Looking ahead…
My wife and I are in our 70s and haven’t been to the north side of Quetico in more than ten years. We are expecting to have some rookies with us next year so are hoping to get a route with not too many tough portages. Unlikely to have much more than a week or so.

What entry points do you recommend? Additionally, what about lodging or camping the night before? I’ve heard that Atikokan is becoming a ghost town.

We'll appreciate reading your thoughts. Gives me something to dream about this winter.

We're also in our 70s, and played in the northwest corner of Quetico last year (trip report here) . We entered via Beaverhouse, having picked up our permit at the Atikokan ranger station. In 2022 there was only the Quetico Inn in Atikokan, but I understand that the White Otter Inn reopened in 2023. There wasn't much in the way of dinner or breakfast options, either. I wouldn't call Atikokan a ghost town yet, but it's not the same town we visited in the '80s.

Wind can be an issue on Beaverhouse, Cirrus, and Quetico Lakes, but is less an issue a couple portages off those lakes.

TZ

I'd recommend either Seine River Lodge or Camp Quetico. We’ve used both now and they were both great. If you go in at Beaverhouse, Seine River lodge is the better choice. If you go in at French Lake, Camp Quetico would be the better choice.

Stanton Bay is a popular entry point, but if you're American, you can’t park there. You’d have to be shuttled. Beaverhouse into Quetico lake would be a nice trip if you didn’t want to portage a lot, but so is Stanton Bay - Pickerel. I’d go wherever you haven’t tripped before so you can see something new.

Ryan

The northern part of the park gives you great options for exactly what you're looking for. Pickerel ,Cirrus, or Quetico Lakes give you access to lots of water, many great campsites, great fishing, and awesome scenery without having to portage much.

If you're coming from the east, Thunder Bay can be a good option for the night prior to entry if you're worried about Atikokan. Personally, I wouldn't be. With a little research you'll find all you need in or near Atikokan.

We used Camp Quetico last year. They’re on Eva lake. If you can get a one night accommodation they have nice little cabins in good shape and breakfast is included. We rented a canoe from them (nothing else) and they also picked up our permit and shuttled us to the Dawson entry. I’m not sure what they provide if you don’t rent anything but an overnight. Really nice folks and price is reasonable.

You can pick up your permit at the Dawson Trail ranger station and enter at French Lake. No portaging at all and you're into Pickerel. If you wanted to stay in a cabin the night before (instead of camping at Dawson Trail), Camp Quetico lodge is probably 10 minutes west of Dawson Trail.

If you wanted to enter at Stanton Bay, as others have said, you cannot park a car there with non-Canadian license plates. My buddy, Jon, and I entered at Stanton Bay back in June 2023. It's a pretty nice portage from the parking lot / drop off spot, roughly 100 rods long.

Previous thread about Stanton Bay with pics

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mark+potaczek

Mark Potaczek did a trip where he started at Anderson Outfitters on Crane Lake MN.
Right across the street is the hotel. Pine Ridge Hotel, Beth 218 993 2265

Mark Anderson from Anderson outfitters gave Mark a very cool two hour boat ride to the Indian Reservation on the north side of Lac La Croix.
Where he was picked up. Possibly by someone from Canadian Outfitters. Who gave Mark a ride to Beaver House lake in northwest Quetico. From there Mark went across Quetico , down to Jean then down to Sturgeon Lake and down the river back to Lac La Croix where he was picked up By Anderson Outfitters and taken back to his car.

Mark will gladly fill you in on the details. I couldn't find the video from this trip.
Just comment on any of his videos. He will likely reply.
Probably too big of a trip. but just wanted to put it out there.

timf1981: "https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mark+potaczek


Mark Potaczek did a trip where he started at Anderson Outfitters on Crane Lake MN.
Right across the street is the hotel. Pine Ridge Hotel, Beth 218 993 2265


Mark Anderson from Anderson outfitters gave Mark a very cool two hour boat ride to the Indian Reservation on the north side of Lac La Croix.
Where he was picked up. Possibly by someone from Canadian Outfitters. Who gave Mark a ride to Beaver House lake in northwest Quetico. From there Mark went across Quetico , down to Jean then down to Sturgeon Lake and down the river back to Lac La Croix where he was picked up By Anderson Outfitters and taken back to his car.


Mark will gladly fill you in on the details. I couldn't find the video from this trip.
Just comment on any of his videos. He will likely reply.
Probably too big of a trip. but just wanted to put it out there."

If that's the video I'm thinking of, I believe the shuttle on the Canadian side was provided by Bud Dickson from Canoe Canada.

if you want to be in the atikokan area you only have four options. french, stanton bay, lerome, or nym.
lerome entry has a bunch of portages. stanton has one at the start and i hear it is lengthly. nym has a big parking area, nice dock, easy lake access, but has one fairly long portage into batch. french has easy lake entry and no portages.
i would not bother staying in atikokan.
depending what time of day/night you plan on arriving in the area, you might consider camping at the dawson trail campground so you can put in as early as you like.
staying at camp quetico is a nice option as well. they are very close by.
you could stay in thunder bay but remember, it is pretty much a 2 hr drive to dawson trail campground. about another 20 - 25 min or so to nym.
if you think you can handle the one portage into batch, i would stay at dawson trail the night before and go in at nym.
if you wee renting some gear, you could also stay at camp quetico, leave your vehicle at french, have them shuttle you to nym, and make your way from nym back to french to your waiting vehicle.