All visits require a permit. Due to the isolation of the park, day-use is uncommon, but the French Lake/Dawson’s Creek Trail and Nym Lake/Atikokan stations on the north side of the park are accessible by car. Dawson’s Creek also has a visitor’s center, campground, showers, and laundromat. Backcountry camping fees are $3.00 to $20.00 per person, per day, and are based on your age, nationality, and where you enter (the southern access points are more expensive). To see the full list of rates, visit the Ontario Parks fees web page. There are 21 entry points, each assigned to one of 6 ranger stations, 3 of which (Lac la Croix, Prairie Portage, and Cache Bay) are on the Minnesota border.

A limited number of permits are given for each entry point per day, and groups can be no larger than 9 people, so reservations are recommended. Currently, Quetico Park reservations can only be made over the phone and they cost $100.00 plus a$12.00 deposit. They offer peace of mind, however, by guaranteeing you can enter the park at a specific place on a specific day. At least 14 days before your trip call the Ontario Parks reservation line at 888-668-7275.

Choosing a well-traveled loop or forging your own route into the interior will determine how many challenges you set for yourself. There are some designated portages and campsites (without fire grates or pit-toilets), but camping is permitted anywhere. Some portages are erratically maintained and thus can be difficult to find or get across due to thick undergrowth and deadfall. Motor boats are only permitted on Beaverhouse Lake and only to guides on Lac la Croix, so all of the lakes are ideal for canoeing.

CANPASS Remote Area Border Crossing Permits:
If you plan to enter Quetico Park from the United States you must check in at customs as you cross the border, or if paddling in, you need a CANPASS Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit. Citizens and permanent residents of Canada and the US are eligible for an RABC permit. You can apply for an RABC in person at the Fort Frances, Rainy River, Pigeon River, Sault Ste. Marie, Emerson West Lynne ports of entry, or at the Canada Border Services Agency’s Thunder Bay office. You can also apply by mail, which could save you some time and hassle at the border. Three to four weeks before your trip mail your application and the $30.00 processing fee to Canada Border Services Agency, 201 North May Street, Thunder Bay ON P7C 3P4. The application contains instructions on how to apply, what forms of payment are accepted, and what documentation is required. You can also check out these details on the Canada Border Services Agency web site or call their office at 807-624-2162.