Trip Recommendations in Northern Sask

Are you familiar with Laurel Archer’s book?

No float plane really limits your options in Northern Saskatchewan, and makes it tough to get away from people. Sounds like you want some whitewater. Something on the Churchill corridor would probably work, like the Weaver River. It’s a short shuttle from Missinipe to where you start and you’d paddle back to your vehicle via some of Saskatchewans best whitewater (Barker Lake area). The Weaver is a great little river and not heavily travelled but the Churchill section is Sasks busiest canoe area but it should be on every paddlers to do list.
Another great resource for Saskatchewan canoe trips are the old government canoe route booklets https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/175vC3a9Oh5okptqzxe1HwGRH_aP5yyHt

Welcome @Jbone. I can't help with suggestions but I'll be watching the suggestions and hoping that you'll do a TR when you return.

I seem to be working my way West on canoe trips so it's probably just a matter of time until I cross into Saskatchewan.

Rubbaboo said:

No float plane really limits your options in Northern Saskatchewan, and makes it tough to get away from people. Sounds like you want some whitewater. Something on the Churchill corridor would probably work, like the Weaver River. It’s a short shuttle from Missinipe to where you start and you’d paddle back to your vehicle via some of Saskatchewans best whitewater (Barker Lake area). The Weaver is a great little river and not heavily travelled but the Churchill section is Sasks busiest canoe area but it should be on every paddlers to do list.
Another great resource for Saskatchewan canoe trips are the old government canoe route booklets https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/175vC3a9Oh5okptqzxe1HwGRH_aP5yyHt

Click to expand...

I’ll check out the booklets, thank you! And one day I’d love to do sometime remote that requires a fly-in, but this go round, I think it’s cost prohibitive for my trip partner, unfortunately.

If anybody could ballpark what float planes cost in general (obviously a huge range depending on cargo and distance) I’d be curious for future knowledge!

As well as the Weaver River, the 6 portages route north from Nemibien Lake would also take you to the Churchill - in Trout Lake -
and set you up to paddle the whitewater on the Churchill upstream from Missinipe.

The area north of the Churchill and east of the road has been my favourite area for fall trips for the past 25+ years. If you avoid the most popular sections, crowding would not be an issue. A couple of possibilities, personal favourites of mine, would include:

A loop between McLennan (or Cratty) and Brabant Lakes. Start in McLennan, go north via Cratty - MacLean - Calder - Buchanan - Wierzycki - Chartier River to Brabant. Return via Kakabigish - Settee - Colin - Versailles - Minuhik - Davis to McLennan. No shuttle needed, safe parking available at Bear's Camp at McLennan

A loop from Stanley MIssion. From Stanley, Churchill River downstream to Drinking Lake. Then up the Drinking River to Wapassini Lake, west through Robertson to Stempel , south via a chain of lakes including Luther - Buchner - Kemp - Hood - Sotkowy to Guncoat Bay of Mountain Lake, paddle back to Stanley. This route could also go north from Stempel through Solymos to Settee and finish at McLennan, if you wanted to do a shuttle.

As others have said there are almost too many options to list. Check the sources above, look at the maps, then come back once you have things narrowed down a bit. CRCO is definitely an excellent source for information and services.

I'm thinking that for 2 persons and a canoe, your most economical float plane option would be a Beaver. I haven't checked lately, but I think you're likely looking at something approaching $15/ mile. And don't forget, the plane flies both ways.

Hope this helps.

wjmc