The circular shape of the main body of the lake is due to the submerged West Hawk crater, caused by a meteor impact into an ancient rock bed composed of mostly granite.

Parts of the Whiteshell park have elaborate petroforms that were made by First Nation peoples, possibly over a thousand years ago.

A marine glacial relict, the Deepwater sculpin is found in West Hawk Lake.

[1][2] The lake has private cottages, public beaches, campgrounds, and other tourism amenities, and extensive undeveloped shoreline, and is popular for boating, sailing, Wakeboarding, and scuba diving.

It is just north of the Trans-Canada Highway, and on the Trans Canada Trail, on the border of Manitoba and Ontario.