Archive for December, 2009

At Churchill River Canoe Outfitters, we often are asked to recommend routes suitable for family paddling: easy-to-paddle, with well-appointed campsites, picturesque, and above all, simple to navigate. The consensus around here is the MacLennan Lake area fits the bill perfectly.

Located fifty kilometers north of our home base at Missinipe, MacLennan Lake is the gateway to a chain of pristine and simply gorgeous lakes. MacLean Lake, Hutchings Lake, Fowell Lake, Davis Lake, Bryan Lake, are just a few of the bodies of water available as destinations from MacLennan Lake. All feature generally calm, cool, clear waters, beautiful campsites, and relatively easy to negotiate portages. Above all, they all lie in a simply spectacular region of the Boreal Forest, teaming with great scenery, an abundance of flora, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

This chain of lakes offers a variety of paddling options to all, ranging from rookies to experienced. Families looking for a simple excursion can easily spend their entire stay on and very close to MacLennan Lake. There is much to see and explore on this body of water. More experienced and adventuresome travellers have a number of options available to them. In fact, there are close to two dozen established canoe routes criss-crossing through this area.

Getting to MacLennan Lake involves driving about one hundred and thirty kilometers over a well-maintained gravel road (pavement on Highway #2 ends at the north end of Lac La Ronge). Once at the lake, vehicles can be safely parked at a service station located at the launch point. Our Churchill River Canoe Outfitters office is eighty kilometers north of Lac La Ronge, at Missinipe. It is a great place to stop for a rest before completing the trip to MacLennan Lake. In Missinipe, you can have lunch at a local restaurant, pick up extra supplies at the general store, and stop in at C.R.C.O. We are always happy to provide information about current route conditions, answer questions, and provide advice to make your trip as enjoyable as possible.

The MacLennan Lake area is a gem in Saskatchewan’s northern Boreal Forest. Consider making it a destination for you and your family. You won’t be disappointed!