My father-in-laws family owns/shares a fishing camp on Dead Lake on the Churchill River System (Devil's Rapids Camp) and have been driving up there from Northern Iowa for the past 30 years every summer to go fishing.....I have only been around the family for the past 9 years but have had the amazing opportunity to tag along on 5 fishing trips....anyways....we are about 25 hours South of Missinippi therefore we spend a day driving and then fly out from Thompson's Flying Service (Osprey Wings in Missinippi) and every year they jokingly tell us to come up some time in the winter and they would show us the route out to the cabins on sleds....our group would like to try and spend one night at camp if we could but some of the group think that might be a bit crazy (cold).... Has anybody by chance ever ridden by this camp or ridden on or along the Churchill from Missinippi? Would anybody have advice for us if we would make the trip up there? Where is the best place to stay? Rent sleds? (since we probably wouldn't trailer that far, not sure) Is there nice trails or other places to ride in the La Ronge or Missinippi area? Any thoughts or advice would be great! Our trip would be for next winter 2009/2010.....Thanks!!!!

I ride the area near and north of Weyakwin, SK (just south of LaRonge) and there is a very active snowmobile club in LaRonge with members that could possibly advise you on your trip. They have a ralley to Stanley Mission area each year.
You would be traveling on our northern sheild, so most riding is on lakes/waterways, and only portaging over rough trails lake to lake. I would suggest a guide as there are many water currents through-out the winter that keep parts of lakes and streams with little or no ice.
Here is a link to the trail maps that are maintained locally. www.snowlaronge.ca/

Only knowing the road to Missinippi from La Ronge I am a little lost at figuring how long it would take us to ride on sleds from La Ronge to Missinippi. Do you happen to have any advice on what we could expect if we wanted to park in La Ronge and ride to Missinippi and stay there the first night? The trail on the map looks like it easily connects, but again I am not familiar with how well the trails are signed/groomed/kept-up in that area, so it's hard for us to figure how long (time wise) that ride would be. Also, do you know of anybody up there that offers a guiding service if we want to ride out to our camp for a day? Would we need a guide to get from La Ronge to Misinippi? Again, I am completely unaware of how trails are signed, groomed or marked (if at all) up there...never been there in the winter....any help would be great!! THANKS!!

Hi
I live in Laronge if you do not no the way you will be lost the trails in this part of the world are not groomed or signed.When you are planning on coming get in touch with me and I can guide you I know this country well have been into Dead lake many times.The Churchhill is extremely dangerous if you don't no where you are going there are bad ice situations even if it is extremely cold but is safe if you go with someone that knows the area well.If I can help will do.you can call me at 306 425 7310 cheers

I agree the Churchill can be a dangerous place,IF you dont know where to go.I have a cabin a bit south of Missisnipi just got back last week.the ice is good this year but differs every year.It sounds like the guys at Thompsons can also take you,and they have great cabins to rent in the winter,one has a hot tub.Any way it sounds like you have two good offers.Dont be afraid to go.Its great up there in the winter

Hey guys -
I appreciate all of the responses!!! I hope our group can make some plans and if we do we might take you up on your guiding offer!!! Every year we kick around this idea so hopefully we can start planning and make something happen. Do you guys know of places to rent sleds up there if we decide not to trailer ours? If so do you know the cost for 3-4 days of rental?? Thanks Again!!

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There really is no rentals per say there is a couple of dealers here but don't think they rent you could call drifts and waves cat/yamaha dealer 306 425 5500. I guess if you don't mind getting caught on a Cat

There is a place in Sasktoon that rents trailer and sleds, http://www.saskatoonssr.com. Not too far from Missinipe.
Check out this link, they are doing their own tours, maybe that will customize one for you. http://landlakesky.com/paull_river

My family has a cabin on Mclennan Lake, would love to go up in the winter but I don't know the ice and flows.

I would guess there would be 6+ people in our group so according to their rental rates, it would probably be MUCH cheaper for us to spend a little extra on fuel and pull our own sleds up for the week....thanks for the links to the rental and guide companies, all the help we can get is appreciated!! Thanks!!

Check out this link to a trail map of the area. Don't think it goes quite far enough north but it an awesome map of the area. I have taken canoe trips many times from Missinipe to Nistowiak Falls. I can tell you that water is always moving. Still would not go without a guide.
http://www.sasksnowmobiling.sk.ca/PDFMap/L..._2008_10_06.pdf