Wuskwatim Lake is located in northern Manitoba and sits along established paddling routes on the Burntwood River system, connecting Thompson to Southern Indian Lake and ultimately the Churchill River. The lake appears in route descriptions that include notable features such as Wuskwatim Falls and Taskinigup Falls downstream, placing it within a broader wilderness corridor used by paddlers traversing the region.

Access to the Wuskwatim Lake area was historically limited due to remote terrain, though a roughly 48-kilometre access road was constructed from Provincial Road 391 to the lake as part of the Wuskwatim Generation Project. This road has improved access for those approaching overland.

The most significant hazard for paddlers in this area is the Wuskwatim Generating Station and its associated dam on the Burntwood River. The portage around the dam is described as fairly long, on the order of a few kilometres. Manitoba Hydro workers at the site have been known to assist paddlers with portaging using trucks, and at least one Hydro employee has indicated that the company is legally obligated to provide such assistance to the public. Paddlers are advised to seek out Hydro staff at the dam site if portaging assistance is needed.

The lake holds cultural and historical significance to the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN), whose traditional territory encompasses the area. The region has a history of use for trapping and resource harvesting, and the northwest shore of the lake was the site of a historical settlement.

Wuskwatim Lake is part of longer multi-day wilderness routes rather than a standalone day-trip destination, and paddlers should plan accordingly for the remote character of the surrounding landscape.