Hello!

I am looking for recommendations on routes for four people, eight days in Quetico - June 2019 - with the following characteristics:

Some smaller lakes mixed in (my wife's favorite)
Grand Slam opportunities
Scenery, solitude

I have only been to Q through Bottle portage. Looking for other suggestions. Nothing is off the table at this point!

Thank you!

You have a million options. The solitude issue won't be a problem. I've done a lot of canoeing in the Q. When I first got started in Quetico camping, I used Robert Beymer's book for my first 8 trips or so. I would really suggest his book for your next trip. It will help you in so many ways.

I could offer suggestions forever but in the end, you need to pick.

Paddler's Guide to Quetico Provincial Park

You could enter Q at Nym Lake and head south. You'd have some bigger water right away but you'd get into smaller lakes after that.

tumblehome: "You have a million options. The solitude issue won't be a problem. I've done a lot of canoeing in the Q. When I first got started in Quetico camping, I used Robert Beymer's book for my first 8 trips or so. I would really suggest his book for your next trip. It will help you in so many ways.

I could offer suggestions forever but in the end, you need to pick.

Paddler's Guide to Quetico Provincial Park
"

Yes, I couldn't agree more. You will be able to tailor your trip to your liking. I used it for my first couple of trips.

You could also have a destination lake, like Brent or Susanette, which would handle your grand slam opportunities while still providing for a travel type trip as well with various routes in and out.

I just look at a map

Thank you all for the suggestions and information!

How is the fishing south of Nym?

Hard to go wrong in that area south of Nym. Nice string of lakes through Walter and Lonely with good fishing and few people. Also no motorboats bouncing you around like the Moose to Prairie Portage approach. A longer drive, but worth it.

You can make some nice loops out of Nym. I've done Nym-Batchewaung-Batchewaung Bay-Pickerel-Bisk-Beg-Bud-Fern-Olifaunt-Sturgeon-Lonely-Walter-Elizabeth-Jesse-Maria-Pickerel-Batchewaung Bay-Batchewaung-Nym over six days; and Nym-Batchewaung-Batchewaung Bay-Pickerel-Maria-Jesse-Elizabeth-Walter-Lonely-Sturgeon-Rouge-Burntside-Jean-Conk-Quetico-Kasakokwog-Cirrus-Siouz-Cole-Lark-Bewag-Lerome over seven days.

The first Nym to Nym loop has a bunch of nice smaller lakes with a few large ones. There is a fairly long portage between Fern and Olifaunt.

The second has more large lakes and has some nice camping areas on the big lakes.

You can't go wrong with the Maria-Jesse-Elizabeth-Walter Lonely chain...they are beautiful smaller lakes.

Solitude won't be an issue in Quetico, that's one of it's best features!

Out of Prairie Portage you could go Agnes Louisa then the scenic little travelled route to McEwen. From there up the awesome Falls Chain to Saganagons and then back west via the Man chain. But, once you get east of Louisa you are pretty much committed to that loop. There’s no bail out option shortcuts. It’s a great loop with lots of scenic falls and streams and excellent fishing on McEwen especially.

Anyone have an outfitter recommendation to this area? Also is Atikokan an area you would recommend spending a couple days at either at the beginning or end of a canoe trip?

jparks02: "Anyone have an outfitter recommendation to this area? Also is Atikokan an area you would recommend spending a couple days at either at the beginning or end of a canoe trip? "

Canoe Canada Outfitters is in Atikokan.

Most of the time, we'll stay in a motel in Atikokan (White Otter Inn) the night before we go into Q. We'll get there mid-afternoon, pick up our permit and settle in for the night, then get an early start in the morning so we're paddling before the wind picks up. There are nice people there and a few things to see, but the town itself probably isn't a destination to hang out in for any extended period of time.

Have to agree with Jackfish. Atikokan doen't have a whole lot to see or do. Just a small canoe country community. We always stop at Chips R Us for lunch and get the poutine.

If you want to catch the Grand Slam, Jean Lake is a good option. Enter at Beaverhouse.