Introduction
From Canoe Saskatchewan - Route 32
Saskatchewan Canoe Route 32
McLennan Lake - Davis Lake - Versailles Lake - Settee Lake - Mountain Lake (Guncoat
Bay) - - Otter Lake
Length of Trip: 105 - 110 kilometres (65 - 68
miles)
Time Required to Complete Trip: 5 to 6 days
Number of Portages: 18 or 19
About the Trip:
This trip starts very easily on small lakes
interconnected by easy portages. South of Kemp Lake, however, the canoeist must
wade down a small stream for about 550 metres (600 yards) of intermittent rapids
and shallows. The last part of the trip, from Guncoat Bay on Mountain Lake to
Walker Bay on Otter Lake, is over relatively large and exposed lakes. These can
become quite rough at times and may tempt the less experienced canoeist to take
chances instead of waiting out the bad weather.
As with most wilderness canoe trips, fishing for
northern pike is excellent throughout the trip. Lake trout can also be found in
some of the lakes. As well, walleye are found in the Churchill River system.
Brent came from Saskatoon, a two-hour trip to Peter and Joyce, who were staying at their Emma Lake cabin near the southwest corner of Prince Albert National Park. Brent had his Mad River Explorer canoe on the roof of his well-worn Dodge Ram.
That evening, we coordinated food and other supplies for the trip, relaxed and went to bed early.
In the morning, we would drive north 200 km. to La Ronge, then 80 km. more to Missinipe, and finally another 50 km. to our put in point.