Wilderness Canoe Trips - 2009

CHURCHILL RIVER: Saskatchewan

The Churchill River is a series of island filled lakes joined by rapids or falls. This canoe trip will take you from Sandfly Lake to Otter Rapids, a distance of 150 kilometres with a maximum of 12 portages. When you paddle the Churchill you spend a lot of time watching eagles and pelicans soaring overhead searching for fish. We will take some time to study these birds. We'll watch pelicans fish and we'll search for eagle's nests.

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society is an environmental organization that is deeply committed to protecting the Churchill River. 10% of your trip fees will be donated to CPAWS to help preserve this incredible wilderness.

SEAL RIVER: Manitoba

Churchill River Canoe Outfitters is doing this expedition in conjunction with Wilderness Spirit of Winnipeg.

Because of the Seal River's wildlife, whitewater and incredible scenery, it is an awesome river to paddle. But more subtle than these things are the change that happens in the landscape. We watch the slow change from Precambrian Shield to Hudson Bay Lowlands. We also watch the change from boreal forest to taiga to tundra. We will be studying these changes as we travel this incredible wilderness.

CREE RIVER: Saskatchewan

The Cree River is an excellent wilderness river for the canoeist with limited whitewater experience and who wants a truly remote wilderness experience. It is a river where wildlife is prevalent, fishing is exceptional and people are few.

ATHABASCA SAND DUNES: Saskatchewan

Because this area is so unique and so fragile, the Saskatchewan Government preserved it as a Wilderness Park. On the wilderness trip you'll get to hike and canoe through an area unique to North America. You'll get to stand on top of the biggest sand dunes on the continent. You'll see plants that only grow here. You'll understand why the Athabasca Sand Dunes Wilderness Area is being protected.

FOND DU LAC RIVER: Saskatchewan

Come paddle the Fond du Lac River at this most beautiful time of year. The scenery is phenomenal. The rapids are a blast. The campsites are superb. There is a good chance of seeing lots of wildlife. You'll want to have lots of room on your camera’s memory card.

THE FRENCH DUCKER ROUTE: Saskatchewan

This canoe trip both starts and ends at the Churchill River Canoe Outfitters base in Missinipe. The route passes through some of the most beautiful country in the north. You’ll see island filled lakes and awesome waterfalls. You’ll camp overnight on “rocky ledges” “close by the water’s edge, silent and still”.

You’ll living the song: “Land of the silver birch. Home of the beaver. Where still the mighty moose wanders at will. Here on a rocky ledge, I’ll build my wigwam. Close by the water’s edge, silent and still. Quick as a silver fish, canoe of birch bark, o’re mighty water ways carry me forth. Blue lake and rocky shore, I will return once more."

CHURCHILL RIVER: Saskatchewan

The wilderness has a natural ability to restore and rebalance a person. On this women's trip a Psychologist will be along to enhance the wilderness' natural ability. If you are experiencing anxiety, chronic pain, panic or depression, this canoe trip is definitely for you. Come join us and return to a healthier life experience.

THE McLENNAN LAKE AREA: Saskatchewan

Northern Saskatchewan is a canoeists paradise! The region boasts more than 100,000 lakes and many rivers, rugged rock outcroppings and forested landscapes. The McLennan Lake area is a gem in this canoeing paradise. This canoe trip will take place in this gem.

KAZAN RIVER: Nunavut

Churchill River Canoe Outfitters is conducting this expedition in conjunction with Wilderness Spirit of Winnipeg.

The Kazan River flows through south eastern Nunavut. To paddle the whole river would take about 6 weeks. We are travelling though only the bottom part of the river. It is an ultimate barren land canoe trip.

NAHANNI RIVER: Nunavut

The Nahanni River may be Canada’s most spectacular river. Churchill River Canoe Outfitters offers this awesome canoe trip in conjunction with Nahanni Wilderness Adventures. The scenery is breathtaking, the food is awesome – it’s a canoe trip you’ll never forget. Join us in this amazing place.

PORCUPINE RIVER: Saskatchewan

Canyons, unbelievable camping, mystifying water falls, incredible fishing, exhilarating white water, and wildlife. These are some of the things waiting for you on what some describe as Saskatchewan's best canoe trip. The Porcupine River is north eastern Saskatchewan's gem. This is a must paddle river for any serious wilderness canoeist.

PAULL RIVER: Saskatchewan

The Paull River starts about 75 kilometres north from Missinipe. The river follows a southerly course over numerous rapids and a picturesque waterfall and then into the Churchill River. The canoe trip then follows the Churchill River to Missinipe where the this trip ends.

Guide Service

You have all of your own food and equipment - you just want a guide along to show you how to improve your paddling technique, point out where the best campsites are, or teach you how to read the river. (For complete trip packages with guide, food, canoes, contact us for a quote.)

Our Certified well- trained guides are worth every penny. Our rates are as follows:

Premium Guides:  $240 per day (overnight rate) or $190 (day rate)

These are guides who are certified by Paddle Canada with Level 2 Canoe Camping Instructors, Level 2 Moving Water and Level 2 Lake Water Paddling. They have certification in Swift Water Rescue and in Wilderness First Aid. We have 4 guides that fit into this category. Together these three guides have extensive experience and knowledge in the area. They have been canoeing for very many years. They are fun loving and enjoy people.

Regular Guides start at $155 per day. These guides have less experience and less knowledge of the area. But they are safe and competant and can certainly get you safely from point A to point B.

Guided Canoe Trips

Horizons Unlimited Wilderness Tours has many scheduled, guided canoe trips offered on this site. Please keep in mind that we will also take many guided, unscheduled canoe trips with private groups. These canoe trips include rivers in Northern Saskatchewan, Northern Manitoba and southern Nunavat. Rivers such as the following:

• Foster River (north central Saskatchewan)
• Porcupine River (northeast Saskatchewan)
• Waterfound River (northeast Saskatchewan)
• Kazan River (southern Nunavut)
• MacFarlane River (northwest Saskatchewan)
• Grease River (northeast Saskatchewan)
• Geikie River (north central Saskatchewan)
• Cree River (north central Saskatchewan)
• Hawkrock River (northeast Saskatchewan)
• Dubawnt River (southern Nunavut)
• Otherside River (northwest Saskatchewan)
• Paull River (north central Saskatchewan)
• Seal River (northern Manitoba)
• Churchill River (north central Saskatchewan)
• Fond du Lac River (northeast Saskatchewan)
• William River (northwest Saskatchewan)
• Clearwater River (northwest Saskatchewan)

 

Self-guided Trips

You're ready to go on your own - you just need a little extra information, equipment, a shuttle, or an overnight in one of our rustic cabins with a hot shower and a real bed.

Churchill River Canoe Outfitters is your only one-stop canoe trip outfitter in Northern Saskatchewan.

A large part of what Churchill River Canoe Outfitters does is help people plan canoe trips. Our staff have first hand knowledge of most every canoe route in this part of northern Saskatchewan. If you would like us to help you plan your route:

1. We'll ask you a number of questions.
2. When we have a good understanding of what kind of canoe trip you want we'll give you several route options.
3. We'll then supply you with a detailed description of the option you choose.
4. We'll go over the route with you on your maps pointing out the places of interest, the danger spots, etc.

C.R.C.O. also has maps of all the popular canoe routes in Northern Saskatchewan. We plan canoe trips for hundreds of people each year.

We have equipment for rent.

We can provide shuttles and flight booking.

Churchill River Canoe Outfitters also has cabins for rent. It's nice to have a shower and a dry bed after a canoe trip and before a long drive home. These are modern cabins with kitchens, all equipped for light housekeeping.

Just want a hot shower? We can accommodate that as well ($5 per person)

Taxes

There is a 5% Federal Tax on most items (refundable to foreign visitors) and a 5% Provincial Tax on some items.

Deposit Policy

We require a deposit on all rental bookings. The deposit required is equil to the first days rent.