Quetico Provincial Park (Ontario, Canada) Information
About the Quetico Provincial Park Travel Permits Reservation and Camping Fees Entry Points & Ranger Stations Rules and Regulations Canadian Customs Canadian Fishing Licenses
About the Quetico Provincial Park
Canada's Quetico Provincial Park is located in Ontario, Canada, just north of the international border and Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest. It offers canoeists an additional 292 named lakes and about 250 unnamed lakes to explore, with over 2,100 backcountry campsites on 1.2 million acres of wilderness stretching 40 miles from north to south and 60 miles from east to west.
According to an Ojibwa legend, the name "Quetico" originated from a Cree word describing a benevolent spirit believed to inhabit places of great beauty. The park has 28 known native pictographs, most of them painted on flat rock surfaces just above water level, most likely painted there by natives standing in their canoes. A variety of figures including humans, canoes, moose, caribou, bears, turtles, birds, and abstract figures are visible. Though their actual age is uncertain, it is believed that most were done within the last 500 years.
Quetico Provincial Park operates on a similar system of rules and entry requirements as the BWCAW. Since you are actually going into a foreign country, planning a trip in the Quetico requires jumping through a couple more hoops in order to enter, but we can help you with those. We will provide the necessary information you'll need to obtain your travel permit, advance Canadian Customs clearance, and Canadian fishing licenses.
What are the main differences between a canoe trip in the Quetico vs. one in the BWCAW? Well, simply put, the Quetico is quieter, with fewer parties entering daily. The cost is greater to travel in the Quetico Park than in the BWCAW. Unlike the BWCAW, there are no campsite amenities, such as steel fire grates and wilderness box latrines in the Quetico. Portages tend to be less maintained and more rugged. The way we look at it, the BWCAW is the better place to gain experience in wilderness canoe tripping, before 'graduating' to the more challenging routes of the Quetico. Because of the extra paperwork and logistics involved in crossing the international border, we recommend Quetico trips for people who have a minimum of 5 days for their trip—more is even better.
Travel Permits — Quetico Provincial Park
Any group planning an overnight canoe trip into the Quetico Provincial Park must first reserve a travel permit. The quota system regulates how many groups can begin a trip at each Entry Point each day. One permit per traveling group covers up to 9 people and 4 canoes. (Larger groups require multiple permits; however, no more than 9 people can be together at any one place—be it campsite, portage, or on the water—at any one time.) Travel parties may only enter the Quetico on the entry date and through the Entry Point specified on the permit. Since there are a limited number of quota permits available for each entry point each day, Way to Go Canoe Outfitters recommends making your travel permit reservation well in advance of your trip date. But even if you decide to come up last minute, give us a call and we'll see what is available. Permits are issued on a first come, first served basis. We will gladly assist you in securing the travel permit you need for your wilderness canoe trip. Call us at 218-235-1807 when you know your dates and are ready to make a reservation. You may also make your own reservations by calling the park reservations office directly toll-free at 1-888-668-7275 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (EST), or online.
Your reservation is not your permit. The actual travel permit must be picked up in person by either the party leader or the alternate party leader, whose names appear on the permit, at the designated ranger station prior to entering Quetico Park. You must travel through the Entry Point in which your reservation is confirmed and pay your camping fees at the ranger station there. Additional rules and regulations apply.
Reservations & Camping Fees
Quetico Provincial Park Reservation and Camping Fees:
(In Canadian funds; includes HST tax. Payable by Visa & MasterCard.)
Reservation Fee: $30.00 Non-refundable (CDN$13.00 Quetico Reservation Fee, plus $17.00 Outfitting Service Fee)
Cancellation Fee: $10.50 (minimum)
Change Fee: $10.50 (minimum)
Camping Fee Deposit: 100.00
Camping Fees
(Required for all non-resident, overnight visitors and are payable by V/MC at the applicable Ranger Station.)
| Ranger Station | Adult 18 & up | Youth 17 & under |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Portage & Cache Bay | $21.50/night | $8.50/night |
| Lac La Croix | $17.00/night | $6.50/night |
| Atikokan & Beaverhouse | $15.00/night | $6.50/night |
About the Quetico Provincial Park Travel Permits Reservation and Camping Fees Entry Points & Ranger Stations Rules and Regulations Canadian Customs Canadian Fishing Licenses
