Group is talking about a potential trip into the Q from the BW next year. With this group, typically we have shorter trips. For the extra steps it takes to cross the border, what's your opinion on minimum length of trip?

What's a good first time "short" Q trip?

We have a long (1250+ miles one-way) commute, so feel that a 10-day trip works best for us. If we were closer, shorter trips might be nice. We usually (but not always) enter via Prairie Portage using an RABC permit, which can be done online. We also make our Quetico reservations online, so there's really not too many extra steps involved.

TZ

I live in northern MN and frequently take three night trips, sometimes two nights. Last year I was joined for five nights by folks who had a full day's travel to get to Ely and they were very happy with their trip (1 overnight traveling on way in, 3 nights at destination, 1 night traveling to exit).

I'm two hours from Ely, three hours to International Falls. even the end of the Gunflint is close for me. Couple guys from metro. One flying in from NY.

Take the longest trip your group is up for and can allow. I set my minimum at 5 nights, but always do more when I can. But if you only have 3 nights, that works!

The one recommendation I'd add, especially if your trip is on the shorter side, is to pay for a tow to get you to the brink of Quetico and past most motorized boat traffic. Some people enjoy that paddle or feel the tow is not worth the expense. But I like the jumpstart it provides.

Tow service is available when entering at Cache Bay (tow to Hook Island) on the Gunflint side or Prairie Portage on the Ely side. I have been happy getting a tow from Voyageur Canoe Outfitters (Gunflint) or with Williams and Hall (Ely).

Any entry point to Q is a good one. Prairie Portage is the busiest EP, but the number of people going through there pales by comparison to the number of people you'd see in the BW.

I have close to forty trips to Q over the years and have entered from the northern entry points on all but two of them. The solitude and peacefulness of the northern part of the park, not to mention the good fishing, is well worth the extra few hours of drive time to the Atikokan area. If you ever want to consider entering Quetico from the north, there are several members here on the board to offer suggestions and route advice.

I see more groups (after the first day) when I paddle in the northern entry points than coming through the south- mostly due to the larger lakes funneling traffic. Through PP I often go most of my trips not seeing anyone with the exception of the first and last days. Three times last year I took three night trips (paddling in, setting up camp and then paddling out) where no one visited the lakes I was camped on.

With a tow to Prairie Portage and a RABC there is very little hassle to a Quetico trip. Not really a different calculation than the BW.

And I agree with Tim. I have seen more people at the northern entries. Yea a lot of people go thru Prairie but there’s a lot of directions to go and I think most people aren’t going far.

After reading your responses, I've discovered why it seems intimidating. I look at the vast area and the numerous lakes and think, there's no way I can get way up there and back in 3 days, sort of discounting the lakes near the border.

If you want suggestions for short trips feel free to drop me an email, let me know what you're focus is (fishing or site seeing) and I will offer up my secrets....

THEGrandRapids: "After reading your responses, I've discovered why it seems intimidating. I look at the vast area and the numerous lakes and think, there's no way I can get way up there and back in 3 days, sort of discounting the lakes near the border. "

Since you live in Grand Rapids, you are amazingly close to Quetico. You're only 2-1/2 hours to the Moose Lake landing east of Ely. Arrange a tow to Prairie Portage, then either head into Basswood or Birch and on from there.

Timeline:
Day 1:
5:00am: Depart home
7:30am: Arrive at Moose Lake
8:00am(ish): Arrive at PP via tow
8:30am: Paddling
Put a few miles on, camp, fish, enjoy.

Day 2:
Base camp, go fishing and enjoy yourself... or move on to a new campsite.

Day 3:
Work your way back to the Moose Lake landing by 4:00pm
Pack up. Drive into Ely.
6:00pm: Drive home
8:00pm: Pull in your driveway

Sounds like a winner trip to me! Easy peasy! :)

THEGrandRapids: "After reading your responses, I've discovered why it seems intimidating. I look at the vast area and the numerous lakes and... "

With your experience and number of trips, Q should be your next step. You likely will find it easy, similar, and uncrowded.

Thanks for the replies and encouragement. Just got out from a short week off the end of the trail. lucky me it was my 3rd trip this year (plus a day trip). I think Q is my eventual go to, but just haven't pulled the trigger yet. I like to go to new places every trip, and still have many unexplored areas of the BW.