BWCAW Park Information
Located in Northeastern Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) has a million acres of wilderness, with over 1,000 pristine lakes and streams, and over 1500 miles of canoe routes.
It is considered by some as the most beautiful wilderness they have ever seen. National Geographic named it one of 50 Destinations of a Lifetime. The BWCAW is renowned as a destination for both canoeing and fishing on its many lakes and is the most visited wilderness in the United States.
Most visitors to the Boundary Waters travel through the region of lakes and rivers by canoe, portaging their canoe and gear over portage trails that connect the waterways. Camping is allowed only at designated campsites, which are clearly marked on commercially-available maps and have a fire grate and a widerness latrine. Trips can range from a single day excursions to multi-week adventures deep into the wilderness’s interior.
NOTE: Please read about the Pagami Creek Fire due to some closures in this location.
Quetico Park Information
Quetico is a protected, pristine wilderness retreat of international acclaim west of Lake Superior on the Canada-U.S. border. The park’s tangled network of lakes once formed water routes travelled by Ojibway and fur traders. Now it is primarily the destination of experienced canoeists seeking solitude and rare glimpses of wildlife by cascading waterfalls, glassy lakes and endless forests.
Quetico is primarily a wilderness canoeing park. There are 2,200 backcountry (interior) campsites, accessible by canoe, scattered around the park on over 600 lakes. There are no developed structures inside the wilderness area. Motorboats are only allowed on a handful of lakes. Canoe is the primary mode of transportation. Streams and footpaths called “portages” connect the lakes for easy wildneress travel. Primitively developed campsite near the water’s edge provide a tent pad, fire grate, and latrine. Paddle near waterfalls, gorges, and rock palisades on the same routes the Native Americans and fur traders did centuries ago. Sportsmen in pursuit of smallmouth bass,northern pikewalleye and lake trout consider these border lakes some of the finest fishing in North America.
http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/quet.html is the link to more information on Quetico Park. When you do business with Anderson’s Canoe Outfitters, we will make your reservation with Quetico Park on your behalf as the process can be confusing.
Wildlife Viewing
The park abounds in wildlife with one area boasting four moose per square mile, one of the highest densities in the province. The canoeist stands an excellent chance of seeing moose, beaver, otter, marten and the bald eagle (common in Quetico, but rare elsewhere). There are red squirrels, chipmunks, beaver and mink as well as 90 species of birds nesting here.