This river connector was used by the voyageurs to travel from York Factory on Hudson Bay, up the Hayes and across to the Nelson and on to Norway House at the north end of Lake Winnipeg.

Including the rapids downstream from Knee Lake, in a 80-kilometre (50 mi) stretch the Hayes loses 5/7ths of its elevation in 1/6 of its length.

Another source has: Trout, Bourbon, Jack Tent, Factory, Steel, Rabbit, and Hill Rivers, and the Rivière du Roc.

[5] The river's physical characteristics include whitewater rapids, large lake systems, waterfalls, deep valleys and gorges, as well as tidal flats.

[6] Long before Europeans came to Canada, Manitoba First Nations were using the Hayes River as ancient campsites according to pictographs.

The Hayes was the main route between York Factory and Norway House in the interior of the continent for explorers, fur traders, voyageurs and European settlers from 1670 to 1870.

It is home to polar bear, wolverine, woodland caribou, the ivory gull, sturgeon, brook trout, beluga whales, bald eagles, and moose, as well as a wide range of other wildlife.

It offers visitors and local people recreational and heritage experience opportunities including canoeing and boating, hunting, fishing, and learning about Canada’s fur trade.