertown Motor Inn (10 mins): (204) 367-2261
Birchwood Motor Hotel (10 mins): (204) 756-2596
South Beach Casino Hotel (30 mins): http://www.southbeachcasino.ca/ 1-204-766-2100