Quetico Permits and RABC Defined by Red Rock Outfitting

If you are looking for BWCA Permit Info for the US side, you need to go HERE

Here's what you need to know if you are going on a Quetico Park Canoe Trip. You call them up, make a permit reservation to enter Prairie Portage if you are being outfitted by us. If you get a permit, your credit card will be charged the Reservation Fee. You'll get a confirmation from the Canadian Park Service. Your permit will be waiting for you at Prairie Portage and will be issued to you on the day that you are supposed to enter Quetico - not a day early and not a day late. So, come hell or high water, you need to be there, period.

When you go to pick up your permit at the Canadian Ranger Station on the canadian side of Prairie Portage, you will most likely be standing in line outside rain or shine as there is not a lot of room in the ranger station office and they only allow one party of 9 or less in there at a time. During busy times this whole process can last 1-1/2 hours of standing around depending on the groups sizes before you. Once you wait your turn and finally make it inside, the ranger there will go over all the rules of Quetico Park. The ranger may or may not want to see your Remote Area Border Crossing Permit. Whether you are asked to produce your RABC or not, you must have one. If you don't have one, you won't be going on your trip, OR you'll go on your trip and get in all sorts of trouble. Not recommended. We will not be able to help you once you cross into Canada. Do not expect us or any other outfitter to be there to negotiate, mediate, or otherwise bail you out in the event that you get in trouble. Please follow their rules. When in Rome... you are no longer in the USA. Remember that the Canadian Park Service and the Canadian Customs and Immigration Offices are neither related nor inner-connected in any way. I always got the feeling that they didn't like each other that much either. Don't assume that either office will know, understand or help you with dealing with the other office and any problems you may have.

For your Quetico Park Permits  
Remote Area Border Crossing Permit
www.ontarioparks.com 
Quetico Park Telephone: 888-668-7275
Canadian Customs Telephone: 807-274-9780

Quetico Park Costs are per person per night:

  • Permit Reservation Fee: $20 /group of up to 9 max.
  • Permit Cancellation Fee: $36
  • Nightly Camping Fee, Adult: $20 (~$17.50 US)
  • Nightly Camping Fee, Under 18: $8 (~$7.00 US)
  • Adult: $30 (Canadian) per applicant
  • Family (husband, wife, dependents under 18): $30 (Canadian) per family
  • Non-profit Group:  Adult: $30 (Canadian)
      Group members under 18: no fee if with adult leader
Canada's Quetico Park Permit Fee is nonrefundable; if a permit is not used, and not cancelled a penalty is assessed.
Read about CanPass here

This is the place to reserve permits for travel in Quetico Provincial Park, the Canadian wilderness area north of the BWCAW. Reserved permits are required from Canadian fishing opener (mid-May) until mid-September. On the off-season, self-issued permits are obtainable at ranger stations - you will need to put your payment and other pertinant info in a lock box. Regular summer permit reservations are processed up to 5 months in advance. In September, you just go on your trip and make sure you put your payment in the lock box. You will still need your RABC just like any other time.


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To enter Canada along the border lakes, including Quetico Park at Basswood and Saganaga Lakes, without clearing canadian customs, paddlers must have a Remote Area Border Crossing Permit. These are available from Canadian Customs in Fort Francis, Ontario. (To enter Quetico, you must still check in at a ranger station during the summer season.) 

All visitors entering Quetico Park through Prairie Portage or Sagnaga are required to obtain a Remote Area Border Cross (RABC) Pass. Each person must apply for a RABC at least six weeks (but 2-3 months is preferable) prior to their arrival date in order to obtain advanced customs clearance.

Since there is no Canadian Customs station at Prairie Portage or Sagnaga, RABC forms will only be processed by mail, except in emergency situations.

We are not able to secure the RABC for you, nor can we contact the Canadian Customs and Immigration Office on your behalf; all party members are responsible for working directly with the CCIO -- again, we are unable to apply for or intervene on your behalf with the CCIO. Any questions and concerns about the RABC should be directed to the CCIO, as regulations can change from season to season without notice. 

Quetico Park will send out a confirmation of your permit reservation with them.

Download the RABC forms in .pdf format Click Here
 

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