55° North in Saskatchewan’s Vast Waterways

Calllum Snape, a photographer and content creator from Vancouver, BC, takes a journey to Saskatchewan’s northern waterways to stay at Twin Falls Lodge. The lodge is located within the vast Churchill River system and is only accessible by watercraft or float plane. Follow along as Callum shares his experience spending long summer nights 55° north in Saskatchewan.

A peaceful sunset casts vibrant colors over a canoe gently drifting on a calm lake within the Churchill River system.

55.6034° N, 104.7734° W to be exact, these are the coordinates of Missinipe. The small 39-person settlement is located 80 km north of La Ronge in the boreal forest of north central Saskatchewan. Missinipe lives up to its local First Nations tongue translation, ‘Big Water’, and acts as a hub for several fishing and outdoor adventure companies in the surrounding area.

View of cockpit inside small floatplane with pilot and passenger.

A short ten-minute float plane or thirty-minute boat ride east of Missinipe is Twin Falls Lodge, nestled in a bay on the Churchill River next to the waterfalls its named after, Twin Falls. The lodge has three new suites, along with four cabins, and are incredibly comfortable given its remote location. Known for the plentiful fishing in the area, most overlook one of the best activities, canoeing. It’s a paddler’s dream up here with direct access to the Churchill River and a few multi-night trip options.

View of float plane flying just above water in northern Saskatchewan.

Waking up to the smell of a home cooked breakfast and coffee prepared daily to fuel a day of adventure out on the water is a treat. Lunch is packed or served in the lodge depending on your itinerary for the day, and dinner is a family style feast in the evening, the perfect way to wind down and share stories. If there aren’t enough stories to fill the room, there will be plenty from lodge manager who will make you feel like you're part of the family there.

aerial view of Twin Falls Lodge on the Churchill River in Saskatchewan.

The days are long up in Northern Saskatchewan during the summer, allowing you to stay out for hours on end exploring the waterways, portage to other lakes or down the Churchill. Guided tours by local first nations are available to Stanley Mission and the awe-inspiring Nistowiak Falls, telling tales of their ancestors and sharing traditions passed down through generations.

Person in a canoe paddling on a calm lake at sunset in northern Saskatchewan.

The days end with the most jaw-dropping sunsets late in the evening. A sense of calm is cast over the water as it mirrors the pinks and orange hues in the sky, signalling the end to a perfect day in northern Saskatchewan and time to retire to a warm cosy cabin to get some rest.

Start planning your next adventure to Missinipe and beyond.

Campfire on the rocky shores of the Churchill River in Saskatchewan with a canoe in the background near the water.

 

Author: Callum Snape, photographer and storyteller

Headshot of content creator Callum Snape.A self-taught photographer, visual content creator and destination content marketer from Vancouver, BC, Callum is a notable figure in the outdoor industry within Canada. He is known for his adventurous spirit and for pursuing remote locations on foot or by kayak.

Website: www.callumsnapephoto.com
Instagram: instagram.com/calsnape
Facebook: facebook.com/callumsnapephoto