SO can I enter the Q without any planning like I can the B DUb? Meaning, I can show up to any BWCA permit station and obtain a permit for anything that's open at that time. Does the Q work this way.

Sometimes I get several consecutive days off of work with very short notice and would like to be able to drive up and do an impromptu trip.

Thanks, Gbusk

Gbusk, I have always gotten my permit through an outfitter, but I think if I were in that position I would call their "Trip Planning Information Line" (807-597-2735). I assume they could tell you if openings exist, and at which entry. Quetico Park website: http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/quet.html

We waited till a few weeks before our trip in 1992 and got Nym as our entry point......it's a long drive to Atikokan.

You need a RABC permit to go thru Prarie portage and Passport....both can take several weeks to get.

It would sure be a good idea to get a reservation during the reservation season, even if it was the day before you wanted entry. You wouldn't want to find out there were no permits available when you pulled into the ranger station. There are far fewer EPs in the Q and they are well dispersed.

Yes you can do the exact same thing for Quetico.

I have never done it because their Ranger stations are more remote. Most are not accessable by road so if you get there and there are no permits then what do you do then?

As others have mentioned a better option would be to call the reservation line to make sure something is available.

THere was a time a few years ago when most if not all of the Quetico permits would be reserved by 3-4 months out. I can remember calling 5 months in advance and having to settle for my 3rd option. Now a days they are not filling up so gbusk your odds are good to have something available.

T

Greg, you could consider entering at Cache Bay. You have a shot at 8 possible permits each day. 2 for the Man Chain, 2 for the Falls Chain, 2 for Saganagons only and 2 for Boundary Point.

Janice the ranger there has mentioned to me in the past that she rarely has all 8 permits being used in a single day. Plus, just because you have Man Chain permit, I doubt the rangers would really care if they caught you heading up the Falls Chain for example.

Kiporby, thanks for reminder about the 8 permits at Cache Bay . . . it's good for someone who's flexible to remember. You could have a tentative "game plan" for each one . . .

Oops. I was a tad mistaken. Forgot about Knife Lake. Boundary Point and Saganagons are the same permit.

71. Knife Lake
72. Man Chain Lakes
73. Falls Chain Lakes
74. Boundary Point,
Saganagons Lake

Just a correction the rangers at Cache Bay do care if you head a different direction than your permit indicates. Typically they won't watch, but if you do head up the towards the Falls Chain on a Knife Lake permit for example they will run you down and "redirect you" if they see it. People do get away with it, but people get caught too.

They really try to space groups out as much as humanly possible, which is the reason for the different entry points.

T

Yea T. I kinda worded that poorly. I was more getting at the fact you could go in the Man Chain on a Man Chain permit and loop around and return various ways sorta thing.

Or you could get the Saganagons Permit and day trip the Falls Chain and Man Chain.

That makes sense---yea as long as you head in the general direction to the lake/area of your entry point they don't care where you go after that. Could definitely do Man and loop around exiting another area.

T