Hello everyone,

I'm spending the year in Saskatoon and brought my canoe from Ontario. I don't have many two or three day weekends, but looking for out-and-back or short loop ideas for one to two nights! Enjoy small lakes and don't mind lots of portages!

Was eyeing the McKay lake area. Seems decently nearby for short trips and lots of small lakes to explore. Feel free to DM me for suggestions too!

I read on here that area was burned a few years ago. Might check it out this weekend.

Let me know if you have any advice or suggestions. How safe is parking usually up there?

Hi Michael, welcome to Saskatchewan!

There’s lots to do off Hyw 102. The Mckay lake area is pretty sweet, especially the lakes east of the highway, Contact, Hebden, Lynx etc. and aren’t burnt out. McKay lake was spared from fire, but west of it got pretty crispy.
The Barker Lake area of the Churchill makes a nice weekend if you’d like a little moving water.
Further up the road is the McLennan Lake area, it has a few good options for small loops.
There’s Gotrekkers maps for most of these areas,

Another good source for routes is the old sask government route guides, you can find them on the CRCO website.

A trip I’d highly recommend is the South Sask River. The Gardner Dam,Outlook,Saskatoon section is a prairie paddling paradise, Ebs source for adventure should have the maps.

Cheers!
MC

Hi MichaelAngelo -

I second Mollycollie's ideas. There really are innumerable possibilities in the area.

I would suggest contacting Ric Driediger at CRCO regarding recent fire and water level conditions. I'd also point out that the inexpensive "your vehicle" shuttles from CRCO - charging only for staff time - can make a number of point to point one or two-night trips possible as well. Missinipe to Stanley, or Hailstone/Dickens back to Missinipe are examples.

Good paddling.

-jmc