We are planning an eight day trip into the Quetico the first week of October. The last five years we have headed out of Moose through Prairie Portage and this year we were thinking of heading out off the Echo Trail, possible out of the Moose River.

Can anyone provide suggestions for a good scenic eight day trip? If possible it might be convenient if we could finish at the Moose Lake as an end point, But we are open to any possibilities.

Thanks,

My Quetico 'bible' is the Robert Beymer Book on paddling in the Quetico. It's available many places including Piragis. He offers accurate and detailed loop routes with day by day descriptions, including difficulty ratings.

The ultimate Quetico trip to me is to Mack Lake. Remote, scenic, lots of wildlife and probably the best fishing lake in the park period. It is however a long way in there so an eight dayer is a bit of a stretch. My second choice is definately the Falls Chain Entry pt. A couple nights on upper Saganagons and into Kawnipi. You have it all here too. A great trip. Both are probably my favorite places on this earth. Did I mention the huge fish!!!!!

Thanks,

I may have been too restrictive in my original question. I should have asked what is the best Quetico route that you would recommend.

I Appreciate your ideas.

If headed in from Moose River I would head up though LLC, Iron and Crooked before heading up the Siobahn River and the Roland Chain to Argo Lake. Argo is one of the prettiest lakes in the entire world (IMHO)!!

From there continue east via many routes to McInytre and then south from there through Brent and into Bayley Bay before coming out at PP.

Some lakes you may want to see along the route include Ted and Earl-nice pictographs on Ted, Hurn lake and its terraced cliffs, McIntyre, Robinson, Isabella. The lakes to see and route possibilites are numerous.

Have a great trip-but be sure to hit Argo and possibly take a day trip up into Darky for the pictos up there as well.

I also recommend getting Robert Beymer's, "A Paddler's Guide to Quetico Provincial Park."

I don't know what type of canoe trips you enjoy (move everyday, every couple days, base camp etc) or what areas you've been in the past.

I liked The Kahshahpiwi-Agnes Lake Loop route (Route #23 in Beymer's book). This shows a seven day route but I did it in six.

It could very easlily be extended to eight days. Here's what I would do. I would go counter clockwise out of Prairie Portage follow the books route through Bagley Bay, Burke, North Bay, Isabella , Side, Kahshahpiwi, Cairn to Kawnipi. (there is a creek between North Bay and Isabella that would probably be very low depending on the beaver dams during this time of the year)

Instead of heading south to Agnes I would continue SE on Kawnipi and go to the "Falls Chain" then you have a couple more choices.

Go SW through McEwen to Louisa Lake, Agnes, Sunday, Bagley Bay then out

or

I would continue SE from the "Falls" chain to the Saganagons then SW through the "Man" chain then out.

That would give you a healthy eight day trip.

If that doesn't work for you or you've been to these places I would go somewhere you haven't been because it all is nice!!!! Just have a good time!

Please be aware that it is not "legal" to enter the Q from the USA side unless you first stop at the ranger station at PP or another ranger station to pay for your camping fees. You must also have your RABC. So, paddling from the Moose river is really not an option and if you ever get caught you will never be able to enter into CN again.

Very True Moose Track. One would need to make a detour to the Rangers Station on Lac La Croix by the First Nation camp to pick up your reserved permits before heading over to Iron and beyond. Each trip member would also need a valid RABC in order to enter here. Many people who choose to go this way use an outfitter on Crane Lake for the night before and get a tow to the ranger station for their permit to get a quicker entry into Quetico.

If you do enter at Moose River and intend to camp in the BWCAW the first night you would need a BWCAW entry permit in addition to your Quetico reservation. If you can make to to the ranger station before they close on day 1-Good Luck its a long way so you better get a real early start as they close at 5 pm (I think)-then you could get by with just a day trip permit for the BW.

Have fun and make sure you have the right permits and reservations.

Thanks Moose Track & Bogwalker,

Yes, we got our RABC and last year we paid our Quetico Camping fees at Prairie Portage. Can you pay the Q fees though an Ely Outfitter?

Thanks everyone,

I obviously need a copy of Robert Beymer's, "A Paddler's Guide to Quetico Provincial Park.

Any other route suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Karl

I am pretty sure you need to pay your Quetico fees at the ranger station. I have never heard of anyone who was able to pay the fees through an outfitter and by pass the ranger station.