RCABC River Rescue Basic & Advanced

Our expeditions explore the untouched wilderness of Northern Saskatchewan — far from roads, crowds, or cell service. You’ll paddle the same routes once used by voyageurs on Canada’s historic Fur Trade Highway.

Our guides don’t just lead the trip; they elevate it — sharing local knowledge, paddling expertise, and stories that bring the land to life. Meals are chef-inspired and made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients from the boreal forest.

Yes for sure! Many guests come solo and leave with new friends.

Not necessarily! We offer three levels of canoe expeditions:

• Beginner: Short daily distances (under 10 km), minimal portages, and lots of coaching.

• Intermediate: Longer paddling days, small rapids, or moderate portages.

• Advanced: For experienced paddlers comfortable in whitewater.

If you’re unsure which level suits you, we’ll help you choose the perfect fit.

We operate on Northern Saskatchewan’s most scenic waterways — including the Churchill River, Fond du Lac River, Porcupine, and others. Expect clear lakes, runnable rapids, ancient portage trails, and island campsites surrounded by Canadian Shield granite.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast as the mist lifts off the lake, then paddle through calm waters or gentle rapids. Stop for a shore lunch and maybe a swim. Set up camp in the afternoon, then unwind with a gourmet dinner and stories by the fire under a canopy of stars.

Beginner Expeditions

For those just starting their paddling journey. These trips move at an easy pace—usually less than 10 km a day—with short or no portages. You’ll have plenty of time to learn the rhythm of the paddle and the feel of the river. Our guides will coach you along the way, helping you build skills and confidence as you explore the wilderness.

Intermediate Expeditions

A perfect balance of challenge and reward. You’ll paddle longer distances, run gentle whitewater, and portage through beautiful stretches of boreal forest. These trips are ideal if you’ve paddled before and want to take the next step. If you’re new to whitewater, we recommend our Intro to Whitewater Course to help you feel fully prepared.

Advanced Expeditions

For seasoned paddlers ready to take on a true northern adventure. Expect Class II–III whitewater, long days on the water, and portages that test your endurance and determination. With solid whitewater skills and good fitness, you’ll discover remote, untouched sections of the river few ever see—where every rapid, bend, and horizon holds a sense of wild possibility.

See expedition guides to find out the requirements for each expedition.

Most of our trips start and some end with a night in our Paddlers Lodge in Missinipe. Otherwise we will be sleeping in tents. If you do not have an expedition quality tent of your own, we are happy to rent one to you.

The toilet at every campsite is setup at a private location away from camp. We provide all the supplies. Your guides will explain everything to you.

Absolutely! The waters of the Churchill and Northern Saskatchewan are quite warm and pleasant for swimming during the summer months.

Daytime temperatures in July and August are typically quite warm, in the 20-30 degree Celsius range.

You may spot moose, black bears, bald eagles, loons, beavers, and otters. Sightings can’t be guaranteed, but quiet moments often bring incredible wildlife encounters.

Not so bad. Depending on the time and type of year, you may encounter mosquitoes and black flies but they are not as bad as you think. Northern Saskatchewan has a relatively dry climate and compared to many places, fewer bugs. If there are going to be bugs they are usually most active around dusk. Bring repellent, a bug hat or bug jacket depending on your tolerance.

We encourage you to bring whatever products work best for you. We provide the knowledge to manage it comfortably and respectfully in the wilderness.

No — and that’s part of the experience. You’ll be completely immersed in nature. Our guides carry satellite communication devices for emergencies.

Our experienced guides are trained for all conditions. We monitor weather closely and adjust routes or schedules as needed — or simply build a fire and wait out the storm in good company.

Our guides are all certified in Wilderness First Aid and we carry a fully stocked first aid kit, as well as satellite phone, so we are able to assess and treat most minor ailments while on the expedition. Most locations are accessible by float plane, should evacuation be required.

Once we leave our base there is no cell service. Your guides carry a satellite phone and Inreach device that allow for two way communication on every expedition. These can be used in case of emergency and logistic support.

Encounters with wildlife are highlights of the trip. You may encounter bears, wolves and moose, as well as smaller mammals and birds on your trip. Generally wildlife is timid and not a problem. We have procedures in place to ensure encounters with wildlife are respectful and safe. Your guide carries bear spray and bangers as an extra precaution.

Let the aroma of a fresh-brewed coffee draw you from your tent to a buffet of fresh fruit and granola while bacon and eggs sizzle on the grill! Shore lunches include a curated selection of gourmet meats, spreads, cheese and bread. After a great day of paddling, enjoy a nutritious, hearty meal with a tasty dessert while you sit around the fire to tell tales of your adventures.

Our menu has been crafted by Northern SK local, Chef Jenni Lessard. Our focus is on fresh, local ingredients to cultivate a menu that is unique to our home in the boreal forest. From sweet gale pork kebabs to spruce tip hollandaise and smoked fish topped breakfast sandwiches, our delicious eats will have you coming back for seconds at every meal.

Likely, Our menu can accommodate Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free requirements. Please let us know your needs in advance of the trip. Depending on the restriction we may ask you to bring some of your own food to supplement our meals.

We do not provide alcohol on our trips but you are welcome to bring and consume moderate personal amounts, in camp. Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while on the water is strictly prohibited.

Our season runs from mid-June through early September.

• June: Fresh water, full rivers, fewer bugs.

• July: Warm water and long days — perfect for swimming.

• August–September: Crisp nights, fewer bugs, golden sunsets.

Yes! We design private expeditions for families, groups of friends, photographers, or corporate teams. Whether you want a shorter trip, more comfort, or a focus on whitewater, we’ll tailor it to you.

Yes. We offer whitewater and wilderness skills training to help paddlers build confidence for future expeditions.

Many of our trips sell out 6 months in advance. Booking early guarantees your spot and gives you time to prepare.

To hold your spot, a 25% deposit is required. This deposit is fully refundable (minus a 5% admin fee) if cancelled more than 60 days before your trip and fully refundable within 7 days of booking. Once your trip is within 60 days and confirmed, all payments become non-refundable. At this point, we’re fully committed to running your expedition and incur significant costs. We reserve the right to adjust itineraries if circumstances beyond our control arise (water levels, forest fires, plane delays, pandemics, etc.). If we must cancel a trip due to such circumstances, we may provide a partial refund at our discretion. ​

We reserve the right to cancel a trip for internal reasons (e.g. low sign ups, staffing shortage, logistic issues), in which case you will receive a full refund of what you paid us.

We strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance to protect against unexpected events or interruptions. If you need an insurance provider, there are many online providers that will provide travel insurance including trip cancellation insurance at a reasonable cost.

If we cancel the trip due to internal reasons, you will receive a full refund. In the case or weather or force majeure (wildfires, pandemics), our regular cancellation policy applies - which is why trip cancellation insurance is so important.

Some credit cards offer limited travel protection. RBC Travel Insurance, Manulife and Travelguard are examples of insurance providers that can be easily and economically purchased easily online.