The Lurch River is a remote waterway located within or adjacent to Pukaskwa National Park in northern Ontario, flowing into the Oskabukuta River. It is a tributary route that leads south to Lurch Lake and, beyond that, to Birch and Lower Birch Lakes in the park's interior. The river is accessible from the Oskabukuta River, which itself can be reached via forestry roads south and west of the town of White River. From the Oskabukuta, paddlers turn upstream onto the Lurch River and travel approximately a day's paddle to reach the exit falls from Lurch Lake.

The Lurch River features several rapids and at least one significant waterfall — the falls at the outlet of Lurch Lake, which have been described as very impressive. These features should be treated as serious hazards requiring careful scouting. The upstream travel means paddlers are working against the current, and the route has been characterized as demanding, with one account describing the approach from a logging road as looking "pretty impassable" and more of a portage and trail-clearing exercise than a straightforward canoe trip.

Paddling within Pukaskwa National Park requires entry payment and a backcountry permit. There are no established campsites in the Birch and Lurch Lakes interior area, so paddlers must practice low-impact camping. Fly-in access to the park's interior is not permitted. The route is linear, requiring paddlers to return the same way they came in.

Access to the Oskabukuta River put-in is via forestry roads from White River, and historically this area has seen active logging operations, meaning road conditions and truck traffic can be factors when driving to the trailhead. The east side of both the Oskabukuta and Lurch Rivers has been subject to logging activity, which may affect the surrounding landscape. This is a genuinely remote and seldom-traveled route; reports of paddlers completing the full trip to Lurch Lake and beyond are rare, and prospective visitors should contact Pukaskwa National Park directly for current access and permit information before planning a trip.