When to go: June and July are best for fishing but high season for mosquitoes and black flies. July and August are the warmest most popular months. Visitor numbers are regulated so you can arrive during peak season and still have a wonderful wilderness experience says Debbie Mark of Seagull Outfitters. The fall foiage is spectacular in Stember with minimal bugs but colder temperatures. Park services and outfitter shops close for the season in September so self guided travel isn't recommended in winter since emergency help and essential services aren't available. How to get around: Dawson Trail the most popular entry point is located just off Highway 11 on French Lake 30 miles east of the town of Atikokan. Outfitters run shuttle services from Thunder Bay's airport. There are also fly in canoe options to designated areas. If you' re not bringing your own canoe and camping gear outfitters like Seagull Canoe Canada Outfitters Canadian Quetico Outfitters and Qutfitters can provide all necessary equipment and help customize your route.
Where to Stay: Quetico Provincial Park has over 2,000 wilderness campsites scaettered across some 600 lakes. Drive in full service camping is only available at Dawson Trail located in the northeast corner of the park on French Lake. Of the 107 campsites 49 have electrical access and can accommodate RVs. Two yurts are also available to rent. Permits are required for each night' s with reservations highly recommended in July and August. What to eat or drink: Walleye pike smallmouth bass and lake trout are all on the fishing menu. On canoe trips food must be packed in and out. Anglers should note that barbed hooks must be pinched and no organic bait is allowed into the park.
Cans and glass bottles are prohibited except for essential monfood items like fuel insect repellant and medication. Locals who grew up in the area drink from the lake but advise visitors to boil or filter their water first. What to bring: Besides your park and fishing permits make sure you have several options to light a fire (including waterproof matches) a sharp ax to chop wood bags to triple pack your food barbless hooks and essential backcountry camping gear. What to read before you go: Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger (Pocket star 2000). The second in Krueger' s 13 book Cork O'Connor mystery series is set in the Quetico wilderness and pays homage to the Ojibwa storytelling tradiion.Fan fact: Twenty eight aboriginal rock paintings known as pictographs have been identified in the park including images of moose canoes turtles and hunters. Considered sacred by many Lac La Croix First Nations members most of the images are painted on flat cliff surfaces just above the water line leading researchers to believe people created them while standing in canoes. The age of the pictographs is uncertain.