Clearwater Canoe Outfitters Canoe Routes

Heming Lake	Sturgeon -Weir River System
We operate a remote canoe base at Heming Lake, 70 air miles north of our Lodge on Clearwater Lake. The camp consists of two log cabins nestled on the shoreline of Heming Lake. It is a beautiful, relaxing spot to spend a few days before starting out on the Separation Creek or Grass River canoe routes. For the wildlife photographer or the naturalist, there is good opportunity to see woodland caribou, moose and black bears as well as bald eagles, loons and many species of ducks. Should you want to make our Heming Lake camp your base for a longer stay, you will find plenty to explore as Heming Lake offers access to Home Lake, Demarch Lake and two other unnamed lakes. During July and August, we offer a special 5-night family rate, so why not introduce your children to the adventure and solitude of our Manitoba North. Since Heming Lake is accessible by rail as well as air, it is possible for you to travel into this remote spot for a very reasonable transportation cost.	This 80-mile canoe route was an early explorer and fur trade route linking the Saskatchewan River system with the Churchill River system. The upper section of the trip has short rapids with quiet water between. After you cross Amisk (Beaver) Lake, you are into the lower section of the Weir which drops four feet to the mile for approximately thirty miles making for a fun-filled downstream run with lots of Class 1 and some Class II rapids. Where there are no portages, rapids can be lined, waded or shot. A one-week paddle makes this a leisurely trip, but with plenty of fast action as well. Basic wilderness skills are required. Access is 130 road miles from our base with pick-up 60 miles from us.

Heming Lake

Sturgeon -Weir River System

We operate a remote canoe base at Heming Lake, 70 air miles north of our Lodge on Clearwater Lake. The camp consists of two log cabins nestled on the shoreline of Heming Lake.
It is a beautiful, relaxing spot to spend a few days before starting out on the Separation Creek or Grass River canoe routes. For the wildlife photographer or the naturalist, there is good opportunity to see woodland caribou, moose and black bears as well as bald eagles, loons and many species of ducks. Should you want to make our Heming Lake camp your base for a longer stay, you will find plenty to explore as Heming Lake offers access to Home Lake, Demarch Lake and two other unnamed lakes. During July and August, we offer a special 5-night family rate, so why not introduce your children to the adventure and solitude of our Manitoba North. Since Heming Lake is accessible by rail as well as air, it is possible for you to travel into this remote spot for a very reasonable transportation cost.

This 80-mile canoe route was an early explorer
and fur trade route linking the Saskatchewan River system with the Churchill River system. The upper section of the trip has short rapids with quiet water between. After you cross Amisk (Beaver) Lake, you are into the lower section of the Weir which drops four feet to the mile for approximately thirty miles making for a fun-filled downstream run with lots of Class 1 and some Class II rapids. Where there are no portages, rapids can be lined, waded or shot. A one-week paddle makes this a leisurely trip, but with plenty of fast action as well. Basic wilderness skills are required. Access is 130 road miles from our base with pick-up 60 miles from us.

Kississing/Churchill River System	Grass River System
This river system is part of the "Land of Little Sticks" canoe route, a 2000 mile chain and is an excellent trip for the experienced canoeist. This route has unlimited possibilities depending on the desired length of your trip and your level of experience. Several different one or two week trips are possible with various drop-off and pickup points available by both road and rail. Again you will be traveling the old fur trade routes in Canadian shield country in a region where you may be the only canoeist on the river. One example is the 60 mile / 97 km. trip from Takipy Lake to Pawistik. It is a nice mix of river and lake travel in Canadian Shield country, with many high rock hills that can be climbed for some terrific views of the surrounding countryside. Beaver Falls (between Takipy and Flatrock) is a spectacular waterfall with a small rock island in the middle around which the river drops almost perpendicularly 5 meters. Fishing is good on most sections of this trip and a person can usually angle his supper. You will travel by train from our main Lodge to the put-in point and from the take-out point back to the Lodge. This is a good trip for moderately experienced canoeists.	The entire Grass River canoe route spans some 450 miles being an historical fur trade route dating back to the 1700's. One of the most important petrograph sites to be seen in Manitoba is on Tramping Lake. Found along the northwest bank, the red earth-coloured paintings on the granite rock outcrop include figures of humans, animals, birds, fish and snakes. This route offers various departure points from as close as 55 miles from our base by vehicle to a final take out point at Pikwitonei and return trip to The Pas by rail. It is possible to do sections of this trip and we would have to first discuss with you your paddling preferences and time available before deciding on an exact route. The Grass River canoe route requires basic wilderness skills. It is a trip for the intermediate canoeist although all rapids can be portaged and the portages are easily discernible.

Kississing/Churchill River System

Grass River System

This river system is part of the "Land of Little Sticks" canoe route, a 2000 mile chain and is an excellent trip for the experienced canoeist. This route has unlimited possibilities depending on the desired length of your trip and your level of experience. Several different one or two week trips are possible with various drop-off and pickup points available by both road and rail. Again you will be traveling the old fur trade routes in Canadian shield country in a region where you may be the only canoeist on the river. One example is the 60 mile / 97 km. trip from Takipy Lake to Pawistik. It is a nice mix of river and lake travel in Canadian Shield country, with many high rock hills that can be climbed for some terrific views of the surrounding countryside. Beaver Falls (between Takipy and Flatrock) is a spectacular waterfall with a small rock island in the middle around which the river drops almost perpendicularly 5 meters. Fishing is good on most sections of this trip and a person can usually angle his supper. You will travel by train from our main Lodge to the put-in point and from the take-out point back to the Lodge. This is a good trip for moderately experienced canoeists.

The entire Grass River canoe route spans some 450 miles being an historical fur trade route dating back to the 1700's. One of the most important petrograph sites to be seen in Manitoba is on Tramping Lake. Found along the northwest bank, the red earth-coloured paintings on the granite rock outcrop include figures of humans, animals, birds, fish and snakes. This route offers various departure points from as close as 55 miles from our base by vehicle to a final take out point at Pikwitonei and return trip to The Pas by rail. It is possible to do sections of this trip and we would have to first discuss with you your paddling preferences and time available before deciding on an exact route. The Grass River canoe route requires basic wilderness skills. It is a trip for the intermediate canoeist although all rapids can be portaged and the portages are easily discernible.

Separation Creek
This is one of our favourite routes for the intermediate canoeist. Departure is from Cranberry Portage (55 miles from our Lodge) via rail and you will be dropped off 30 miles to the north at Heming Lake. You will travel through beautiful Canadian, shield country on a series of creeks, rivers and small lakes with very little chance of becoming windbound. You will end up in the Grass River Provincial Park with pick up at Iskwasam Lake (75 miles from our base via highway). The upper reaches of Separation Creek are very lightly travelled and there is good opportunity to see woodland caribou and moose. This route has numerous Class 1 rapids that can be shot or waded; all major rapids have good portage trails around them. The Separation Creek is a truly enjoyable trip that can be completed in a leisurely 7 days. The Separation Creek is also an excellent alternative starting point for the Grass River canoe route which enables the canoeist to bypass the Cranberry Lakes.

Separation Creek

This is one of our favourite routes for the intermediate canoeist. Departure is from Cranberry Portage (55 miles from our Lodge) via rail and you will be dropped off 30 miles to the north at Heming Lake. You will travel through beautiful Canadian, shield country on a series of creeks, rivers and small lakes with very little chance of becoming windbound. You will end up in the Grass River Provincial Park with pick up at Iskwasam Lake (75 miles from our base via highway). The upper reaches of Separation Creek are very lightly travelled and there is good opportunity to see woodland caribou and moose. This route has numerous Class 1 rapids that can be shot or waded; all major rapids have good portage trails around them. The Separation Creek is a truly enjoyable trip that can be completed in a leisurely 7 days. The Separation Creek is also an excellent alternative starting point for the Grass River canoe route which enables the canoeist to bypass the Cranberry Lakes.

Doug and Kathy Sangster
Box 3939
The Pas, Manitoba (Canada)
R9A 1S5
Phone:(204)624-5606 (winter)/(204)624-5467 (summer)