BWCA Entering at Lac La Croix Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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Jackfish
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10/12/2021 11:09AM  
Who has entered Quetico via Lac La Croix? Did you take a tow from Anderson's or Zup's? Did you drive in from Highway 11?

It's about 45 miles on gravel to drive in and it's very pricey to take the long tow from Crane Lake.

Is the Canada Customs Station still open? If so, that probably eliminates the need for an RABC permit, right?
 
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10/12/2021 03:55PM  
I have done a couple of Quetico trips with a LLC entry at Bottle portage, but not recently, it's been 16 years. We used Anderson's for the tow and they take you North to Sand Point lake, just north of Crane lake to Canadian customs. Then you stop at the park office on the East side of the LLC village to pick up your park permit. Unless things have changed, no RABC is needed going this route. It is a bit pricey, but the fastest way to get into the interior sections of the park short of float plane.
10/12/2021 05:33PM  
Like arnesr, for our 2007 trip, we cleared customs at Sand Point Lake, then after picking up permits were towed from Campbell's to LLC/Maligne River entry point. My quick search for US/Canadian border crossings did not find Sand Point and only listed land crossings.

TZ
10/12/2021 05:54PM  
I entered there maybe 8 years ago and we didn’t need a RABC. We entered in May before the park office was open and “checked-in” when we exited a week later. I don’t remember any Customs function at the LLC park office, it was staffed with 2 friendly First Nations ladies from the nearby reserve. The drive in was no problem, just slow on the gravel road which needed some TLC after the winter.
10/12/2021 08:11PM  
I have entered quite a few times. The last three or four times, I have used Zups.it has always been a positive experience. It is a little pricey, but I think it’s well worth the money. I go in the afternoon before my entry day, and take my tow to my entry point the next morning. They have a package that gets you the tow, one nights lodging, and two great meals. Also included is Mark’s expert advice on conditions, fishing, etc…, he knows the area like the back of his hand. It gives you the option of getting deep into Quetico very quickly.
RunningFox
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10/12/2021 10:18PM  
I echo what Wallee says. I too stay overnight at Zups and I use their walk in freezer to re-freeze my frozen foods.

You go thru Canadian customs so no remote boarder crossing permit is necessary.

I look forward to using Zups in 2022. Hopefully anyway.

Have a party of four or be prepared for an up charge.
Castaway
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10/12/2021 10:29PM  
I've used the Lac La Croix entry by driving and by tow. No RABC required for either method. In 2017, we drove to the ranger station from Highway 11. You'll visit Canadian Customs when you drive across the border at International Falls or Pigeon River. Permits and parking are obtained at the ranger station and it takes 90 minutes or so to make the drive once you leave the highway. For this trip, we went to Poohbah and back.

We used Andersons for the tow in 2019. As mentioned, you first visit Canadian Customs on Sand Point Lake after leaving Crane Lake. Once you get on Lac La Croix, the tow makes a stop at the ranger station for you to get your permits. You can get a tow to any of the Lac La Croix entries. We entered at Bottle and exited at Brewer.

Avoiding a tow saves $300 pp in expense but it takes more time AND there are more unknowns for your travel schedule. We had no issue paddling from the ranger station to Twin Falls on the way to Poohbah since it is west to east travel with the typical prevailing winds. On our day out though, we faced paddling into a heavy headwind heading west, forcing us to stop at a peninsula and wait out the winds for over 3 hours and then paddle into a significant headwind even when we were able to get back on the lake. Based on that exhausting experience, I would recommend using a tow. Personally, I might try paddling from the ranger station again for the Maligne River entry for Poohbah but would use a tow for everywhere else. I'm not sure I could convince my son to make that paddle back again though! Lac La Croix is a big lake and it gets rocking and rolling.
billconner
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10/13/2021 06:35AM  
Is the Sand Point Canadian customs year round?

And returning to US at Crane Lake, video check in?
10/13/2021 11:11AM  
Did the trip from Anderson’s in Crane Lake many times (10+?) between 2004-2018. Hoping to do again in 2022.

Sometimes we got dropped at Bottle Portage and stayed on the US side for our entire trip (BWCA permit only), while other times we entered Q (via various EPs managed by the LLC Q ranger station). No RABC needed for the tow from Anderson’s for Q entry since they stop at Sand Point Canadian Customs on the way.

My recollection is when staying on the US side (no Q permit) we didn’t go through Canadian Customs (Sand Point) nor go through US customs upon return (before the shut down of the US Customs at Crane Lake). Would not have carried a US passport on these BWCA only trips…nor secured a RABC CANPASS.

We have always stayed the night before in the Pine Ridge Motel across the road from Anderson’s. Road (23/24) from Orr, MN to Crane Lake, MN is paved the entire way.

I’ve entered Q via Prairie Portage (with a RABC CANPASS). In my opinion, the fastest and easiest way to get into Q from the US is via a tow from Crane Lake. The round trip tow and night in the Motel is about $600 pp (if renting canoes from them as well, $300-400 pp total if no canoe rental). Well worth it in my view.
Jackfish
Moderator
  
10/13/2021 01:09PM  
Thanks for the responses, guys. It looks like Deerfoot might be the only one who has taken the gravel road from Hwy 11?

Boy, that's a lot of money per person for the tow service, but I suppose it can be rationalized when considering the value in it.
 
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