For this question, assume the US/Canada border is open for travel.

To those of you who have been to the BWCA a number of times, perhaps you're looking for a new challenge. Maybe finding an available BW permit is tougher than you expected, so you're looking for options. Or perhaps you're just the adventurous type who wants his or her first trip to be in Quetico.

Quetico is "right there", just above the BWCA, but it's in a foreign country and there is the unfamiliarity of how to plan a trip to go there.

This question is for those of you who have never been to Quetico, but would like to go someday.

What information about planning a trip to Quetico would you like to know to help you feel comfortable taking a canoe trip there?

A few topics to ask about:
- Crossing the border
- Getting a permit
- Entry points
- Entering from the south vs north
- Campsites
- LNT latrine practices
- Cool things to see

NOTE: My answers below are as accurate as possible. There are lots of Quetico paddlers on this site. Please feel free to correct me or add missing information as needed. I'd like this thread to be an "All you need to know about Quetico" resource and have it be as accurate and complete as possible.

Great question!

I've been to the BW some 35 times over the last 22 years, always intending someday to go to Q. I guess the extra cost (Passport, RACB, permit, fishing license) has been the biggest deterrent, and the extra time I'd like to take to do a trip. (Raising kids kinda limited my trips to 5-6 days max in the past).

Here's a couple questions I've thought of:
1) Though there aren't campsites, how to you find the ones that people have made and frequent on any given lake?
2) Does everyone start in the BW, enter the Q and exit the BW? What about driving into Canada and entering the Q and exiting either park?
3) How do you manage the customs thing if you don't go through Prairie Portage, etc.? (Heard reference to visiting the Customs office in Ely on your way out)
4) How do you acquire an RABC and permit? Online?

Hi Jackfish,

My question is about the best/easiest entry point for a newbie wanting to enter Quetico from the bwca. From what I have read so far it seems that entering Quetico requires a big water crossing. I am thinking of Sag where I have read stories about people capsizing. Or about long tows on LLC.

Can someone get a tow from Moose to Quetico?

What is the shortest tow to get into the Quetico?

What is the smallest water to get into Quetico from the bwca?

As far as the latrine situation goes I have a similar question to the current fish disposal advice from the USFS. How do you dig a hole deep enough to bury something when it seems like granite bedrock 6 inches below the surface of the Canadian shield everywhere you might try to dig?

My questions would reflect my familiarity with the BWCAW, as you will see. I have not been to Quetico, nor have I even checked into it. So think I would start with these:

Permitting System:

What does it cost for a Quetico Permit? Is it per day or per permit?
Does the permit have an “entry day”, or can I enter whenever I want?
Can I stay as long as I want or do I have to exit the day I say I am going to on the permit?

Logistics:

Are there designated entry points throughout the park?
Once I enter the park, can I travel at will or do I have to provide an itinerary, and then stick to it?
I believe there are no “designated” campsites. Does this mean I can camp wherever I want?
Are there maintained sections of the park and also some form of a BWCA-PMA-style sections? Or is the whole park treated the same?

Rules and Ethics:

I am familiar with the LNT policies and ethical “rules'' of the BWCAW. I would want to know if there is anything above and beyond these that I would need to follow.

Safety:

Are there dangerous wild animals in Quetico, like bears, wolves and moose? HA HA :) Just fooling…

From here I would either start trip planning or not.

I guess I should start with if they would even let me in (to Canada) first;)

JW

I just need someone to go with. All the other lintel is in writing somewhere...I assume. :)

Not trying to hijack the post, I think this is relevant...

BW vs Q

Ability/cost to enter - Big advantage to the BWCA. Little paperwork and cost, no customs to deal with. My tripping buddy happens to have a DWI on his record which makes him, of course, a horrible person who isn't fit to go into the Canadian wilderness without huge hassle and financial penalty, if allowed at all. Boo. So i don't go either.

Designated campsites versus camp anywhere - obvious advantage to the Q. If you are fighting wind or it is getting late it is nice to know that you can legally set up camp anywhere that seems workable. Although most folks probably stay at the more commonly used sites anyway, it is a good option if you choose or need to.

Latrines versus poop anywhere - advantage BWCA IMO. Nice to have a relatively comfortable place to do your thing as opposed to hanging your butt over a log. Also have to believe it is better for the environment. I have read many a report at more common sites of remnants of past campers all over in the woods behind camp, and most people don't bury it right anyway, if at all.

Fire grate versus no fire grate - not a big issue overall. At common sites in the Q there is often an obvious spot for a fire with rocky areas to work with. Even if there is none, it is easy enough to bring a portable fire grate to cook over if that is your interest. I would call this a draw.

Wilderness quality/solitude - hard to argue this one. The Q sees a fraction of the visitors the BWCA does and it makes a difference. Impact to sites is less and likelihood of seeing others is less too.

Fishing - common sense would tell you that the fishing is better in the Q. Although we have had no trouble finding pretty good fishing in the BWCA, and we don't work at it very hard. But for those that have awesome fishing as a priority for the trip, the Q has a definite advantage.

Portages - there's plenty of challenge in both areas. I have no doubt that some of the portages in the Q receive less maintenance and can be pretty gnarly. But that's part of the deal too. Draw.

For the experience itself it is clear that the Q has the advantage. It's the same wilderness, just impacted differently by historical differences in usage. But when viewed alongside the issues of convenience, accessibility and cost, the playing field begins to level a bit. Guess it comes down to priorities, time, money and willingness to trip a little longer and work a little harder. For the many devotees of the Q there isn't even a question, it is not hard to see that. Luckily the BWCA offers a similar and more convenient experience for those of us who choose not to have the added hassles and cost of a Q trip and the sacrifices are minimal(or at least can be depending on where and when you trip).

It's called the Quetico/Superior Wilderness and taken as a whole it is pretty dang awesome. Don't think there is a right or wrong answer.

I would love to give the Q a try sooner than later. My wife and I are closing in on 20 years of canoeing with at least 1 trip every year to the BW. We spent the first few years just figuring things out and have been taking the kids since they were about 2 or 3 the last 10 years or so. With the kids it always seemed easier to just go to the BW. Now that the boys are much more interested in fishing and can start to handle gear and paddling a little more a Q trip is in the near future.

I've never really looked too hard at the logistics of getting to the Q and I'm sure once you go through the process once it's pretty easy but it has always steered me away to this point. Getting permits, customs and the whole checking in at a ranger station just seemed like a hassle when the BW was right there.

I’ve wanted to go to the Q for a while now and I’m pretty sure I know most of the details that go along with a trip. My only question is regarding permits. I know you pay a nightly fee and enter at an EP much like the BWCA. Let’s assume I’m heading up to the Q through PP using one of the EP’s in that area. When you enter through the BWCA, I would obviously need a day permit to get me to PP, but what about my BWCA permit for when I’m returning in a week or so? Do you just fill out a day use permit for a week in advance and stuff that in the box at EP 25?

Thanks for the thread, Jackfish.

Tony

Let’s assume I’m heading up to the Q through PP using one of the EPs in that area. When you enter through the BWCA, I would obviously need a day permit to get me to PP, but what about my BWCA permit for when I’m returning in a week or so? Do you just fill out a day use permit for a week in advance and stuff that in the box at EP 25?

That's what's nice about getting a tow (up and back) from one of the outfitters on Moose (PP) or trails end (Cache Bay) area. You ride on their "day" permit. Some people frown on it, but it gets you into the Q quicker and saves you some of those logistical permit issues.

Lots of the same questions I had before I went. I have not gone a lot, but a few times, both entering from the north or from the south with a RABC. I'll let the seasoned experts answer the question.

Don't confuse Customs and the ranger stations. Customs gets you into Canada either through a Border Crossing station or an RABC and the ranger stations get you into Quetico.

Entry Points and ranger stations

The entry points are a little strange. Not around the edge of the park like the BW, but sometimes deeper in the park. Once you leave a ranger station you need to be headed on a fairly direct route to that entry point. We left PP with a Sarah entry and camped the first night in the Lost Bay area. Next day we headed up through Isabella, Side and got to Sarah. Fairly direct route.

I would not enter at Cache Bay with a Falls Chain entry and be caught going down the Man Chain en route to the Falls Chain......not acceptable.

"Here's a couple questions I've thought of:
1) Though there aren't campsites, how to you find the ones that people have made and frequent on any given lake?

Research... and asking questions. There are many Quetico paddlers here at BWCA.com. Become a regular in the Quetico Forum here and learn from others. I like McKenzie maps for Quetico and they show some campsites. There are also other websites that can help.

2) Does everyone start in the BW, enter the Q and exit the BW? What about driving into Canada and entering the Q and exiting either park?

Prairie Portage is, by a large amount, the busiest ranger station for Quetico. In fact, I've heard that US citizens make up 75-80% of the visitors to Quetico. PP allows for the shortest drive and there are also several directions to go after entering the park. With that said, Cache Bay (SE corner of Quetico), Lac La Croix (SW corner of Q) are accessible from the US as well. To get to the northern entry points, one must cross the border on the highway, either at International Falls or Grand Portage. Once in Canada, there are three Quetico ranger stations - Beaverhouse Lake (NW corner), Dawson Trail (NE corner) or the main park HQ in Atikokan. To enter Quetico, it's required that you visit a ranger station first.

3) How do you manage the customs thing if you don't go through Prairie Portage, etc.? (Heard reference to visiting the Customs office in Ely on your way out).

Passing through Customs on the highway is relatively simple and painless. However, they do randomly select vehicles to do thorough inspections looking for contraband. We've entered Q from the north all but a few times over 30+ years so we've crossed at International Falls many times. We've been asked to pullover for inspection a handful of times. It's never been a problem. Passports are required for entering Canada or re-entering the USA. From the southern entry points, there is a Customs station on Crane Lake where you would need your passport. There is no Customs station at Prairie Portage or Cache Bay. To legally enter Canada through those ranger stations, you would first need to apply for a Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit, also known as a CANPASS. The RABC permit allows you to "go through Customs" by mail. Cost is $30 CDN and you'll want to apply for your permit a couple months before your trip to make sure you get it back in time. (If absolutely necessary because of a last minute trip, you can get an RABC permit at a highway border crossing Customs office, but obviously, there will be some miles involved.) If you are re-entering the US from Quetico in a backcountry area such as PP or Cache Bay, you are required to "check in" with US. Doing so at the Ely Customs headquarters will fulfill that obligation. Supposedly there is an app for your phone that can be used to check-in so you don't need to stop anywhere, but I haven't used it. Maybe someone can offer their experience with that.

4) How do you acquire an RABC and permit? Online?

Online RABC permit information

trstuck: "Great question!

I've been to the BW some 35 times over the last 22 years, always intending someday to go to Q. I guess the extra cost (Passport, RACB, permit, fishing license) has been the biggest deterrent, and the extra time I'd like to take to do a trip. (Raising kids kind of limited my trips to 5-6 days max in the past).

Here are a couple questions I've thought of:
1) Though there aren't campsites, how to you find the ones that people have made and frequented on any given lake?
2) Does everyone start in the BW, enter the Q and exit the BW? What about driving into Canada and entering the Q and exiting either park?
3) How do you manage the customs thing if you don't go through Prairie Portage, etc.? (Heard reference to visiting the Customs office in Ely on your way out)
4) How do you acquire an RABC and permit? Online?"

You can start your trip from the MN/BW side, in which case you need an RABC/CanPass to get you legally across the border. Download a form, fill it out, photo copy of passport, ID etc attached , send money......wait for it to be approved and they send it back to you. Or, drive across at a Border Station like at International Falls/Fort Frances with your passport/ID etc. (Look up all that stuff ahead of time....what you need, what you can and cannot have). Then drive to a northside ranger station to get your permit and proceed to you entry point access area.

When driving back, you of course check back through US customs, but if you paddle back across you need to check back in through customs on your own usually either in Ely or Grand Marais. If you come back through the BW you are supposed to have a day pass with "an entry from Canada" if paddling back down through. If you get a tow back from say PP or Cache Bay (Hook Island), you are covered under the tow boat drivers day pass.

My question is about the best/easiest entry point for a newbie wanting to enter Quetico from the BWCA. From what I have read so far, it seems that entering Quetico requires a big water crossing. I am thinking of Sag where I have read stories about people capsizing. Or about long tows on LLC.

The best/easiest entry point is an interesting question. I haven't entered at all of them, but my experiences, combined with reading those of others, makes me think that Dawson Trail may be the "easiest", because of somewhat small water to start out. Of course, even the biggest lakes can be great if you're paddling on glass.

Can someone get a tow from Moose to Quetico?

Absolutely. There are several outfitters who will take groups to Prairie Portage and/or bring them back from Prairie Portage. You will need to arrange this service with an outfitter of your choice. Of course, there is a cost involved, but a 20 minute boat ride saves you about two hours of paddling and gets you further into Quetico on Day 1.

What is the shortest tow to get into the Quetico?

The aforementioned Moose Lake to Prairie Portage tow.

What is the smallest water to get into Quetico from the BWCA?

There really isn't any. Lac La Croix, Basswood and Sag are all big water. But, it's not always rough out there. People paddle it all the time. Try to plan your crossing as early in the day as possible before any wind picks up.

As far as the latrine situation goes, I have a similar question to the current fish disposal advice from the USFS. How do you dig a hole deep enough to bury something when it seems like granite bedrock 6 inches below the surface of the Canadian shield everywhere you might try to dig?"

Quetico management is perfectly fine with placing of fish remains on a rock well away from camp. Eagles, gulls and the occasional turtles will have that stuff cleaned up in no time. It's also acceptable to paddle out to the middle of the lake and "deep six" it. Attempting to bury fish remains is silly for the reason you mentioned.

What does it cost for a Quetico Permit?

Fee schedule is listed here. Keep in mind these are in Canadian funds so the USD will be about 25% less. Quetico charges more for entering at the southern entry points (LLC, PP or Cache Bay) than they do in the north (Beaverhouse, Dawson Trail or Atikokan).

Is it per day or per permit?

Fees are per person per day. Yes, the fees for Quetico are quite a bit more than those for the BWCA. A party of four camping for seven nights and entering from the north would cost this: 4 x 7 = 28 camping nights x $15 = $420. That same group entering from a southern entry point would pay a higher per-night fee. 28 camping nights x $21.50 = $602. Keep in mind, that's still only $150 per person for a week in one of the most beautiful places anywhere.

Does the permit have an “entry day”, or can I enter whenever I want?
Can I stay as long as I want or do I have to exit the day I say I am going to on the permit?

When you order your permit online, you choose your entry date and that's the date you must enter. (There may be some exceptions allowing you to enter a day late, but not a day early.) If you paid for seven days, you are supposed to leave the park on your scheduled departure day. However, if you end up staying longer, you can visit a ranger station (or probably call them) and pay any additional fees. If you would happen to run into a park ranger, they may be able to help you with that. On the flip side, if you leave the park earlier than expected, you're allowed to request a refund. I would think requesting one is a rare occurrence.

Are there designated entry points throughout the park?

Yes, to enter Quetico, you must stop at one of the six ranger stations first. Lac La Croix, Prairie Portage, Cache Bay, Dawson Trail, Atikokan or Beaverhouse. There are several "entry points" to choose from and you will have selected yours during the permitting process. These entry points are designed to disperse the groups and eliminate crowding and overuse of specific portages and campsites.

Once I enter the park, can I travel at will or do I have to provide an itinerary, and then stick to it?

During the check-in process, the ranger will ask for your general itinerary. (They will also ask for the colors of your tents and canoes in case of emergencies.) Staying on your itinerary is not required and you may travel the park at will.

I believe there are no “designated” campsites. Does this mean I can camp wherever I want?

Yes, you may camp anywhere that you want in the park, and do it legally. However, the park frowns on adding any more campsites to the 1,000+ that they already have. If caught in a storm, wind-bound or for whatever reason you have to stop for the day at a non-campsite area, you're required to make your stay the least impactful on the site as possible. No campfire, no clearing of brush, etc. Research your potential routes, look at maps and ask questions for the best options for possible campsite locations.

Are there maintained sections of the park and also some form of a BWCA-PMA-style sections? Or is the whole park treated the same?

The entire park is treated the same. Keep in mind that Quetico sees about 20% of the people that the BWCA does... and they both are roughly the same size.

I am familiar with the LNT policies and ethical “rules'' of the BWCAW. I would want to know if there is anything above and beyond these that I would need to follow.

The two biggest things they talk about regularly is disposing of fish remains and proper LNT latrine practices. Obviously, don't cut live trees, peel birch bark off of living trees, no trenching around tents... all that kind of stuff.

Are there dangerous wild animals in Quetico, like bears, wolves and moose?

All of the above live in Quetico. Moose aren't typically dangerous. You rarely, if ever, see a wolf, and black bears, which have potential to cause problems with food packs, etc., are also very rare. In 30+ years of tripping in Q, we've seen two, both from a distance while we were out fishing.

From here I would either start trip planning or not.

Well, get going. Lots of great route or base camp options in Quetico.

I've never really looked too hard at the logistics of getting to the Q and I'm sure once you go through the process once it's pretty easy, but it has always steered me away to this point. Getting permits, customs and the whole checking in at a ranger station just seemed like a hassle when the BW was right there.

Understandable. Every person or group is looking for something a little different. Quetico offers a bit more of a wilderness experience overall. Not saying you can't get a wilderness experience in the BW, but with Quetico seeing only 20% of the people that visit the BW, you can't help but have a more wilderness experience. To me, even though it's more expensive than the BW, it's worth it.

Let’s assume I’m heading up to the Q through PP using one of the EPs in that area. When you enter through the BWCA, I would obviously need a day permit to get me to PP, but what about my BWCA permit for when I’m returning in a week or so? Do you just fill out a day use permit for a week in advance and stuff that in the box at EP 25?

If this is wrong information, someone please correct me.

As I understand it, if paddling up the Moose chain to PP, you would need a Day Permit for the BW. However, if going to PP via a tow, no Day Permit is required.

When coming back from Q, if paddling back to Moose, you'll need a Day Permit for that day. I think you just grab a form at the beginning of your trip and fill it out on the day you need it. If you're taking a tow back to Moose from PP, no Day Permit is required.

Is a “day permit” the same as the standard entry point permit? What happens if you don’t make it out on the day you planned. For instance, can you get a day permit from prairie portage? I’m asking in the case that you don’t take a tow. What does a day permit cost?

Fritty

Heyfritty: "Is a “day permit” the same as the standard entry point permit? What happens if you don’t make it out on the day you planned. For instance, can you get a day permit from prairie portage? I’m asking in the case that you don’t take a tow. What does a day permit cost? "

Fritty... for the record, in the thread above, the term "Day Permit" is a reference to the BWCA day permit that's required for paddling through on your way in or out of Quetico. There is no cost for BWCA day permits. Don't worry about the exit date. Just have a blank form with you and fill it out on the day you need it.

In case you're asking about day permits for Quetico... If you're concerned, for example, about having paid for a six night permit when you made your reservation, but then staying for eight nights, just stop at the ranger station (if you can) or call them after you get out and pay for the additional two nights. Cost should be the same as the nightly fee on your reservation. If Quetico offers a day permit, I'm not aware of it. Then again, I've never inquired either.

Are the rules for entering Canada from the BW area apply to crown land also? eg. Sea Gull river to Sag to Northern Light to Mowe lake. Would enjoy reliving an old trip.

Merlyn, check out the Online RABC permit information. I would think you'll find your information there.

I’d like to go. Usually it’s the logistics of an RABC that slow me up. Then I figure there are still places in the BW I haven’t been so just go there.

There was a thread a year or two ago that did cause me some concern about a Q trip. I guess my question is this: if I go for 10 days and stay at 10 random campsites, how likely am I to walk 10 yards into the woods and find 10 piles of poop? I could deal with that alone, but have two dogs who like many other hunting dogs love to roll in stinky stuff. Usually it’s fish remains. The worst was a rotten dead beaver. I don’t want it to get worse than that. Leave the dogs at home? Nope. I’d rather just go camp on Lake One.

So was that thread serious, of another version of “don’t bother going because it’s all fished out”.

I go there every day....in my mind. Pretty cheap and I get paid to go because I’m working while I’m thinking about canoeing!

Great thread and answers Jackfish!

I'll take another shot at answering this one because I believe the question was misunderstood:

"As far as the latrine situation goes, I have a similar question to the current fish disposal advice from the USFS. How do you dig a hole deep enough to bury something when it seems like granite bedrock 6 inches below the surface of the Canadian shield everywhere you might try to dig?"

The distance from camp is the key to others not finding your deposits and you not finding theirs. Stay away from trails and go the non-obvious place - a difficult location. Look for thicker moss, which typically has good moist soil under it. A trowel definitely helps with the digging. Even better than plain moss is downed wood or a small/medium rock that can be lifted and replaced. Not exactly LNT, but it gets the deposit deeper and seems like it would lessen the chance of something digging it up. After replacing rock/stick/moss/soil, add extra loose downed wood and/or other duff to the pile. I can't recall if Q suggests it, but some Parks suggest packing out or burning used TP. I would rather work harder at good burying of TP, thank you very much.

We'll keep this thread near the top for a while. If anyone has questions that will help them plan for a trip to Quetico (whenever it opens), we'll try to address them here.

MNGreene: "Great thread and answers Jackfish!


I'll take another shot at answering this one because I believe the question was misunderstood:

"As far as the latrine situation goes, I have a similar question to the current fish disposal advice from the USFS. How do you dig a hole deep enough to bury something when it seems like granite bedrock 6 inches below the surface of the Canadian shield everywhere you might try to dig?"

The distance from camp is the key to others not finding your deposits and you not finding theirs. Stay away from trails and go the non-obvious place - a difficult location. Look for thicker moss, which typically has good moist soil under it. A trowel definitely helps with the digging. Even better than plain moss is downed wood or a small/medium rock that can be lifted and replaced. Not exactly LNT, but it gets the deposit deeper and seems like it would lessen the chance of something digging it up. After replacing rock/stick/moss/soil, add extra loose downed wood and/or other duff to the pile. I can't recall if Q suggests it, but some Parks suggest packing out or burning used TP. I would rather work harder at good burying of TP, thank you very much."

Great answer MNGreene. If done right, no one should even be able to tell you were there.

Something not usually discussed but a very interesting trip I did involved both Quetico and BWCA. Four solo canoes shuttled to Cache Bay for Quetico EP. Traveled in Quetico for several days and nights. I wanted to spend more time and add a BWCA paddle back to Seagull.

This involved an EP 71 permit which is handled a bit differently. I picked it up at a ranger station a week early, and the crossing back into BWCA is dated but no specified EP location. I could spend as much time as paid for in Quetico or add on paying after the trip the cross into the BWCA and spend several days paddling.

I chose to paddle along the border at Prairie Portage and spend the last two nights on the Canadian side, then just paddled over to the BWCA side on the permit entry date. Spent six days in Quetico and five more in BWCA. When I stopped and called US customs and described the trip it was the first time the operator had heard of such a plan, no problem she told me.

butthead

Thought I would bring this back to the top for folks who might be interested in taking their first trip to Quetico.

For those planning to attend Canoecopia in March, I will be giving a seminar on this very topic. Quetico Provincial Park: The Ultimate How-to

cowdoc: "

Let’s assume I’m heading up to the Q through PP using one of the EPs in that area. When you enter through the BWCA, I would obviously need a day permit to get me to PP, but what about my BWCA permit for when I’m returning in a week or so? Do you just fill out a day use permit for a week in advance and stuff that in the box at EP 25?

That's what's nice about getting a tow (up and back) from one of the outfitters on Moose (PP) or trails end (Cache Bay) area. You ride on their "day" permit. Some people frown on it, but it gets you into the Q quicker and saves you some of those logistical permit issues."

I'm a HUGE fan of the tow. I bunked at Williams & Hall and got a tow to PP. As I'm riding, I'm thinking "I'm a genius".

Jackfish: "Thought I would bring this back to the top for folks who might be interested in taking their first trip to Quetico.


For those planning to attend Canoecopia in March, I will be giving a seminar on this very topic. Quetico Provincial Park: The Ultimate How-to "

I can't make it this year, but plan on going there and purchasing a new vessel in 2023, make sure you are presenting then also!

Jackfish: "Thought I would bring this back to the top for folks who might be interested in taking their first trip to Quetico.


For those planning to attend Canoecopia in March, I will be giving a seminar on this very topic. Quetico Provincial Park: The Ultimate How-to "

This should be pinned at the top. OR in the Quetico forum.

I actually had short conversation with a trip partner yesterday about going to the Q. It would be our first trip to the Q after many years of going to the BW.

Targeting doing a Quetico trip in 2024.

Great post, Pete. I am exactly the person your post was meant for. It's tagged and will be my required reading for my first trip to the Q, hopefully soon.

Mike

MikeinMpls: "Great post, Pete. I am exactly the person your post was meant for. It's tagged and will be my required reading for my first trip to the Q, hopefully soon."

Sounds good, Mike. C'mon down to Madison for Copia. It would be good to see you and chat a bit.

Jackfish: "

MikeinMpls: "Great post, Pete. I am exactly the person your post was meant for. It's tagged and will be my required reading for my first trip to the Q, hopefully soon."

Sounds good, Mike. C'mon down to Madison for Copia. It would be good to see you and chat a bit."

2022 is bad timing! Gonna be out of town for business, and no where near the Mad town. One of these years!

Mike

We always get a tow to Prairie Portage and have been very relieved to miss the long paddle down Moose Lake. It feels like a cheat, but it gets you further into Quetico on the 1st day and if crossing big water can get you in before the wind picks up as much. Does Williams and Hall have one night stays available before entry like CBO did?

What happens if you don't stop at customs when you get back to the states?

Go in at EP 64 East Bearskin, camp on Alder, Canoe, Crystal, or Pierz. Go visit Johnson Falls. This is an easy, beautiful trip with a good variety of fishing opportunities if that’s your thing. She will be delighted.Tag Error In Message

Captn Tony: "What happens if you don't stop at customs when you get back to the states?"

While we've always checked in with US Customs in Ely, I've wondered about this, too. With the RABC (if it's reinstated), you have the opportunity to cross from the US into Canada at specific areas (namely from the BWCA area into Quetico) for a year. However, there is not a record of your entering Canada; you simply have the opportunity to do so. If there is no record of your leaving the US, your failure to stop at customs could not be detected, right? Now, if CBP is tracking the Quetico permits of US citizens, perhaps they could catch up with you, but do they? If the RABC program opens up again, we'll apply for it and enter the Q from the south, but we'll continue to report when we're back in the States.

TZ

Freeleo1: "We always get a tow to Prairie Portage and have been very relieved to miss the long paddle down Moose Lake. It feels like a cheat, but it gets you further into Quetico on the 1st day and if crossing big water can get you in before the wind picks up as much. Does Williams and Hall have one night stays available before entry like CBO did? "

Yes. I've stayed the first night at Williams & Hall before a tow up to PP the next morning on quite a few occasions. They have several options available from a basic bunk to a full A frame cabin in the woods. They also have a nice dining room overlooking the lake with home cooked meals that make it nice to have dinner the night before and breakfast the morning of hitting the water. All right there at lakeside. It's also nice to stay the night after coming out, having that last dinner overlooking Moose Lake before making a long drive out the next day.

bobbernumber3: "Go in at EP 64 East Bearskin, camp on Alder, Canoe, Crystal, or Pierz. Go visit Johnson Falls. This is an easy, beautiful trip with a good variety of fishing opportunities if that’s your thing. She will be delighted.Tag Error In Message"

Strange... not my post.

bobbernumber3: "

bobbernumber3: "Go in at EP 64 East Bearskin, camp on Alder, Canoe, Crystal, or Pierz. Go visit Johnson Falls. This is an easy, beautiful trip with a good variety of fishing opportunities if that’s your thing. She will be delighted.Tag Error In Message"

Strange... not my post."

Ghost in the machine?

Captn Tony: "What happens if you don't stop at customs when you get back to the states?"

I am not going to out anyone…but I have it on high authority people forget all the time. You shouldn’t do this…it is really easy now. You can check in at any hour now as it is automated or you can download an app to do it.

T