For those planning trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park, 2008 brings the 30th anniversary of the BWCAW and new fishing regulations to the Quetico. The camping fees for both parks have changed, but the permitting process remains the same.
Permit Fees: BWCAW permits are per trip or seasonal. For a single trip, the adult fee is $16.00 and the youth fee is $8.00. An adult seasonal pass is $64.00 and a youth seasonal pass is $32.00. The 2008 lottery ended January 10, so now permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits are allotted by entry point. To help you plan your trip, a good entry point map available at www.canoeing.com/destinations/bwca/entrypointmap.htm. To reserve permits contact the BWCAW Reservation Center: by mail, P.O. Box 462, Ballston Spa, NY 12020; by fax, 1-518-884-9951; by phone, 1-877-550-6777; or on line at www.bwcaw.org.
The prices of Quetico permits are based on each traveler’s nationality, age, and entry point. Fees range from $3.00 to $20.00 per person, per night. The full list of prices is on the Ontario Parks web site at www.parkreports.com/fees/backcountry.php?year=2008.
Quetico Fishing Regulations: Quetico Park regulations have become a bit stricter by prohibiting live or formerly live bait (minnows, worms, etc.) and barbed hooks. Barbless hooks may be purchased or conventional hooks can be adapted by pinching down the barbs. These efforts help prevent contamination of the water by invasive species and uphold the park’s catch and release policy. Fishing permits are available at all entry stations.
Crossing the Border: To paddle into the Quetico from the United States a Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit is required. You can apply for an RABC in person at points of entry into Canada, but also by mailing an application to Canada Border Services Agency, 201 North May Street, Thunder Bay, ON, P7C 3P4. More information and application forms are available at www.canoeing.com/destinations/quetico/parkpermit.htm.
Currently, US citizens are not required to have a passport to enter Canada, but when returning to the States they will need to present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license) along with a proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate). Another option is to present a passport, passport card, or one of various documents that are accepted under the recently enacted Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The list of documents is posted online at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. As early as
June 1, 2009, only a passport, passport card, or the WHTI compliant documents will be sufficient for re-entry.
This article appeared in Wilderness News Spring 2008