Fourth of July weekend begins the ideal vacation time to Canada's Quetico Provincial Park

July 2, 2:42 PMChicago Adventure Travel ExaminerTed Nelson

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Fourth of July weekend begins the ideal time for a vacation to Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. In a recent article, I mentioned how it may not be a good idea to hike during the humid summer months in the Midwest, especially around a swamp. Heading north is a great alternative, and now begins the best time to travel to Quetico for wonderful adventure.

Quetico Provincial Park is a 1.18 million acre park across the Canadian border from the Boundary Waters/Superior National Forest area in Minnesota. The name is actually a mystery, but it most likely a name that originated from the Ojibwa Indians that resided here.

To get to Quetico from Chicago take I-90 north and continue on I-94 to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. From Eau Claire take I-53 to Superior/Duluth. From Superior, Wisconsin you can either take Minnesota 61 up the north shore of Lake Superior to Grand Marais and enter via the Gunflint Trail or continue north on U.S. 53 to either Ely or Moose Lake, Minnesota. Your directions depend on which entry point you take and if you are being outfitted, where your outfitter is located. Canadians can access the park via Aitikokan, Ontario.

The reason Quetico is so appealing now is the black flies start to go away around this time, the fishing is dependable, and the temperature is usually perfect from now until early September. The temperature can still fluctuate wildly, so be sure to pack for anything from 50 degrees and rainy to 95 degrees and hot and everything in between.

At the very center of the park is the majestic Lake Kawnippi, which is one of the most desired locations in the park because of the fishing and the solitude. There are no motorized vehicles allowed in the park, so people are scarce on Kawnippi and the lake is so big that even if others are camping nearby it is possible to never come in contact with them.

Traveling in the park is a challenge, which is one of the appeals of the trip. There are many established canoe trails, but in order to get from one point to the other a portage or two or ten will be necessary. Portaging consists of taking everything out of the canoe and carrying it across a trail, sometimes even up to a mile and taking it to the other side to go from lake to lake or to avoid a dangerous rapids/waterfall. Carrying a canoe over uneven ground consisting of rocks, boulders, and tree roots while going up and down hills for a quarter of a mile or more is no easy task. That is why Kawnippi is remote and untouched because few can or want to make the trip. The travail is worth it though.

The fishing in the park is great, especially the farther away one gets from civilization. Walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and lake trout can be caught in abundance with a little bit of work. There is nothing like a fresh fish dinner, especially when the eater is also the fish catcher and the one that filleted the fish.

The wildlife is few and far between, but is spectacular when viewed. Moose, black bear, wolves, otter, bobcat, lynx, pine martin, beaver, and bald eagles are the main attractions. The haunting sound of the common loon echoes throughout the park and adds to the mystique of this amazing area. Other appealing aspects of the park are the aurora borealis (northern lights), clear blue water that can be consumed without treatment, and granite outcroppings around every corner. Once this park is visited it grabs a hold of the adventure traveler and beckons his return again and again.