Canoe Trips

CanoeSki canoe trips

Saskatchewan has a wealth of canoeing trips for every taste and ability across its many geographic regions, from the prairies to the boreal forest. CanoeSki can take you on fully outfitted and guided excursions ranging from day trips to multi-day expeditions, on quiet protected waterways for the novice to demanding whitewater rivers suited to the seasoned wilderness canoeist. CanoeSki trips are organized on this site by geographic region starting with northern areas and moving southward into the Lakeland region and finally onto southern Saskatchewan’s prairie rivers. You can find more info on these canoeing areas and the nature of CanoeSki trips in Canoeing in Saskatchewan.

Family Voyageurs canoe trip in Prince Albert National Park

Two mothers, one daughter on the Family Voyageurs trip in Prince Albert National Park  ©canoeski

Below is a thumbnail sketch of each group of canoe tours, summarizing the theme or main attraction of each trip. In terms of geography, the seven northern trips mostly visit the Churchill River country, except for the Clearwater trip situated in Saskatchewan’s northwest. The five Prince Albert National Park trips, more or less fit mid-way between the north and south trips, geographically. The City of Saskatoon, situated on the South Saskatchewan River, forms the hub for the southern trips running upstream or downstream of the City. The women’s canoe trips on the Churchill River are in a class by themselves… as they should be!

Choose a canoe trip and follow the links to access a full trip description with photos and itinerary and slide shows for several of the more recent trips. A lot of trips have inspired enthusiastic participants to write about their experiences and these have been arranged in chronological order under Trip Tales. Don’t be fooled by the title – these are not imaginative fairy tales; they are true stories! Whenever we’ve had journalists on board, we’ve collected their articles in Media Stories. Also, each trip with an accompanying story has a direct link in its trip description.

Finally, the most important information of all – dates & costs, can be found in Schedule & Costs

Family Voyageurs canoe trip in Prince Albert National Park

The Family Voyageurs’ kids “helping” canoeing guide Jana get the evening campfire going  ©canoeski    

Northern Waterways Canoe Trips

Canoeing & Painting in the Wild — 4-day paddling and painting foray catering to artists eager to give their creative expression to the captivating northern Saskatchewan wilderness landscape.

Legends of the Shield — 5-day exploration of Lac La Ronge Provincial Park’s famous Churchill River, paddling and listening to campfire tales of ancient travellers in historic Canadian Shield country.

Nistoyahk Odyssey — 8-day paddling odyssey taking in the Cree community of Stanley Mission and Western Canada’s oldest church on the historic Churchill River, spectacular Nistowiak Falls, Precambrian caves, Aboriginal pictographs, and ancient portages.

Whitewater Trail of the Voyageurs — 8-day fly-in expedition, honing your whitewater paddling skills on the challenging Paull and Churchill River rapids, soaking up the sun on wilderness beaches and marvelling at the scenic falls and gorges along this voyageur trail.

Rock Art & Bannock — 6-day Churchill River trip concentrating the best of Canadian Shield scenery, history, and ancient culture with a touch of traditional northern culinary flair.

Clearwater Heritage — 12-day whitewater expedition on a Canadian Heritage River featuring the best that Saskatchewan has to offer in spectacular scenery and whitewater thrills.

Rock Art Archaeology Camp — 5-day fly-in immersion in the spellbinding world of aboriginal rock paintings and archaeology at the most exotic and remote pictograph site in the entire Shield region of Canada.

Tuck Falls, Paull River

Tuck Falls on the Paull River – Whitewater Trail of the Voyageurs canoe trip  ©canoeski

Southern Waterways Canoe Trips

Urban Canoe-Camping — short, overnight introductions to canoe camping with a chance to experience the semi- wilderness attractions of the river on Saskatoon’s doorstep.

Saskatoon’s River History — a day trip in the company of a professional historian on a short stretch of river learning about the historical connections between the South Saskatchewan River and its valley environs.

David Thompson Voyageur Trek — a 3-day weekend of getting acquainted with a famous Canadian explorer and mapmaker of the fur trade era, visiting former fort sites and paddling where he once travelled on the South Saskatchewan River.

River Trails of 1885 — a series of weekend and day tours on the South Saskatchewan following the trails of the 1885 Northwest Resistance on land and water, paddling and hiking, ending at Batoche National Historic Site.

South Saskatchewan Cranes & Colors — a September weekend and a day trip not far from Saskatoon, taking in spectacular autumn colors and abundant flocks of migrating waterfowl plus a riverside campfire corn roast.

Coyotes & Coulees — a fall weekend of exploring the North Saskatchewan River starting downstream of historic Battleford and enjoying the expansive valley scenery and the spine-tingling evening chorus of coyotes.

Old Fish Creek Church on the South Saskatchewan River

Paddlers on the River Trails of 1885 trip passing the old Fish Creek Church  ©canoeski

Prince Albert National Park Canoe Trips

Quest for Grey Owl — 4-day paddling pilgrimage to explore the myth and mystery of the legendary 1930’s author, orator and conservationist.

Birding in Bison Country — a weekend birding and wildlife safari on the placid, winding Sturgeon River.

Family Voyageurs — 3-day wilderness-oriented introduction to canoe camping on a tranquil lake and secluded winding river, catering to young paddlers.

Loon Magic — a weekend of loon song and dance, loon lore, and a little loon-acy on the Spruce River.

Autumn in the Bladebone — a weekend journey through the picturesque Bladebone wilderness to savour the subtle charms of fall.

Kingsmere River canoe portage in Prince Albert National Park

Marine rail portage on the Kingsmere River en route to Grey Owl’s cabin in Prince Albert National Park  ©canoeski

Women’s Challenge Canoe Trips

Women and Waves — 5-days experiencing waves of water, sound and relaxation in the company of a musician and massage therapist — paddling, singing, socializing, and fully unwinding.

Bonding With Nature — 4-day encounter with your earthly roots, reconnecting to nature, and learning how the earth has provided food, medicine and craft materials for traditional peoples.

Women’s canoe trip on the Churchill River

Singer/songwriter Melissa creating waves of music on the Women & Waves Churchill River canoe trip  ©canoeski