Nistowiak Falls

Nistowiak Falls is a waterfall in northern Saskatchewan where the Rapid River drops 10 meters (33 feet) through a narrow gorge. The cascade connects Lac La Ronge to Nistowiak Lake as part of the larger Churchill River system.

The name comes from the Cree language and refers to where different waterways meet. The location served as a key passage for people traveling the river networks for thousands of years.

The area holds significance for Dene and Cree communities whose ancestral connection to the land is reflected in ancient rock art found near the nearby rapids. These markings show how central this river passage was to the people who lived here.

Reaching the falls requires a 20 kilometer (12 mile) journey by water from Stanley Mission. Visitors can arrange canoe transport during summer months or follow snowmobile routes in winter.

The cascade produces a visible mist year-round that often catches sunlight as rainbow fragments when conditions align. Winter transforms the surroundings with thick ice formations that coat the rocks and narrower canyon walls.