Welcome to eb's source for adventure!

Upstream/Downstream Trips.

Launch at any one of the river access spots in Saskatoon or upstream of Saskatoon. Paddle upstream (Its not really that hard) until you see a nice sandbar, kick back and relax for bit, then have an easy coast back to your start. Go for an hour or two or go for the whole day, its your choice. Launching within Saskatoon is great for those out for a short evening paddle. Launching upstream of Saskatoon is a great choice for those who want to see the river from a different perspective, explore larger sandbars, see more wildlife, or simply escape from the sound and bustle of Saskatoon.

Downstream Paddles ending in Saskatoon

What could be nicer than a one way float down the river. With no current to fight against, you can cover more ground, and see more points of interest. One way paddles into Saskatoon can be short (2-3 hours) or full day trips, or longer. So grab a friend, hop in your boats, take a picnic lunch, catch some summer rays on the water.  Or go for an quiet midsummer evening paddle and cruise into town guided by the light of the moon and stars. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and lots of liquids for those longer paddles, The water reflects a lot of UV radiation.

One way paddles generally do require a bit more coordination for transportations - either to drop off the paddlers, or leave a vehicle at the destination. Times estimates listed below are based on typical conditions. Kayaks will typically be faster than canoes, especially in windy conditions. Actual times will vary with river flows, wind conditions, and paddler experience and conditioning. A strong headwind from the North or Northwest in low flow conditions from the north can easily add 1-2 hours to a 2 hour trip. Flow conditions can be found on the Sask Water website . Here's a sampling of some of the one-way paddles ending in Saskatoon.

Poplar Bluffs to Saskatoon (Victoria Park Boathouse): 2 - 3 hours paddling time. This can be a nice paddle for a mid-summer evening. See below for directions to Poplar Bluffs.

Fred Heal Canoe Launch To Saskatoon (Victoria Park Boathouse):   3 - 5 hours paddling time. This paddle can be an easy daytrip. Lots of sandbars along the way provide many opportunities for picnicing and relaxing. See below for directions to Fred Heal Canoe Launch.

Paradise Beach to Saskatoon (Victoria Park Boathouse):  4 - 6 hours paddling time. A longer day paddle into Saskatoon for those who want a bit more exercise. A shorter option for those who want to start at Paradise Beach is to pull out at Poplar Bluffs. See below for directions to Paradise Beach.

Pike Lake Pumping Station to Saskatoon (Victoria Park Boathouse): 6 - 8 hours paddling time. A longer day paddle into Saskatoon for those who want a bit more exercise. Bring a good lunch and lots of snacks and liquids. A shorter option for those who want to start at Pike Lake is to pull out at Paradise Beach or Poplar Bluffs. See below for directions to Pike Lake Pumping Station.

 

River Access Upstream of Saskatoon

• Poplar Bluffs  Take 11 th St. W. to Dundonald. Turn south (left) on Dundonald and proceed to Valley Road. Follow Valley Road 9.8km to Poplar Bluffs Conservation Area sign. Turn east (left) off of Valley Road and follow the grid road 1.6km to Poplar Bluffs parking lot. Parking lot to launch site is a 50m portage. The Poplar Bluffs site is maintained by the Meewasin Valley Authority. Cars may be left in the parking lot sunrise to sunset.

• Fred Heal Canoe Launch is 20.5km by river south of Saskatoon. To access the launch site by vehicle take Lorne Avenue to Highway 219. Go .5km past Beaver Creek, turn right on Road 350-A. Proceed 2.5km west to bottom of hill. Turn right and proceed 1km to the launch site. Parking lot to launch site is a 50m portage.  Watch for signs. Fred Heal Canoe Launch is maintained by the Meewasin Valley Authority. Cars may be left in the parking lot sunrise to sunset.

• Paradise Beach is located 2 miles past the Berry Barn on Valley Road, and then 2 mile south on an unmarked grid road (1 mile east of the Pike Lake highway). Portage from parking lot to river varies with fluctuations in water levels, from 50m in high water to 300m or more in low water. The sandbars upstream  of paradise beach are awesome. The Paradise Beach site is maintained by the Meewasin Valley Authority. Cars may be left in the parking lot sunrise to sunset.

• Pike Lake Pumping Station. To get to the Pike lake pumping station river access, drive out toward Pike Lake Provincial Park on Highway 60. just prior to the park gate there is a grid road continuing south as the road turns into the park. Follow this road 1.8 km south, and take the first turn left on a grid heading east. You should reach the pumping station in 5 km. The pump station is fenced off though there is river access just to the south of the pumping station via a rough rutted dirt road. Don't try this in your car when the weather is wet. This site is not maintained.

River Access in Saskatoon

• Gabriel Dumont Park has river access in the form of a small sandy beach, about 50m from the parking lot. Gabriel Dumont Park is located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River off of Saskatchewan Crescent W, between 8th Street and Taylor street intersections.

• Victoria Park Boathouse has docks that provide convenient river access, about 50m from the parking lot. The boathouse is accessible from Avenue H South and 16th Street W and is adjacent to the Saskatoon Riverside Tennis Club and Riversdale Pool.

• Rotary Park has river access in the form of a small sandy beach close to the building by the Idlywyld bridge and just north of the picnic tables close to the building. Rotary Park is located along the East Side of the River between the Victoria and Idlywyld Freeway Bridges.  The Parking lot access is just east of the intersection of Saskatchewan Crescent W and McPherson Ave.