Hello all! First a little background. I'm a long-time backpacker and canoe camper but have never ventured to the BWCA or Quetico. I've done dozens of multi-day wilderness backpacks in Colorado and Wyoming and have canoe camped extensively in the Missouri Ozarks, plus some dory trips in the Western U.S. I want to branch out and see new things while I still have the ability to do so.

Quetico has captured my imagination, and with the insights and nuggets I've found on this board and elsewhere, I want to go in 2025 and do one last long wilderness trip with my oldest son before he goes off to college - Quetico would be new for him as well. I believe we could make time for a planned 8-day, 7-night trip - with an extra day of leeway in the event of a weather delay.

Having zero experience with a BWCA/Quetico style trip, I'm wondering if the following two potential trips would, weather permitting, comfortably fit into this timeframe with time for plenty of fishing, etc - ie. a good combination of seeing some territory while having time to enjoy it.

The options look endless, and my son is enamored with the idea of flying in. I get it, that would be fun but totally unnecessary, but the point is to have blowout adventure before he moves on - flying in would be cool, bottom line. Have any of you recently done the Clay Lake - Greenwood - Wagawai - Kwanipi route? We would mostly likely go in mid to late June, and I can imagine the bugs along creek/river lowlands could be horrendous. We would fly in from an outfitter on the Gunflint trail - assuming fly ins from the US are still allowed?

Alternatively, a route from Stanton Bay through the the "B Chain" and Fern, Olifaunt (a good portage would add to the experience and we're used to carrying loads for days/miles) Sturgeon and then back up to Pickerel and Stanton Bay.

Thanks for any feedback. I'll try to contribute, but having never been to the area, my free advice would be worth its price. :)

Sounds great - you'll love it, and clearly have the skillset (& mindset) to transition seamlessly into a Quetico trip.

I do not believe they are doing flights from the US any more. That said, you might be able to get a tow to Hook Island, paddle to the Cache Bay Ranger Station, and then get a Canadian plane to take you to Clay Lake. Maybe.

The Stanton Bay loop is a very good choice.

You are right that it is, in most years, still high bug season. Bring headnets and a bug tent.

Thanks for the feedback. Fishing would be an important part of the trip. I was thinking June b/c it sounds like the fishing in easiest then. I've fished a lot, but most flyfishing for stream trout and smallmouth, plus a little flats saltwater fishing. I have basically no experience with large lake fishing, so was thinking June would be good to target fish in shallower water and inlets. But fishing isn't THE reason I want to go. I know this is tough question - but would based on the experiences you all have had, would pushing the trip back to July likely reduce the bug situation a little? And, would pushing back to say mid-July make it tough for a Quetico newb to get into some good walleye/smallie/northern fishing? I'm sure we'd catch something, but it would be fun to get into some good action and I just know I'd be a little lost on a big lake, particularly in an environment I have no experience with.

Welcome aboard, tanvat! You might want to post your questions in the Quetico Forum as well as the Trip Planning Forum.

We went into Kawa Bay via Mack Lake in July several years ago, but that was before the "Day Use Only" restrictions were applied to the Greenwood, Wawiag, Mack Creek, and parts of Kawa Bay. From Mack Lake to Kawa Bay via Mack Creek and the Wawiag was an all-day sucker then, and your addition of Greenwood appears to add significant paddling time to what was a long day for us. When we stopped for lunch along the Wawiag, we had to wear ponchos and head nets to keep mosquitoes from stealing our food and our blood. I can only imagine the bugs being even more aggressive in June.

We also did a fly-in trip (report here) from Ely to Lac La Croix several years ago, with a stop at Sand Point Lake to clear Canadian Customs. The flight and some of our outfitting were set up by Piragis in Ely--they could tell you if such flights are still available.

Your Stanton Bay route may work, but be advised that non-Canadian vehicles can't park there. You can also easily access Quetico from the Moose Lake Public Landing north of Ely, IF you apply for your RABC permits well in advance of your trip. You'll find more info on topics like the RABC Permits, getting Quetico permits online, etc, in the Quetico Forum.

Hope it's a wonderful trip for you both!

TZ

So hard to predict the bug situation. Was rough last year! If it were me I'd go in June for the better fishing, and just know that dealing with bugs is part of the program. Site selection matters - wind can be your friend....