Nistowiak Falls Winter Trip, Again

Last weekend, February 13 - 17, 2026, I headed off on a bit of an adventure with friends Mike, Rob & James to go see Nistowiak Falls in the winter again. Mike and I had done the trip 16 years ago and Rob was supposed to go with us that time but had other commitments. So we finally got to do the trip again and this time Rob could finally join us. 

General Plan: 

• Day 0: Friday, February 13th, afternoon/evening: Drive north to La Ronge, stay with Martin & Heather

• Day 1: Saturday, Feb 14th, early morning: Drive to Stanley

• Snowshoe Stanley to Nistowiak Lake: Approximately 10 to 16 km with load (target ~12km)

• Make base camp

• Day 2: Sunday, Feb 15th: Snowshoe with day packs/light sled to Nistowiak Falls & return

• Approximate return distance - 16km

• Day 3: Monday, Feb 16: Explore

• Day 4: Tuesday, Feb 17: Return

• Early morning break camp

• Snowshoe to SM

• Drive home

• Arrive home evening

Planned Route: 

https://www.trailforks.com/route/nistowiak-falls-winter-trail/

Other Info:

• https://pawistik.blogspot.com/2010/03/nistowiak-falls-by-snowshoe.html

• https://wildpaddler.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines-day-and-nistowiak-falls-by.html

• https://pawistik.blogspot.com/2010/03/lessons-learned-nistowiak-falls-trip.html

On Saturday we followed the skidoo trail from Stanley Mission overland through Bow Lake up to Iskwatikan Lake, trekking about 13.5km until we figured we had gone far enough and found a spot in the bush to make camp (not a great spot but it served the purpose well enough). We set up our hot tent in the bush along Iskwatikan Lake and stayed there for 3 nights. James was sleeping in his insulated Little Shop of Hammocks hammock tent while Rob, Mike and I slept in the canvas tent (10 x 10 short wall pyramid tent). Breakfasts and suppers were cooked on the woodstove (Four Dog titanium UL-1) in our tent. 

On the second day we trekked to Nistowiak Falls, a return trip of about 14.5km, again following the snowmobile trail. We saw otter tracks along the way then found a couple of their holes and spotted an otter on the ice near a hole. The falls were great, but there was not nearly as much ice built up as when Mike and I were there 16 years ago. 

Day 3 was a rest and exploration day. Mike and I got away from the snowmobile tracks and did about 6km of snowshoeing around Stewart Bay on Iskwatikan Lake while Rob and James did a shorter snowshoe closer to camp. 

Day 4 we packed up and hit the trail back down to Stanley Mission and drove home. 

Temperatures were fairly mild throughout - James had a thermometer and he says it was -6°C/-15°C for the first couple of days then dropped to -16°C/-26°C the last two days. We had a tailwind coming out of Iskwatikan on the last day which was less pleasant whenever it was a side or headwind and we were more in the open.

Day 1:

Loading up in Stanley Mission

Heading out onto the short section of the Churchill River that we traversed. 

Looking toward the open water of the Churchill River and the church across the water.

The trail was firm enough to leave the snowshoes strapped to the sleds.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church

My load.

Rob guiding his load down a slope. 

Waiting for the group on Iskwatikan  Lake.

Day 2:

Otter tracks in the snow were fairly common. 

Otter hole in the ice.

Otter!

Day 3:

The drive home with storm warnings:

There were snowfall warnings and "travel not recommended" highways statuses as we headed southward. Things weren't too bad south of La Ronge. 

The highway got worse approaching PA and up to about Duck Lake, but got better again from there. We figured we had the hot tent and at least a day or two of food with us, plus all of our full winter gear so we'd be OK even if we got stuck somewhere.