Hey everyone. It's January so it's time to plan canoe trips, right?

We're looking at going to Quetico in May and I'm wondering about ice-out and water levels.

Ice-out....we've traditionally gone to the BWCA the week or two before fishing opener (we don't fish) and loved the quiet and the sense that the land is just starting to wake up. A crap shoot as to whether ice will be out but...usually it is.
So we thought we might do that in Quetico this year. Anyone have thoughts on how Quetico ice-out compares to BW? Farther north, bigger lakes, thinking it's probably at least a little later?

Tempting to think with this mild winter that maybe it'll be early but there's a lot of winter yet to go so... But wondering what's "average."

Water levels....We were up in Quetico in August and geez was the water low. Trail Creek was too low to navigate.

Here in MN we had a dry fall and have NO snow on the ground. I hear there's no snow on the ground in Atikokan right now. So I'm guessing if they don't get a few blizzards for a big spring melt that the water levels will start out low in the spring.
Anybody have other info on water levels?

Thanks for everyone's help. Looking forward to sticking a paddle in the water.

Was also in Quetico in August, and yes, low water for sure.

Last two Mays it was pretty crazy high however.

I expect Ice-out is likely 1-3 days later on average than the BWCA - not much, as there's considerable overlap latitudinally.

I believe there's some snow up there now but it's thin for sure & way behind normal.

We'll see - it's early days yet...but perhaps this is the year where folks can trip in April. We had one of those...what, about a decade ago?

Far too early to predict any sort of weather related ice-out conditions for spring. Little snow means thicker ice since there is no insulation.

The weather is starting to straighten out up north but nightly lows are still way above average.

Going against all I believe in and hold true, here are dopey maps from the National weather service for the next three months.

Last year we did a May 19th entry out of PP, but we only went as far as the north end of the Man Chain, but I'm sure everything north of us was open at that point. I'm not sure I'd want to do anything earlier, even if possible. We are doing a week later out of Beaverhouse this May, I'm sure we will be able to put in without any ice issues.

Thanks everyone for the data and experiences.

Ha! Love those Natl Weather Service maps. Maybe I'll see if my grandkids can make me some maps like that - they're 7 and 10 and pretty good at coloring - and we can compare come April :)

Launched at Nym last year on May 19. We stayed at Voyageur Wildernes outfitters and they said ice had been out 7-8 days. Had to use their backup outhouses cuz pipes to bath house were still froze. Water levels were average till we got closer to Sturgeon. There was little to no rain after the last of the snow has melted. Things warmed and dried quickly. Every year is a little different.

Another thing to consider is that Quetico Ranger stations generally don't open until Mid-May. If you head in before they open, you'll have to coordinate your route/permit in advance and mail it in.

Ericinely thanks for bringing up that the ranger stations aren't open.

I called the ranger station in Atikokan a few days ago and talked to, geez, I don't remember her name, but I think she was the same ranger that was new there last summer.

Anyway, I told her we were thinking of going in at Beaverhouse in early to mid-May, before the May 17 date when the permitting opens up, and asked her what to do.

She said we could come to the Atikokan office. She also said there's a self-serve box at the Beaverhouse station. We could fill something out, stick it in an envelope along with our payment, and put the whole thing in a secure metal box. She said we need to carry a tab from the envelope with us as our proof of permit. Sounded like what the MN state parks used to do before they decided to do everything with a QR code.

Curious what others' experience has been?

Self permitting is pretty simple, just need to know the exchange rate for that day and calculate the cost per day for fees times the number of people in your party times number of days, or nights can't remember which. I usually do all the math in advanced knowing that makes it quick, fill out the form take the permit portion for you to keep on you, add your cash to the envelope and drop it in the box.

Here's what that self-issue permit and the tab you keep look like...




I had CA funds with me.

There was a chart showing the # of visitors, # of days, and then the total cost. (They do the math for you.)

sns and campnfish, thanks for the guidance on self-registering!

i live close by quetico and am also hoping to do my first short trip of this year in the early spring.
this part of the country is very unpredictable for weather etc.
i have seen ice floating on small inland lakes for the may opener. and i have also been golfing in april. lol
this winter is an odd one. started out very cold very early but has been unusually warm for most of the time. we also have very little snow so ice conditions are not like they normally would be.
so unless we get a substantial amount of snow in march (which is certainly possible), there will be pretty dry conditions come spring.
out in alberta apparently they are having wild fires already. not a good sign.
last year we were cabin camping in the area the days leading up to the may long weekend and we finished with near record high temps and a bug explosion.
mon may 20 is the long weekend this year. so you certainly would be good to go by then.
i will go out on a limb and suggest most inland lakes near the border (like quetico) should be open a couple of weeks before that.
i am planning for may 3rd but also have a contingency plan for may 10.

Ice out in Quetico is normally between mid-April and mid-May. The last couple of years it has been on the May end. This year who knows.

Last year we entered at Beaverhouse on May 14th. Since I have a long drive (~1200 miles) to get to Atikokan, I get there the day before and stay in Atikokan the day before the trip. This gives me a chance to get permits, etc. the day before starting the trip. The permits can be done at the park’s Atikokan office (108 Saturn Ave). The office is officially closed before the opening date, but talk to the Ontario parks people at the front they will get you into the back where the Quetico people are if they are working.

Last year May 13th was a Saturday and they weren’t working so we did self permits and left the forms and fees in the drop box outside. I wrote a check in US dollars for the fees. I estimated the exchange rate and contacted them when I returned to see if they were happy with the exchange rate. They basically responded close enough for government work.

While we were in the park, we actually had our permits checked by a portage crew. We could have done our permit at the Beaverhouse Ranger cabin. Last year they had a problem getting a Ranger to the cabin on time. On our way out, a week after the official opening date no one was there. However, there was a drop box for self-permitting.

larrys48.....for next time.....self check in is supposed to be cash only

rick00001967: "i will go out on a limb and suggest most inland lakes near the border (like quetico) should be open a couple of weeks before that.
i am planning for may 3rd but also have a contingency plan for may 10."

We're going out on a limb too and planning to go in May 11.

So far those weather maps are looking pretty accurate for us. And it looks like for Atikokan too.