Quetico Impossibilities 2026

[Black_Fly]

The Remote Area Border Crossing permit is officially kaput until September, at least. Unless the powers that be set up “Call-In” border crossing stations (whatever that means), this essentially cuts off American access to the southern Quetico park entry points.

I had a pretty neat plan B trip (behind Wabakimi), heading to Agnes lake through Prairie Portage. That lake is 12 miles long, with many pictographs, good fishing, a waterfall, and several nice campsites. I could paddle in from the north, but that will be busy, and much more arduous and expensive. Seems like the gods are conspiring against me…again…still.

 

[DougK]

we paddled along the border in BWCA last Sept, and found the same thing - no permits for border crossing, no news on when they might be available again. it's a shame..

moonrise with bearbags, that's Canada over there..

 

[Black_Fly]

Unfortunately, this effective closure of southern Quetico will compound traffic and permit demand in BWCA.

 

[PortageW/Cerberus]

You are not wrong.

The only southern option if you do not have an RABC is via Crane Lake, and that's not practical without the 50 mile Tow...with your own boat, a solo person is looking at $500 for that service.

That said....

Northern entries are +2:45-3:45 over an Ely entry for the car segment...however subtract in an hour or so and the $70 (& I am tipping an additional $20 each way) for the tow up to/back from Prairie. And if you paddle up Moose to save the tow $, then it's close to a wash in terms of time-to-get-to-Quetico itself.

Since the permits are a bit cheaper for north-side entries, you're about $30 in the black for a week-long trip. That could at least offset some of the fuel costs for the extra ~150 miles (each way) for the north side.

Might also mean a night in a hotel that would otherwise not be needed, so there's that.

I have an RABC and usually enter from the south, but have done plenty of north-side trips as well; in May, we'll go up through Thunder Bay and do a north-side trip.

"Busy" is very relative. Will you see others in canoes? Yes. Will you have to worry about finding a campsite? Golly no. I'll wager that you will find under 15% of campsites occupied, even on Pickerel, Batch or Beaverhouse. Pickerel has multiple entry options and is the most crowded lake in the Park. And yet it is so huge that the fishing is still world-class and there is elbow room aplenty (over 100 campsites!), despite the RABC issue. Look at the available permits as we get into spring/summer, and you will see evidence...

 

[Black_Fly]

I think people’ll be thick as flies up nort.

With an influx of revenue, maybe the Atikokan Hotel can upgrade with screens in the windows.

 

[PortageW/Cerberus]

With an influx of revenue, maybe the Atikokan Hotel can upgrade to screens in the windows.

Let's not go crazy, Goldfinger

 

[jdeerfoot]

Hahaha…