So right now the plan is to open Quetico on June 1st. All of the Ontario parks might open up on that day, but will Americans be able to cross the border to enter the park is the question.

I am assuming if you live in Canada, you will be able access the park. I am also assuming we will find out what both governments plan to do at the end of May. Hard to make any set plans at this time.

Hey Mike,

I have a trip start date of June 23, and was thinking it wouldn't be happening. I wanted some more knowledgeable advice so I called and spoke with Charlene from W & H yesterday (was really hoping to talk with Dave, but they're all good folks there). She was pretty confident that Quetico and the border will both be open June 1. She did mention something about an agreement by both countries, but I didn't catch all of what she said.

As far as a RABC permit, she said they were advising folks to submit the application, with a fax number. And incase you leave for the trip before you get the RABC, to also print out a second copy, fill it out and carry it with you, along with copies of your supporting documents (and maybe a previous year's RABC), for some proof that you did submit the app. I was thinking I'd have to drive to Fort Frances to get one in person before heading to Ely.

Anyhow, hope this doesn't confuse you and hope you can make a trip this year.

Dave at W&H is a friend of mine. He basically said the same thing. They hope (expect) the border to be open at the end of May.

Here is Dave's response.......Currently the date that is set to open the border is May 31st, that is if both governments are on the same page. If that does indeed happen, then we are hearing the park will open as well.

The key part of his statement is "if both governments are on the same page".

I already have an RABC. If they open the borders sometime this year, I plan on at least one trip to Quetico.

QueticoMike: "So right now the plan is to open Quetico on June 1st. "

I think that's a generous interpretation of what has been announced. The position of goalposts on every date so far announced has been a moving target.

I hope you are right. May 24 (Victoria Day long weekend) is the big summer kick-off in Canada. The government seemed to have no problem punting it this year.

I've said earlier on posts like this, It seems highly unlikely the border opens until all freedom and mobility has returned in both countries. That means the parks will be open before the border opens. Thus, the only real impediment you need to worry about if you are American is the border.

Apropos of really nothing but... Imagine what Quetico will look like if it is open but the border remains closed. There will be zero traffic from the southern entry points. I believe at least 50% of the traffic from the northern entry points is also from Americans. There will be a lot of open campsites.

I received a message from another friend who guides out of Ely and he said it will be June 30th when Quetico opens. Not sure if he meant the park or the actual border opening. I guess we will just wait and see at the end of the month in May on what will take place. If anybody else hears any dates, please let us know. Thanks!

Fingers crossed for my Argo Darky loop starting July 19th.......

I am still hopeful for my June 7 French Lake entry. Unless I missed another recent announcement, the border closing was extended for 30 days on April 19th. I realize that doesn't mean it will be open May 19, but there will have to be another announcement by then. Hopefully, it will be open June 1 when the park opens.

HI Mike, how do you know the plan is to open the park June 1st. I got a trip planned mid June so this is favourable information but wanted to know why you think that is the case.

Outfitters cannot tell anyone when borders will open. They can tell you that they have been given the green light to open; see Williams and Hall website.

Just because an outfitter has been given the green light to open means nothing as per the border opening. Pretty simple; border not open, no Q trips from the US side.

Frenchy19: "Outfitters cannot tell anyone when borders will open. They can tell you that they have been given the green light to open; see Williams and Hall website.


Just because an outfitter has been given the green light to open means nothing as per the border opening. Pretty simple; border not open, no Q trips from the US side."

Williams and Hall will be open this month, they think the border will be open at then end of May. Another person I know who guides, owns a resort and is a friend of Dave's who manages Williams and Hall thinks it will be June 30th. So I don't think anybody really knows when the actual border will be re-opened. I tend to believe it will be closer to June 30th than May 30th for the border opening. I also believe that Quetico will be open in June and only Canadians will have access to the park during that time.

Tom who asked the question above is from Ontario and has a Provincial Park permit for June and I think he will have access to the the parks. All of this is speculation at this time, we will have a much better feel for things at the end of the month.

Back in Early April I thought that the border would surely be open by June. As the days, weeks, and months tick by, really nothing has changed. Cases are rapidly rising in Minnesota and many of the border states to Canada.

I am now resolved to think that it is going to be a good long while until the border is open for recreational use to Canada. The resorts don’t know, I don’t know. Anything we read or hear has to be taken as an opinion until we hear it from Federal officials in Canada. Canada would be crazy to allow us up there. Covid-19 is raging in the US, way more so than back in April.

I have a trip on June 10 for Nym Lake. And I’m not trying to be a Debbie Downer. But I now think the chances of me going are very slim. I hope I’m wrong. I can’t imagine how beautiful Quetico will be with no people. Nature finally gets a break from us.

Tom

Those graphs are for influenza, not the Coronavirus. This Page shows number of new cases per day still rising.

I'd be pleasantly surprised if border opened by July, September or later would not be surprising.

Bill,
I don't know what graphs you are referring to. I didn't mention graphs. I won't bore non-Minnesotans with our stats. I look at the MN Dept of Health Covid update page. Not worth looking at unless you like seeing how Minnesota is doing. Frankly, most states are drowning in illness.
Tom

I believe there was a post after your previous post which has since been deleted and contained graphs. I agree with you.

Oh, OK. Makes sense.
The moderating on this web site is the most bizarre.

Tom

Even if the infection rate dropped to zero the numbers would continue to rise with enhanced testing. There are so many variables in these stats it's hard to tell up from down.

But If I was in the USA and had a Quetico trip planned this summer, I'd definitely have a BWCAW plan B.

Argo: "Even if the infection rate dropped to zero the numbers would continue to rise with enhanced testing. There are so many variables in these stats it's hard to tell up from down.

But If I was in the USA and had a Quetico trip planned this summer, I'd definitely have a BWCAW plan B. "

Yep, that’s my strategy. I’ve been exclusively a Quetico guy for my last seven years, but I have a backup trip planned for Knife Lake bwca. My trip starts June 4th and I’m coming from Texas, so I even have a plan C trip much more local to me. We’ll see what happens!

Premier Doug Ford announced today that Provincial Parks to open for day use only on Monday May 11, thats a start.

OUTBACK_MACK: "Premiar Doug Ford announced today that Provincial Parks to open for day use only on Monday May 11,thats a start."

That's great news for Canadian citizens.

QueticoMike: "

OUTBACK_MACK: "Premier Doug Ford announced today that Provincial Parks to open for day use only on Monday May 11,thats a start."

That's great news for Canadian citizens."

How does one go about getting dual citizenship. :) :)

Link to press release from Ontario PP

Just spoke with my outfitter and was told that an RABC processor predicted the border should be open by July. Also, beginning this year, they would return RABC applications by e-mail rather than by snail mail.

Between this change and pre-paying camping fees now, tripping into Quetico will be a much easier process. A lot less time and hassle at the ranger station.

Who knows, the next phase in a few years may be to simply wave at the ranger while paddling by. LOL.

Terry

Canada Border News Update

The latest from yesterday... read in particular the last four paragraphs.

Thanks Goat... but I don't like it. The likelihood of a trip to Q in June is getting slimmer by the day.

12 hours later, looking gloomy.

Article

Yup, I'm all but certain my June 10 trip is off. Canada does not want infected Americans in their country and I don't blame them. If the tables were turned and Canada had 80,000 dead people from this I would ask them to stay home too.

I booked a permit for Snowbank today. Uggh.

Tom

True story on a June 10 trip, unfortunately:

"On March 21, 2020, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada temporarily restricted non-essential travel across the US-Canada land borders. On May 20, 2020, all parties agreed to extend the restrictions on non-essential travel across their shared borders for 30 additional days until June 21, 2020."

From: https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1596

The guy with a June 23 trip might make it, but I just finished the unhappy task of canceling my June 7 entry. For a while I was looking at a BWCA option, but I'm now convinced it will be quite crowded -- and I already thought that they just hand out too many permits down that way.

Oh well, 2020 is looking like the year where you re-learn how to roll with punches.

With all the uncertainties, no guarantee that the border closure will not be extended yet again, no RABC yet, and so on and so forth, I cancelled my June 23 permit on the 20th. No further plans other than next year (we'll have to wait and see if that even happens). Can use that trip money for other things now anyways.

Looks like the main border is closed through June 21. Start thinking Plan B.

I am going to grit my teeth and remain stubbornly optimistic that my July 19th entry date to Bottle Portage will happen........