I know that there are books that talk about entry points for the Boundary Waters and different trips out of each point. Is there such a book for the Q? My son wants to do my original Boy Scout trip that I did in the early '80s. We plan on leaving May 20 or so, through Prairie Portage, up through Agnes and Kawnipi, and then back down.

Any info would be great.

Thanks

This is the third time I am sending a praising reply about what this site can do to help. Lots of good advice available for such a memory trip. My son and I have done this 15 times. If this works this time, good detailed advice can be given.

BombinBrian, the Paddler's Guide to Quetico Provincial Park is the book you're thinking of. Pretty good information to use in planning, but certainly supplement that information with all the great info you'll get here on the board.

Jackfish: "...certainly supplement that information with all the great info you'll get here on the board. "

Especially considering that it is a 1985 publication.

Eyedocron: "This is the third time I am sending a praising reply about what this site can do to help. Lots of good advice available for such a memory trip. My son and I have done this 15 times. If this works this time, good detailed advice can be given."

I'd love to hear from you about your trip

PP
Burke
Singing Brook Portage
Sunday
Meadow Portages
Agnes
Louisa Falls
Keewatin
Kawnipi
Bird
Agnes ( halfway down )
S-Chain ( Silence, Sultry, Summer, Noon, Shade...... )
North Bay ( Basswood )
Burke
PP

schweady: "

Jackfish: "...certainly supplement that information with all the great info you'll get here on the board. "

Especially considering that it is a 1985 publication. "

Exactly. I'd love to travel the park for a summer (or two) and update that 30+ year old book. Many things in Q never change, but there still could be a lot of refreshing done.

The trip we did up through Agnes, like the one you recall went: Prairie Portage, Sunday, Meadows, up Agnes, Kawnipi, McKenzie, Ferguson, Cache River back to Kawnipi, northwest and down a falls, then south through Heronshaw, Cairn, Sark, Keefer, Kahshahpiwi, Side, Isabella, North Bay, Burke, Bayley Bay and back to Moose Lake parking.
Lots of variations possible depending on the time you have and how many lakes and portages you want.
Remember to get the free day permit out of the box at the Moose Lake parking lot for the time on the US side.

What I'm really interested in is portage info from last year, recommended campsites and such. We plan on going up to the point where Kawnipi and Kahshahpiwi meet and go down the Kahshahpiwi side. We are actually paddling ba k to Fall Lake. I haven't been to the Q since the early '80's. My son is 18 so I know we can handle some tougher travel, but just want to know what I'm getting into.

Just name the lake, and either I or someone else here can suggest good campsites nearby. I cannot give you recent portage info, as my crews have been going in the north side in recent years.

Eyedocron: "The trip we did up through Agnes, like the one you recall went: Prairie Portage, Sunday, Meadows, up Agnes, Kawnipi, McKenzie, Ferguson, Cache River back to Kawnipi, northwest and down a falls, then south through Heronshaw, Cairn, Sark, Keefer, Kahshahpiwi, Side, Isabella, North Bay, Burke, Bayley Bay and back to Moose Lake parking.
Lots of variations possible depending on the time you have and how many lakes and portages you want.
Remember to get the free day permit out of the box at the Moose Lake parking lot for the time on the US side. "

Good route. I did this one spring in about 6 days but wished that I had a couple of weeks to explore it in detail.

Kevin Callan has a book mainly about routes he’s done in Quetico. Good map illustrations and really nice color pics throughout. Quetico and Beyond

The book Paddlers Guide to Quetico Provincial Park is available from Fisher Maps for $11.00. The one I have was printed in 2001 and updated (supposedly) in 1997. It does talk about the 1999 wind storm, burns in 2000 and the fees as of 2001.

Honestly, not much changes up there (with the exception of fees and regulations). I've used it quite a bit. Kevin Callan's book 'Quetico and Beyond' is a good book with a few routes, history, stories, and info about other Canadian canoeing parks and routes. He is always an entertaining read.

I read Beyers Quetico book many times trying to figure out a first time solo trip in Quetico park. His book was directly responsible for me deciding to do the Hunters Island loop as my first solo and first time in the Quetico.......his description "this loop has it all" resonated with me and I figured "why not"? I had a couple of weeks to work with and the ambitious 1st trip still ranks as one of my best.

While I do not use it as a resource any more I highly recommend the book for anyone new to canoe country.

I have been on this route many times. I did my solo last year exactly as you outlined it except I exited at Prairie instead of Fall. As others have said let me know if there are specific lakes or portages you might like to know about. Nothing works better than a phone call when you get to the specific point of firming up plans. A couple of times I have talked with folks planning Q trips simply because it is easier to communicate that way. Let any of know what you need or want and you will find a wealth of information here.

I've done that trip a couple of times. There's a really cool island site on Bird Lake. At least is was cool back in the 90s