So I finally called. The people in that office are utterly fantastic. Some of this is new to me and I have not seen it here but I apologize to those that knew it.

BACKCOUNTRY

So, as most knew you can pick up a permit at ranger stations. On the north, you can pick up any northern entry point permit at any ranger station. From the south the ranger stations only issue permits for their respective entry points.

You can pick your permit anytime from two in the afternoon the day before the date of the permit up to the end of the day of the permit date. You probably can pick it up till 9:00 am the next morning, especially if you can legitimately claim weather delay, and maybe a little later - but I would hate to count on it and I would only try it if I was legitimately delayed.

I keep saying "you" and I mean the named permit holder or one of them.

Now, I knew most of that but what I didn't know comprehensively was that outfitters who are Quetico 100 Stewardship Partners can also pick up your permit for you. Those are listed there - not much in US but some. Hopefully more US outfitters will join over time.

Most of this applies to in season but the out of season - when the ranger stations are not occupied - its not all that different - except it's the metal boxes at the ranger stations.

All that said, as best I can tell from asking, the Q does not prohibit you form "leaving the wilderness" like the BWCAW, largely and obviously because of the different permitting process. So, if you're willing to pay for nights when not actually in the Q, that's OK.

DAY PASSES

Day passes are available at all ranger stations - nothing new - but you can pick them up in advance or have anyone pick them up in advance - not just Quetico100 partners - and you can have them validated for specific days other than the day you enter. This seems pretty simple and helpful. And you can day permit at the lock boxes off season as well. So if anyone you know is going to any ranger station anytime in advance of when you might want to cross the border, they can buy date specific day passes. And of course there are the seasonal/annual passes available by mail.

CONCLUSION

The office person - maybe a ranger - was so delightful and charming and helpful - if I weren't married I might have proposed right then and there. Second, if you need help or explanation, calling them is the best way. I didn't ask directly but my sense is they even sometimes bend the rules. The report I alluded was I think about off season day passes and I think that they might have mailed some out even though that is not a regular part of the procedures. Last, they have a new superintendent that begins Monday. I'm sending a card.

PS

They don't want to even talk ab out crossing international borders other than to note that you might be doing so when entering the Q and you have to address that with those authorities.

I have called the office and stopped (in Aitkokan) numerous times and staff is always very polite and helpful. While there is a lot of knowledge and information available for Quetico on this forum, I would advise anyone wanting accurate, up-to-date, official information to not hesitate to contact them directly. --Goose

I am a little confused on the Quetico 100 outfitters that can pick up
your permit for you. I may be reading the post or website wrong. It seems like there is a lack of US outfitters listed. However, with that said I know that outfitters on Moose Lake can pick up your permit for you. I had some back and forth with the Park several years ago, were very helpful. I had Williams and Hall pick up permits for us in the past for a variety of reasons.

quote GraniteCliffs: "I am a little confused on the Quetico 100 outfitters that can pick up
your permit for you. I may be reading the post or website wrong. It seems like there is a lack of US outfitters listed. However, with that said I know that outfitters on Moose Lake can pick up your permit for you. I had some back and forth with the Park several years ago, were very helpful. I had Williams and Hall pick up permits for us in the past for a variety of reasons."

If you mean back country (overnight) permits, not their current policy but they do seem to bend their own rules some. I also don't know if any of what they say now is new and different from the past. The Q100 program seems to be "newer". I tried to lay out what options you have a right to, and suspect that by talking directly to the park and/or outfitters you might find some accommodation for a specific request or plan.

I'm kind of hoping some more south side outfitters become Quetico100 partners, as that would seem to solve most problems.

You might call Williams and Hall and ask if they can still get you a permit. I'd be curious to know if they have changed.

Probably the only useful thing for me was verifying the day before availability and the options to get day passes well in advance which people have said was not possible. The day before allows me to go to PP on my travel day to Ely, get my permit, camp on Moose on a BWCA permit, and blow by PP early the next morning rather than having to wait for the station to open. Be on Silence or Louisa early afternoon of day 1, Sarah or Kahs a little later on day 1.

I have picked up permits the day before a couple of times in the past. Just two years ago I had a Moose Lake outfitter pick up my permit for me the day before. I will check with them again this year, things must have changed in the past year.

I don't know the origin of the Q100 program but guessing recent since I thought the 100th anniversary was not long ago.

Just thought I'd mention that Bob LaTourell confirmed they are now Quetico 100 partners and can fully within the regs pick up permits and provide directly to you with out you having to go to a ranger station. I don't know if LaTourells will limit this to just they're outfitting customers.

I will not be surprised if more US outfitters don't get onboard with this before many seasons past. A nice option to not have to go to always go to ranger to enter from south side.

Glad to hear it. I have asked Bob about this several times in the past few years. In fact I called him a couple of months ago when I saw he was a Q 100 member. Without saying who I was I called and asked if they could pick up a permit. At that point he first called me by name (I think I must have pestered him once too often!) but at that point said he could not. Glad to hear they now will.

I fully appreciate their reluctance to do so. In my case I typically go with 3-4 other guys and we all pay for a tow, usually round-trip. By doing this they could cut their business revenue, which would be unfortunate for them. Given the limited permits at Prairie this could put a dent in their business. Tough call, even if they have a minimum charge.

I wonder sometimes,we go to a different Country,as invited guests and are privileged there is such a place as Quetico and were allowed to utilize it. Yet many people are in such a hurry to skip or hurry thru the station.

Yes you could include me at times.

But as time goes on in my life I like stopping in the ranger station,getting my permit and saying a polite thank you for your dedication and privilege of using the area. I think it shows a little gratitude,instead of indifference. What's the hurry. Just a few minutes. I know before I retired a little Thank you from certain clintele goes a long way.

quote PINETREE: "I wonder sometimes,we go to a different Country,as invited guests and are privileged there is such a place as Quetico and were allowed to utilize it. Yet many people are in such a hurry to skip or hurry thru the station.

Yes you could include me at times.

But as time goes on in my life I like stopping in the ranger station,getting my permit and saying a polite thank you for your dedication and privilege of using the area. I think it shows a little gratitude,instead of indifference. What's the hurry. Just a few minutes. I know before I retired a little Thank you from certain clintele goes a long way. "

Well I don't have a lot of experience at Prairie but put me in the category of being in a hurry. When the Ranger is a jerk, then I want to get in and out.

Still remember the first time I went there. Walk up to the office, read the sign of no more then one group in the office at a time----open the door start to walk in and immediately get yelled at by a Ranger, I think his name was Jason, " get out no more than one group In the office at time !" Well yea, ya sort of gotta open the door to know if anyone is in there....Walked out, the group left, walked in told them we needed fishing licenses too--then got scolded "you should have come in earlier while I was issuing permits for the other group " well ya.... Sort of got kicked out before I could do that dude :) then he was nice. Felt like I was in a Seinfeld episode with the Quetico Ranger version of the soup Nazi :)

Flash forward 2 years. I get my fishing license a head of time so I don't piss off the Ranger. Get to the door timidly look in, dang it same Ranger working duck out quick :)

Later a big family shows up and waits with us, they call next so my wife and I go in. Next thing I know the Husband comes in behind us and says they are ahead of us. I was a little thrown off, teh Ranger says to us like we are morons yes they are ahead of you. How? But okay a few more minutes wait isn't going to kill us. When it is our turn---- for real now--- I can't help myself and ask how they were ahead of us when we were waiting at the door before them for 10 minutes with no one else around. My wife jabs me just like George did to Elaine in the soup Nazi episode. He tells me the Husband bought his fishing license earlier before we arrived and that's their system (BTW we had to wait for the rest of their group to buy licenses as well). Apparently the Husband ran across the portage, bought a license, portaged their gear, then showed up later way after us.... When I said we bought our license online and with your system we would always be last ...... He said " oh yea never thought of that... " then the female ranger jumped in and apologized. Then later she pulled me aside and said it was inappropriate the way we were talked down to.The time wasn't a big factor it was the way we were talked to each time. Like, the process depended on the mood of the moody Ranger/soup Nazi :)

I had done Lac La Croix and Cache Bay many times and found it easy to navigate and stay longer to talk because the Rangers are engaging and friendly. Been to Prairie a few more times since and it went smooth but I still go in like I am on egg shells :)

T

quote billconner: "Just thought I'd mention that Bob LaTourell confirmed they are now Quetico 100 partners and can fully within the regs pick up permits and provide directly to you with out you having to go to a ranger station. I don't know if LaTourells will limit this to just they're outfitting customers.

I will not be surprised if more US outfitters don't get onboard with this before many seasons past. A nice option to not have to go to always go to ranger to enter from south side."

I just reread your post. Just so I am sure: Did Bob tell you he would pick up your permit for you, without you a actually going to Prairie? They have been a Q100 member but were not willing to do so. Being able to do so and be willing to do so may be different questions. Would he do it after 2 the day before? Cost to do so?

I am headed up in two weeks and would have an interest.

First he said no then in a follow up email said he could and to call to describe what I needed. Kind of a no comment. Call - what can it hurt. Eventually one of the tow operators is going to offer the service.

I called since I am headed up next week-end. Bob told me they would pick up my permit for me either the day before after 2 PM (the Park rule) or the day of and bring it back down to Moose Lake. He said this would cost me $100. Seems like a lot but I am very understanding that this is a fair price given the totality of the circumstances he is in. Might take him up on it.

$100 is way over what id pay. so what amount of time would that actually save you? half an hour? am i not understanding something here?

quote kanoes: "$100 is way over what id pay. so what amount of time would that actually save you? half an hour? am i not understanding something here?"

You could get a the permit for Basswood River and enter and exit at Mudro for example, opens up trip options. From Mudro you can hit Argo in along day, can't do that from Prairie. Also if you have a big group this is much cheaper than paying for a tow or for my wife and I we wouldn't have to pay for an expensive Lac La Croix tow and car shuttle to Mudro---100 bucks is cheap compared to that.

But I do think $100 is too expensive as there is virtually no cost to the outfitter. They just have their tow operator drop a group off or pick one up and then go to the station to pick up the permit. Pure profit if they do it right. For me, it is viable option only to avoid Lac La Croix not sure it would replace a trip from Prairie--- so the outfitter wouldn't lose tow business in my case only gain business.

T

Its new and only available from one source so sellers market for now. $100 seems a little high but sort of price of one person to a to and from PP.

I think this also will make the north side option of picking up permit day in advance more common on south side,so I can pick up a permit late in day, camp in BWCA, and be far into Q before ranger opens.

Hopefully it will evolve and outfitters in Ely will be able to issue it. For the outfitter to have to be at PP in person in this age is simply silly.

twice ive talked to quetico officials. both times I was told I HAVE to enter thru a ranger station. I know ive read different on here but id really like to see something in writing that says I don't have to enter thru an official station.

quote kanoes: "twice ive talked to quetico officials. both times I was told I HAVE to enter thru a ranger station. I know ive read different on here but id really like to see something in writing that says I don't have to enter thru an official station."

I'd like to see an official answer too.

Probably depends on who answers the question or how it is asked which I don't like. On the north end I believe Canadian outfitters can issue permits or pick them up--they are not a station or maybe they consider members of the Quetico 100 stations? When I used Zups in 2002 they either picked my permit up or issued me one---I never saw the Ranger station on Lac La Croix. I know Stu from the BWJ enters offseason and get's his offseason permits through the mail--but if you call and ask about it you get different answers. I went off season once through Lac La Croix with Andersons and I had just picked up an off season pass the last time I was at a station and we bypassed the Lac La Croix station--I just mailed it in to them. No issues.

To be honest though once you get your permit--however you got it--I am not sure it would matter to them or how they would know if you got checked. I guess they could call a station to see if you checked in at a station but I've been checked several times in Quetico and they just care about whether you have a fishing license and permit.

T

quote kanoes: "twice ive talked to quetico officials. both times I was told I HAVE to enter thru a ranger station. I know ive read different on here but id really like to see something in writing that says I don't have to enter thru an official station."

The Quetico 100 partnership program clearly spells out that one of the benefits for outfitters is being able to pick up permits for their customers. here It seems like formalizing and bringing to the south side what has been an accepted practice on the north. I talked to the office in Atikokan and they confirmed it. Bob at LA Tourells said they could. Q 100 is only about 5 Yeats old and they may not have had everything in place when it started so this is in the scheme of things recent innovations.

quote GraniteCliffs: "I am a little confused on the Quetico 100 outfitters that can pick up your permit for you. I may be reading the post or website wrong. It seems like there is a lack of US outfitters listed. However, with that said I know that outfitters on Moose Lake can pick up your permit for you. I had some back and forth with the Park several years ago, were very helpful. I had Williams and Hall pick up permits for us in the past for a variety of reasons."

I second this for W&H. They're not listed as Q100 members though.

Williams and Hall have been Q 100 in the past. They have picked up permits for people in prior years, including me. As of a month ago they were not Q 100 members this year and did not seem too certain they would be. Latourells were not willing in the past even though they were Q 100 members. For some reason they have changed their mind this year, which is great.
I get the $100 bucks simply because the number of permits per day for the Q is capped, which limits the number of tows and related outfitting they can do for customers going to the Q. By picking up the permit they will likely be losing fees generated by tows, and some outfitting I would bet. With that in mind the $100 seems more reasonable. I am, however, looking for a cheaper alternative.
I would not worry about where you enter, as long as you enter in your designated area.
I also have an email from a number of years ago when I began to do this. It is from the Q Park HQ blessing my doing this. I used to carry it with me but don't even bother to do that now.
I plan to do this again next week-end.

If you're going to enter through the park at a US entry AND plan on making a Canadian Campsite Day 1, please don't pull a permit for the entry point. That is a WASTED permit, and will keep someone from getting a permit.

We had our permits picked up this year, and entered via Mudro. Initially I was going to permit for entry and permit to get back into the US from Canada, but we chose to use DAY USE passes to get into the park versus pulling a Permit. Yea, there was a very, very limited chance we'd not make a Quetico Site Day 1, but in that event it would have been due to injury, or something more than likely taking us out of the park anyways.

Bottom line, think about the permit, and if you're sure you don't need the US entry permit for day 1, then leave that permit for someone else.

Later,

Geo

quote timatkn: "

quote kanoes: "$100 is way over what id pay. so what amount of time would that actually save you? half an hour? am i not understanding something here?"

You could get a the permit for Basswood River and enter and exit at Mudro for example, opens up trip options. From Mudro you can hit Argo in along day, can't do that from Prairie. Also if you have a big group this is much cheaper than paying for a tow or for my wife and I we wouldn't have to pay for an expensive Lac La Croix tow and car shuttle to Mudro---100 bucks is cheap compared to that.

But I do think $100 is too expensive as there is virtually no cost to the outfitter. They just have their tow operator drop a group off or pick one up and then go to the station to pick up the permit. Pure profit if they do it right. For me, it is viable option only to avoid Lac La Croix not sure it would replace a trip from Prairie--- so the outfitter wouldn't lose tow business in my case only gain business.

T"

I would EASILY pay 100 bucks. Heck, initially we were setup to have two of us tow ( me and second person on the permit), and were more than willing to pay round trip tow to Prairie for 2 guys to get permits. Are you KIDDING.

Lets see 6 guys towing down moose, waiting for an hour at prairie then entering at Inlet Bay. Paddling a billion miles and then doing brutal , brutal portages to McIntyre, or pick up the permit early, be at Mudro at 6:00am, and lower basswood falls by noon. Make it to McIntyre by 7:00pm.

Yea, option 2.

Later,

Geo

quote GeoFisher: "

quote timatkn: "

quote kanoes: "$100 is way over what id pay. so what amount of time would that actually save you? half an hour? am i not understanding something here?"

You could get a the permit for Basswood River and enter and exit at Mudro for example, opens up trip options. From Mudro you can hit Argo in along day, can't do that from Prairie. Also if you have a big group this is much cheaper than paying for a tow or for my wife and I we wouldn't have to pay for an expensive Lac La Croix tow and car shuttle to Mudro---100 bucks is cheap compared to that.

But I do think $100 is too expensive as there is virtually no cost to the outfitter. They just have their tow operator drop a group off or pick one up and then go to the station to pick up the permit. Pure profit if they do it right. For me, it is viable option only to avoid Lac La Croix not sure it would replace a trip from Prairie--- so the outfitter wouldn't lose tow business in my case only gain business.

T"

I would EASILY pay 100 bucks. Heck, initially we were setup to have two of us tow ( me and second person on the permit), and were more than willing to pay round trip tow to Prairie for 2 guys to get permits. Are you KIDDING.

Lets see 6 guys towing down moose, waiting for an hour at prairie then entering at Inlet Bay. Paddling a billion miles and then doing brutal , brutal portages to McIntyre, or pick up the permit early, be at Mudro at 6:00am, and lower basswood falls by noon. Make it to McIntyre by 7:00pm.

Yea, option 2.

Later,

Geo

"

I have seen and used this option any number of times over the past number of years. It is, for the reasons you mention, a good way to enter the Q. I have kept my yap shut for the most part, knowing that Basswood River permits, probably the least desirable permit from Prairie, could get hard to come by if too many people were aware of it. Or, if used too much, the Park could change their mind and rescind this option.
On the other hand it might become a little easier to do in the future if more people do this. Fewer questions from outfitters about what you want them to do and fewer questions and problems with the staff at Prairie when this happens. I did it a month ago and we are doing it again Saturday so we will see how it goes.
I also would agree on the view that you should not pull a BW overnight permit for Mudro unless you actually planned to use it. Most of the time I forget to fill out a day permit when we leave Mudro and hightail it for the border, meaning I do not have a BW permit coming or going. I do intend to be better about this from now on.