Can someone explain to me if or how you can legally go to Quetico?

For 2026 (until September 15) you can enter Quetico from the south (via Prairie Portage or Cache Bay) if you're still holding your RABC permit from 2024. Or you can drive to northern entry points via a Canadian Customs checkpoint. I once entered via the Sand Point Lake Canadian Customs checkpoint, but that was a fly-in trip that I've heard is no longer available.

TZ

Brian, before I start typing, please elaborate on the information you're looking for. In a nutshell, going to Quetico is easy. In 2026, you can take the long tow from Crane Lake to LLC and enter that way or you enter from the north. PP and Cache Bay are closed unless you have a valid RABC permit.

I can be a lot more specific, but I want to fill in the proper blanks for you.

If is a yes, how is getting a permit from Ontario Parks website for the entry that you want. This must be picked up the day before, or the day of, entry from the corresponding ranger station or stations.

Quetico varies from the BW in that a permit requires you to head directly to the lake or river listed on the permit, after which you can go wherever you please. You must enter from a corresponding entry point or points. Instead of the permit being for the actual entry point, it is for a specific area. I know this may be confusing, just ask questions and many here can help.

You will pay a per night camping fee along with a small basic fee. You must have a passport or passport card and, if you will be fishing, an Ontario Outdoors Card, as well as an Ontario fishing license.

You won't be allowed through a port of entry with a felony or DUI on your record (not sure about misdemeanors). You were previously allowed to enter from two points on the south side (between BW and Quetico) with an RABC permit. These are no longer being offered, but they will still honor the ones last issued in 2024. They will soon have a new system for southern entry.

Hope this helps. Like Jackfish said, more info would help us to give better answers.

I forgot to say, in case it wasn't obvious, that without an RABC permit, you will have to drive into Canada and enter Quetico from the north side or tow in from the west side through Sand Point customs station.

After doing some research and the information gathered here, I've determined that it's probably not worth it. I am curious about getting the right documents to fish in Canada though. I would assume that if I wanted to fish the north side of Crooked or Iron, I'd just need the fishing documents. What if there was a lake that required a small portage to fish? would I need then RABC permit and be required to have all documents with me?

Brian, first of all, Quetico is ALWAYS worth it, in my opinion. If you haven't done a trip to Q before, do it. There are several entry points on the northside, all with multiple route options and plenty of available campsites. And the solitude that you'll experience compared to the BW will be priceless.

Permits are plentiful and reservations can be made up to five months in advance of your entry date. So, as of today's date, you can reserve a permit for any date up to July 6th. A quick check of available permits shows probably 99% of the dates available. (Compare that to the BW!)

As for fishing along the BW/Q border, you're either in one or the other so you need the appropriate permits. And without an RABC permit, you can't cross the border in that area - so you also can't fish on the Canadian side or take a short portage and expect to be legal.

Take a trip to Q. You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Jackfish,

Thank you for the information. I have been to Quetico once a long time ago. Went through PP and literally sailed Lake Agnes using our tarp tied to paddles with three canoes lashed together. We stayed on that point past Agnes and came down throughKahshahpiwi. We paddled straight to Pipestone Outfitters if that tells you how long ago it was.

I’m not sure that I’m up for a trip like that again, ever. It was over 100 miles round trip.

There’s just a few lakes just into Quetico that I’d be interested in taking a small group to. More of a bucket list than anything.