We have our permit for #43 McAree, we are getting a tow from Crane Lake to Customs, over the Dawson Portage, by Zups...I think we'll stop at Zupps on our way...can we pick up our Quetico Entry Permits ther and pay our fees.......or will we also have to stop at the Ranger Station?
fishguts

I am pretty sure you need to stop at the ranger station, but ask your outfitter to be sure.

Call Zup's and see if they are able to pick up your permit for you. (they may charge a little bit, but well worth saving time).

Number is 807 485 2492

You will be required to pay for and pick up your permit at a Station just prior to entering Quitico. You will pay for it there. If you plan on taking in any live bait, you will also pay for it and purchase it there. Be prepared, stuff there is VERY expensive. I have a suggestion for you to save you money, you can purchase a fishing license that allows you to one half of the daily possession limit. The cost is less than half and I doubt you plan on keeping anything more than you will eat anyway. That will save you about $25 per person.

How long does it take to get through customs? Do they pick apart your stuff and make you sit for a bit or has it been better than that? I went into Cache bay a few years ago and it was not bad but it was also before 9/11

Thanks

It depends-most customs stations that you go through in your car will ask questions and if they have concerns, suspicions or you are the lucky one they pick randomly to search will have you go through gear-if they don't go through gear it is a 5 minute stop once you reach the front of the line.

If you go through a ranger office with an RABC (Prairie Portage) they most likely will not search your gear and just do all the paperwork. This will take about 20 minutes to half an hour per group.

Piece of advice-many of us bring our sons and duaghters along for trips-sometimes without the other parent. If you do this be sure to have their birth certificate and a notorized copy of a letter from the other parent giving you the authority to take the son or daughter out of the country without their presence. They have become more diligent of this issue in the last couple of years and for good reason. Save yourself a delay or dissappointment and bring the note from the other parent.

My trip to Quetico is sounding more complicated and expensive all the time. I hope it will be worth the extra effort. What is the cost of a fishing license? Last time we had cash to pay for everything, is there a way to pay before getting to the ranger station? I plan on going through PP.

You can't pay for your permit and park fees before to my knowledge-but if you are using an outfitter check with them. I always just use my Visa card and pay that way at PP.

A fishing license can be obtained prior, but I would do it at PP. The cost is $29.50 US for a non-resident 7 day conservation license. Again check with your outfitter or use an online service. Of course there are fees ($9) to do it this way and it is cheaper to just get the license at Prairie Portage.

The advantage of Quetico over BWCAW is solitude. Quetico has less than 1/2 the permits per day that the BWCAW does. Because of this you will see fewer people, you can camp anywhere you want so you don't worry about finding an available campsite at night (although most use established campsites). I always look for available previously used campsites and I have never gotten to a lake without finding at least one open. I can't say that in the BWCAW.

Quetico is a slightly more wilderness trip. The portages are used less and some are rather difficult. The lakes are pristine-not that the BW isn't, but Quetico is awesome. Yes it costs more, but it is a great experience and still inexpensive compared to many vacation and travel options.

Can someone tell me what the daily fee is to camp in Quetico?

Last time it was about 4 dollars.

bogwalker - I hear what you are saying about more of a wilderness last time we were the first over several of the portages and had to saw several downed trees. We went for 9 days and did not see anyone else for 4 of those days it was great. I hope my solo next spring will be as fun.

It depends on the entry point, age and if you are a resident.

Non-resident I assume.

Southern EP like Prairie Portage or Cache Bay, 18 years of age or over $18.00 Canadian per night, under 18 years, $8.00 a night

Canadian EP's north, 18 or over $13.00 Canadian per night, under 18 $6.00 a night

Here is the link.

http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/pdf/day_use_fees2005.pdf

It went up a bit since it was $4 a night

That is a bit more. I am totaling up the costs for a 6 day solo trip, with a license. It comes to about $140 canadian.
I guess the best things in life aren't free.
Now I need to make it through my September trip and then start planning my solo.

So much to buy so little time. :)

I have gone through Zup's before and since Zup's is a Canadian outfitter, you can pay and pick up your permit at their resort. You do have to tell the reservation line you want to do this at the time you make your reservation or I believe if Zup's made the reservation for you they automatically do it this way.

I was told you can change the location of where you get the permit even after the reservation is made(I don't know how far in advance this can be done), but you have to call the reservation line to do this----a call to Zup's may also accomplish this.

The advantage of going with a Canadian outfitter (like Zup's) is being able to avoid the Ranger station. Although you still need to go through customs at Crane Lake, but that is a peice of cake.

Tim

All things considered you could spend $140.00 in many other ways and not get near the beauty, solitude, fishing and adventure. In some ways it is still a bargain. Now if you need to outfit through an outfitter it does start to add up.

I always rent a canoe through an outfitter. I have not made the investment in a good one yet. So you can add $180 for that, $50 for a room the night before. Gas, food & incidentals. I think I am going to spend about $2 per fish.

I know many who will spend more and still not have the experience I hope to have.