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map & description
Quetico Provincial Park
Entry Points
Moose Track Adventures Outfitters and Guide Service
Ely, MN
Stretching 60 miles from east to west and
40 miles from north to south, Quetico is renowned for its rugged beauty -
its towering rock cliffs, majestic waterfalls, virgin pine and spruce
forests, picturesque rivers and lakes - and for the best wilderness
canoeing in the world. Except for Dawson Trail, the park is accessible
only by water. There are no roads, no logging and regulations help
preserve its natural and remote splendor.
Hundreds of lakes and rivers are linked
by portages averaging 400 m.
Some areas of the park are more easily traveled than others. Portages and
campsites are not signed. Ask park staff at the ranger stations for the
most current information about water levels and portage conditions.
Listed below are suggested routes from
each Ranger Station. There are many more routes to take, but this will
give first-time users an idea of distance and time.
Dawson Trail Ranger
Station:
Baptism Creek-Cache Lake Loop
123 km (6 days) 18 lakes, 20 portages, challenging
Baptism Creek is accessible from French Lake in the northeast corner of
Quetico. Few visitors venture southeast of the lake. This route is
recommended for seasoned trippers who are physically able to surmount two
of the park's most formidable obstacles - the Cache Lake portages. For
those who don't mind backtracking or rugged portages, this entry point
offers canoeists a quick escape into wilderness solitude and isolation not
found at many other entry points.
Atikokan Ranger
Station:
Batchewaung-Twin-Jean-Jesse Loop
112 km (6 days) 14 lakes, 18 portages, challenging
This popular route features large and small lakes, creeks and easy
portages. Upon reaching Pickerel Lake from Batchewaung, steer an easterly
course through Pickerel Narrows then head south and southwest through Dore
and Twin lakes to gigantic Sturgeon Lake. Near its west end, enter Jean
Creek. After paddling north through Burntside and Jean lakes, bear east on
Quetico Lake and continue through Oriana, Jesse and Maria lakes. From
there, portage back to Pickerel Lake and return to Nym Lake by reversing
the route you followed on the first day.
Beaverhouse Ranger
Station:
Cirrus Lake-The Sue Falls Loop
40 miles (4 days) 5 lakes, 7 portages, easy
This loop is ideal for those who prefer long, uninterrupted stretches of
paddling, with only an occasional portage for leg-stretching. You paddle
from the northeast corner of Beaverhouse Lake and then portage east, first
to an unnamed lake and then to Cirrus Lake. With nearly half of the
route's portages behind you, paddle to the east end of Cirrus for a view
of scenic Sue Falls. Steer south to the longest and most difficult portage
of the trip. Upon reaching Kasakokwog Lake, plot a westerly course down
McAlpine Creek to another enormous lake. Paddling close to the north shore
of Quetico Lake, don't miss ancient rock paintings (pictographs) on the
sheer granite cliffs. From the west end of Quetico Lake, the Quetico River
carries you back to Beaverhouse Lake.
Lac La Croix Ranger
Station:
McAree Lake easy
McAree Lake is the most convenient of the four entry points accessible
from Lac La Croix. From here, it is only three miles to Quetico's
interior. Beyond is some of the most beautiful scenery in the entire
Quetico-Superior region. Argo and Crooked lakes, Curtain Falls, the
Siobhan and Darky rivers and the pictographs of Darky Lake are among the
not-too-distant attractions. McAree and Minn lakes are among the 10 lakes
in Quetico where native people of the Lac La Croix Guides Association are
permitted to use motors no bigger than 10 horsepower. East of these two
lakes, however, the only buzzing will be that of the humming birds.
Prairie Portage
Ranger Station:
Carp Lake-Hunter's Island Loop
379 miles (13 days) 25 lakes, 29 portages, easy to
challenging
If you have two full weeks to spend on the water, this route is scenic,
historic and one of the most varied. The lakes and rivers along this loop
were part of the Voyageurs' Highway - the route of the fur traders between
Lake Superior and Rainy Lake. Throughout the loop are historic sites where
natives, prospectors, settlers and loggers left their marks.
Counter-clockwise is the best direction to paddle the loop, allowing you
to take advantage of the Maligne River's occasional swift current. You
should allow one layover day, just in case you get held up by high winds
on a large lake.
Cache Bay Ranger
Station:
Falls Chain-The K-K-K Loop
168 km (8 days) 26 lakes, 37 portages, challenging
Doing this route in eight days is recommended for strong and experienced
paddlers. Most groups average 10 days. From Cache Bay, paddle to the
northeast end of Cache Bay. View Silver Falls at the first portage, then
paddle to the north end of Saganagons Lake and begin the journey to the
Falls Chain to Kawnipi Lake. After paddling Kawnipi to its northwest end,
go south along Kahshahpiwi Creek, through Cairn, Sark and Keefer lakes,
all the way to Kahshahpiwi Lake. From there, portage to McNiece Lake. A
chain of smaller lakes and streams leads south to Basswood Lake. From
there, paddle northeast along a series of international border lakes back
to Saganaga Lake.
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Call 218-365-4106 or
800-777-7091 to reserve your adventure today!
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