I was thinking about trying to go from Ely to Atikokan - city to city. Looking at fold up bike to ride from entry point to city. Anyone do this before? Seems kind of dumb, but thought cup of coffee in Ely, paddle up and into Canada, make Q camp near entry and ride into Ely for cup of coffee, then back?

Did you mis-type? When do you go to Atikokan?

Do you want to portage a bike?

I'd agree. Sounds dumb. LOL

Thanks, that is what wondering, bit too of a novelty. My wife said stupid, but she often does! Fold up bikes really expensive too, only for trip to Atikokan and back to canoe. Done with this thread.

Or you could just paddle and portage right to Atikokan. Don't understand the need for a bike.

Thought there is about 12 miles from Quetico to actually city limits?

Yes you could paddle and portage to maybe Nym Lake or perhaps Lerome Lake with a bike and and pedal into Atikokan but besides the work of portaging bike I don't think you are allowed to have it in Q and sure not allowed in BWCA. Hitch a ride or schedule with an outfitter. In thinking about a Q perimeter trip, I've thought of doing that - catch a ride into Atikokan for food supplies and maybe a meal and a beer. You can leave the wilderness and re-enter in the Q. I don't think the bike works though.

Lailoken: "Thought there is about 12 miles from Quetico to actually city limits?"

It is 10-12 miles from Quetico to Atikokan, but you can paddle lakes that aren't in the park to get close to town.

Thanks, dropping the dumb fold up bike idea for the last miles!

I think the general idea is great, but you can't bring a bike with you. Clearly your remote-side town visit has to be done by foot. Twelve miles each way is a long bit to do by foot.

BUT...

Why not do Atikokan to Ely and back? You can get from Atikokan to the Q by whatever method you like - a regular bicycle hauling your canoe, if you want it all to be human powered - and then paddle without worrying about the bike. In Ely, you can get very close to the city with your canoe - close enough to make it a nice day-hike. Have your cup of coffee in Ely, stop in to the Kawishiwi Ranger station to pick up your new BWCA permit, day-hike back to your canoe and go back in, paddle back to where you started, load your canoe back on your bicycle trailer, and pedal back in to Atikokan.

Going north to south this year for sure, but just deciding on the extra work to do the gimmicky part.