Hi- had a trip planned for later this week to the BWCA, but the fire ban has me thinking Quetico. Too late for a remote border permit so its drive over the border time. It's looking like some wind, so want to really avoid big lakes, which Quetico seems to have many of. I'm fairly new to Quetico.

Two questions:

Closest place to cross the border into Canada if driving from Minneapolis, and what entry point would you suggest in Quetico that avoids the big water? Rivers and small lakes are good.

Cheers!

Considering no RABC permit, International Falls / Fort Frances is the place to cross the border. The ranger station at Beaverhouse is closed so you'll be driving the two hours east to the Atikokan ranger station. Or you could drive to Dawson Trail another half hour or so east. Kind of depends on where you want to enter the park.

The put-in spots in the north and some descriptions:
Beaverhouse: Large lake, but what you could do is take the immediate left out of the creek where you put-in and portage into Cirrus. Cirrus is big water, too, but with lot of islands, etc., not to mention campsites, and you wouldn't have to go far.

Lerome: Small lakes and multiple portages to get into Cirrus at Sue Falls. Could be a good option for you. I've never done this route, but could be challenging with the portages. Maybe someone who has done it will weigh in.

Nym: Nym and Batchewaung are bigger water. You could also potentially get into Pickerell. More big water. If you go straight south through Batch, you could find some smaller lakes - Maria, Jesse, Elizabeth, etc.

Stanton Bay: Again, you'll be dealing with the big water of Pickerell. And you can't park overnight at the Stanton Bay parking lot. Canadians only. I like this entry point in the summer, but for this trip, there are better options.

French Lake (Dawson Trail): Could be an option depending on how far you want to go. French Lake is relatively small, then you have the winding river out into the east end of Pickerell. There are quite a few campsites on that end, but Pickerell can be tough when it's windy.

Hope that helps a little. Good luck. Be safe, wear your PFD and dress warm.

You should be able to self permit at Beaver House, I believe even on the web is available now as they are going this route anyways and I think it started already as My friends self permitted into cache bay two weeks ago on the web, and even if you can't permit on the web just paddle over to the Beaver House ranger station and self permit in the lock box, just bring the cash and fill out a slip. as for small lakes, if you do hit Beaver House entry you could paddle from there into quetico lake and head south to bad water, all small lakes that direction, just not a fun portage from what I've read. Beaverhouse will be the biggest challenge, but once In to quetico lake I think you will be fine as your heading south and not into the big open stretches.

Thanks to both of the replies! I believe self-permitting starts in September...and yes, stuffing an envelope full of cash does seem odd, but apparently thats how it is still done. Maybe self-permitting are the bonuses for the rangers who stay on all year. :)

Here’s what Quetico posted on Facebook a few weeks ago, regarding changes to off season self permitting:

New for 2024: Backcountry reservations can now be booked year-round.
Backcountry users visiting the park after the park entry stations close in the fall or before the park entry stations open in the spring can reserve their entry point and pay for their trip online or through the Ontario Parks Reservations phone line.
Please print or bring a digital copy of your booking confirmation with you. This is your camping permit. Plan ahead to purchase fishing licenses and maps.
Reservations can be made up to 5 months ahead of time at:
https://reservations.ontarioparks.ca/
Call Toll Free:
1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275)
Outside North America
1-519-826-5290
This process will fully replace off-season Self-Serve Fee Stations by Fall 2025. For this upcoming off-season, however, the traditional envelope permits will continue to be available at each entry station kiosk, as well as the Nym Lake parking lot.
At the self-serve kiosks:
?? Rates and permitting instructions will be posted.
?? Payment method for self-serve is cash only and no refunds are available.
Each entry station's last staffed day of the 2024 is:
?? Atikokan Entry: September 8th
?? Cache Bay Entry: September 8th
?? Dawson Trail backcountry permitting: September 8th**
?? Lac La Croix Entry: September 1st
?? Prairie Portage Entry: September 15th
**The Dawson Trail Pavilion and Campground remains open until October 14th.
Please call our park information line at 807-597-2735 for more information on visiting Quetico’s backcountry in the off season.

You could actually do a southern entry, if you drive to I-Falls and get the RABC in person. Then you can paddle in from any point on the US side, though I bet they still want you to get to the Entry Lake designated on your permit by the second day.

Just an idea...would be less driving overall.

Regarding entry lakes - sort of like in Pirates of the Carribean when they say 'It's more of a guideline than a code.' Meaning there is some leeway there and they just want you going toward that general direction, and you may not actually make it to that lake at all. Case in point. This July, we went into Robinson via Kett from Basswood. Do you get a Sarah Lake or a Basswood River entry permit for that? It's kinda right there between both and it wouldn't make any traveling sense to have to hit either one, then backtrack to go into Kett Lake. We got a Sarah permit, went through Prairie Portage, gave Ranger Jason our detailed route and never did he mention anything about needing to get to Sarah first. So don't necessarily think in absolutes with entry permits - there is some reasonable flexibility there. In the off-season, I'm sure they're even less concerned.

Thanks Emma, for posting the self-permitting info, very helpful.

Whatever you choose, have a great time and hope the weather is in your favor.

pd

They have a small forest fire in the south of Quetico. Between Burke lake and Sunday lake. Based on that and not having an RABC I’d recommend a Northern entry. I’ve been debating on an MEA trip and doing Beaverhouse, Quetico for a 4 day trip mid October. Instead of blasting through like we did this summer we’d stay on Quetico and check out the pictographs. Weather is such an unknown it’s been hard to commit to the days off at work.

Ryan

Gaidin53: "They have a small forest fire in the south of Quetico. Between Burke lake and Sunday lake. Based on that and not having an RABC I’d recommend a Northern entry. I’ve been debating on an MEA trip and doing Beaverhouse, Quetico for a 4 day trip mid October. Instead of blasting through like we did this summer we’d stay on Quetico and check out the pictographs. Weather is such an unknown it’s been hard to commit to the days off at work.


Ryan"

That area has some beautiful white pines.