A canoeing trip on the Paull River is the most popular fly-in adventure in northern Saskatchewan, and for a good reason! With a myriad of runnable rapids, waterfalls, and untouched boreal forest landscapes, you’ll be able to sharpen your white-water skills and enjoy pristine Canadian wilderness in one fell swoop. Apart from paddling the Paull River, you’ll spend a portion of this adventure on the Churchill River. This beautiful river was once surrounded by mountains whose valleys it used to fill and as a result created crystal clear lakes with age-old peaks nowadays serving as islands. As these lakes flow over ridges into the next lake, rapids and waterfalls are formed, giving you a perfect opportunity to have fun and improve your skills. Spend your days relaxing in gorgeous camping spots on the rock outcroppings along the rivers, prepare nutritious meals to re-energize, observe abundant wildlife, and take in the views of Saskatchewan’s wilderness undamaged by human activity.
Revel in Canada’s unspoiled nature while honing your skills
An ideal combo of exciting white-water and peaceful lake paddling
Although you may run into other groups, you’ll still be far from busy city life
Go into the wild and improve your canoeing skills on the Paull and Churchill Rivers! Let your guide plan an ideal route for you and you can start paddling on a plethora of rapids, lakes, and waterfalls as you breathe in Saskatchewan’s fresh air and soak up the views of spruce, jack pine, and white birch forests. Marvel at the wealth of wildlife found in this unspoiled Canadian wilderness and enjoy freshly prepared meals in camping spots scattered along the rivers.
Once you arrive at the La Ronge airport, you’ll be picked up and will then head to Missinipe, where you and your guide will have a pre-trip meeting, gear check, and dinner. You’ll spend the night in Missinipe and prepare for the wild adventure ahead of you!
After a delicious breakfast, you’ll take a charter flight to Paull Lake on the Paull River. After you arrive, you’ll set up a campsite and your guide will review paddling strokes as well as canoe maneuvers and safety before you head downstream. This will allow you to get ready for the upcoming challenges!
Kick off each day with a filling breakfast and then get to canoeing! You’ll paddle the crystal clear waters of the Paull and Churchill Rivers which flow over numerous lakes and through rapids. Your guide will help you master new skills and fine-tune your existing ones so that you can enjoy this wild trip! There are countless runnable rapids at your disposal, meaning that fun is guaranteed. Each night you’ll camp at a new site while soaking up the views of Saskatchewan’s wilderness. Aside from paddling, you and the rest of the group will spend time cooking meals over a wood fire or camping stove and keep your eyes peeled for the abundant wildlife such as loons, pelicans, bald and golden eagles, ospreys, grebes, otters, minks, and maybe even black bears!
This wild canoe adventure on the Paull and Churchill Rivers will end at Devil Lake or Otter Rapids, after which you’ll be transferred to Missinipe. Here you can have an optional group dinner and spend the night at your own expense, or you can depart from Missinipe to the La Ronge airport in the mid-afternoon. The shuttle to the La Ronge airport can also go the next day. After that, you can spend the night in Saskatoon at your own expense or fly back home.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures on the Paull River, SK, please refer to the Government of Saskatchewan website.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
In order to participate in this canoeing adventure on the Paull River, you need to have a very good level of fitness. You should be capable of carrying a heavy load (packs and barrels) or a canoe (75 lb / 34 kg). You’ll be paddling for 8 days for a total of 62 miles (100 km) and you should expect some portages each day at waterfalls or rapids that you cannot or would not prefer to paddle. There are at least 8 mandatory portages and up to 10 portages in total. Some of these can be in poor condition, and will undoubtedly have poor footing and mud. You should be prepared to carry your share of the group’s load. Most portages are less than 0.2 miles (300 m), but on the last day, depending on the route you choose and the skill of the group, there could be a portage of 0.7 miles (1,100 m).
Previous flatwater canoeing experience is necessary. This trip is best for paddlers with canoeing experience who want a longer, more challenging trip. Experience in lake paddling is necessary and whitewater experience is certainly an asset. There are many rapids that are very easy (Class 1 or an easy 2), but there are also many that are much more difficult.
Canoes, paddles, personal floatation devices, helmets, throw lines and other accessories, tents, all cooking equipment, first aid and repair kits, communications equipment, and canoe rescue gear will be provided by your guiding service. Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
Canoeing on the Paull River can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
A deposit of 50% of the total price is due with your booking unless otherwise indicated. Once your guide confirms your booking, your trip departure is guaranteed. Final payments are due 120 days before your trip starts. If you book the trip within 120 days of departure, full payment is due upon booking. Please note that deposits are absolutely non-refundable, and final payments are non-refundable after the final payment date. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
To get to the Paull River, most people fly into Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) and then fly into La Ronge (Barber Field) Airport (YVC), 1 hour away from Missinipe, SK, where your adventure will start. From the La Ronge airport, your guiding service will transport you to Missinipe. On Day 2, you’ll take a charter flight to Paull Lake on the Paull River from Missinipe.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, you’ll be picked up at the La Ronge airport and transferred to Missinipe. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
On Day 8, the trip ends at Devil Lake or Otter Rapids. From there, you’ll be transferred to Missinipe, where you’ll spend the night and have an optional group dinner at your own expense or depart from Missinipe to the La Ronge airport, but this shuttle can also go the next day. You can catch a flight to Saskatoon and after that, you can spend the night in Saskatoon at your own expense, stay for a celebratory meal together, or fly back home.
