Escape to the Backcountry

Local outfitters and lodges offer exceptional outfitting services for guided or unguided trips.

World-renowned for its rugged beauty, sheltered lakes, majestic waterfalls and virgin pine forests, Quetico Provincial Park offers some of the world’s best backcountry canoeing. You’ll find plenty of wilderness here, as except for family friendly campground Dawson Trail, the park is only accessible by water. What’s more, a complete mechanical ban has helped preserve the park’s natural quiet and remote splendour. It is even wilder now than when it was formed more than 100 years ago.

Some areas of the park are more easily travelled than others. Portages and campsites are not signed so trip planning and wilderness navigation skills are necessary. 

Trip Planning Outfitters blue banner

Outfitters 

Accommodation

If you are not pursuing the Northwest Quest and you don’t want to camp for all or any of your canoeing adventure, you can stay in rustic luxury at a unique wilderness lodge, cabin, yurt or outpost and do canoe day trips.

Outfitter Air Service

Travel Information Blue banner

Don’t Miss 

About 1 hour east of Quetico Provincial Park is Thunder Bay. Located on the shore of the Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake, it has everything you need to get outfitted properly for your adventure and all the urban culinary and cultural attractions to complete your memorable epic adventure.

While in Thunder Bay, explore back in time to the year 1815 to experience the fur trade at Fort William Historical Park. There are 42 authentic, reconstructed buildings on the site and actors in period dress to bring it to life.

Backcountry Banner

For information on park fees and reservations, click here.

About Trish Manning

Trish Manning is an adventure travel writer and the content coordinator for Ontario Outdoor Adventures. She is an avid outdoor person who loves to hike, paddle, SUP, snowshoe, cross-country ski and explore Ontario's great outdoors with her golden retriever, Daisy.

Recommended Articles

SUP in the city

The top 6 places to paddleboard in Toronto.

Best Backcountry Camping in Ontario

7 destinations that are wild with beauty and fun.

Winter Camping in Ontario Parks

Find the best cozy yurts or tents to stay in.

Outdoor Playgrounds

Discover the best Ontario Provincial Parks.

POWERFUL ENERGY

Explore Temagami's spiritual sites with the utmost respect.

Can’t get away this winter?

Discover the best winter vacations for retirees.

11 Best Places to Go Rock Climbing

Harness up.

Hike the Lake Superior Coastal Trail

Discover beaches, lookouts, and sacred sites on this 65 km trail.

5 Trails Less Travelled

Amazing day hikes in Northwest Ontario.

Boreal Backcountry

Explore Wild Wabakimi

WANT A PERFECT CANOEING COMPANION?

These tips will make your pup canoe-ready.

Stargazing in Ontario

4 of the best places to see the night sky.

Take a ruff ride

Dogsledding adventure at Haliburton Forest

Love dogs?

Find a "pawlooza" near you.

Hike the Pukaskwa Coastal Trail

Discover awe-inspiring waterfalls, beaches and vistas on this epic 60-km trail.

Kids are simply happy in nature

A family adventure on the French River

19 Winter Activities to Add to Your Bucket List

Must-do activities that are snow much fun.

Bundle up for Snowy Horseback & Sleigh Rides

Ontario’s best winter equine adventures.

Discover Ontario’s Least Busy Parks

12 incredible off-the-radar destinations.

Wilderness by day, Pampered at night

A perfect way to experience Algonquin.