South Knife River to Hudson Bay Canoe Trips Route:

Etawney Lake is the headwaters of the knife River (made up of the south and north knife rivers). Although the South Knife river in northern Manitoba is a small river, it offers a continual whitewater challenge, varying from precision canoe handling and rock dodging, in the upper end of the river, to large standing waves and hydraulics in the lower end. The (canoe) trip has a great deal to offer. In addition to some very challenging rapids, it offers an exposure to artic tundra, an abundance of wildlife, the challenge of navigating the delta, and above all, outstanding fishing!

The vicinity of Hudson Bay is frequented by Polar Bears, so caution must be exercised to avoid a surprise encounter. Wolves, moose, Black Bears as well as a variety of bird life are commonly seen on this trip.

South Knife River Canoe Trips - Start Point:

Venture Air Base – Thompson. Transport canoes, gear and people to Etawney Lake. The trip is 147 miles and will take about 2 hrs in the deHavilland Otter with canoes strapped to the struts.

South Knife River Canoe Trips - Difficulty:

Moderate to high, lots of white water. Conditions of flow are dependant upon run off and rainfall. In years of high rainfall, expect the difficulty to escalate to high as the severity of standing waves and hydraulics increases. In low water years, rocks become more of an obstacle. In addition, there are a couple of ledges just after you leave Etawney Lake that sneak up on you and you must portage. This is a very isolated area, so great care must be taken at all times. Also, due to the remoteness, portages are not regularly used, so they can present a challenge. The delta empties into Hudson’s Bay in a maze of streams requiring great care in negotiating a channel large enough for a canoe.

South Knife River Canoe Trips - End Point:

The Knife River empties into Hudson’s Bay about 20 miles north of Churchill. Canoeing the Bay is definitely not recommended as the expansive tidal flats and unpredictable weather make it very risky. There are a couple of cabins on the delta, one inland and another on the Bay. Arrangements can be made to have you, the gear and canoes picked up by boat and transported to the town of Churchill to catch VIA Rail back to Thompson Manitoba.

South Knife River Canoe Trips - Pricing:

Pricing is from Venture Air Float Planes Base in Thompson Manitoba. All tours and trips are self guided, however, experienced river guides are available with prior arrangements. All pricing is for two canoes and four people (canoes must be able to nest, one on top of the other for transport as an external load on the aircraft / float plane struts).

South Knife River Canoe Trips - via Etawney Lake: $ 850 CDN/person – party of four

All pricing includes:

• Tie on fees for canoes Air transport to start point as described ( includes return trip for aircraft to base)
• Co-ordination of pick up arrangements at end point (i.e. barge or optional charter flight)
• Hotel reservations in Thompson, Manitoba

Optional services include rental of:

• Canoes (royalex Old Town or similar) $200 per week per Canoe
• Satellite telephone - $200 per trip
• Firearm with ammunition for personal protection (shotgun); instruction provided.-$60 per week

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