Has anyone tried Woodland Caribou? It's by Red Lake on the Ontario-Manitoba border. I understand it is very similar to the Quetico of 20 years ago. I have it on my "to visit" list, so if anyone has done this park, I'd enjoy hearing more about it.

Been there, won't go back.  My buddies seemed to like it okay and we did see caribou but the fishing was lousy.  (Correction; my fishing was lousy.)  No walleye or SM in the park that I have been made aware of but the lake trout fishing is exceptional.  The old forum has extensive posts on Woodland Caribou.  Beautiful park with very few permits issued annually.  Our maps showed an old logging road to access the enrty lake but no one in Red Lake seemed to know what the hell we were talking about.  "Woodland Caribou eh?  Wheres dat?  Oh, sure. dats the park down da old mine pit road.  Not sure ya can get dare frum here."  Fair warning, the road is one of those "40 kms. in 4 hours" type trips.  Of course we can all laugh about it now.

Went to Woodland Carribou last summer via Winnipeg.  From the twin cities expect about a 12 hour drive...look out for those damn temporary check points/drunk busts on the perimeter highway about Winnepeg...the Canadien patrol doesn't mess around when it comes to drunk drivers.  My friends and I got checked out but passed with flying colors...albiet we only had 2 beers for diner.  

Anyway, as for the park...like I said, we went through Winnipeg and headed further northeast from there to the Winnipeg River, where we camped before putting in.  From there it's roughly 2-3 hours of navigation through the woods on a dirt/gravel road (can't remember exactly which way we went)....4 wheel drive is advised, and go relatively slow...it may take some time, but the road is full of obstacles and locals that love to speed.  Much of the time you can't see over the upcoming hill/corner.  Once we arrived though, it was worth it...

Don't know where the previous entry's author got his/her info, but they don't require permits (look online for more info)...The park is very similar to the Quetico...but the only catch is that motors are allowed.  Nevertheless, still relatively peaceful and just as beautiful...no smallmouth, but plenty of northern...walley, perch and lake trout (as we found out on Garner Lake)...other species include burbot, suckers, tullibee and whitefish, but that's just what was posted on the map of Garner that I had.  Beautiful 1/4 mile of beach on the southeastern corner of the lake...we made that our base camp for the entire week.  We lucked out with weather as well...gorgeous all week, not a drop of rain...I'd like to revisit that place sometime in the future if I can.  This year I'm going back to the Quetico.

I must say the Canadiens we met/spoke with along the way were very pleasant, friendly and welcoming...I think I'm defecting if we go to war :)

Did you defect?

Regarding the permits you misunderstood - very few permits are issued because very few people apply or pay the camping fees.  You still must check in with the MNR, Ontario Parks and pay for use.  When we went a few years ago we were told that WCPP, while larger than Quetico, has less than 1/3 of the visitors.  Don't get me wrong; it's a beautiful place - Getting there sucks though.  IMO, I would reccommend Wabakimi if you want to go farther north.  Haven't been there yet but we will get there soon enough.

I caught a few Lake Trout and 1 +10lb.  We camped on Jake Lake and did not see a soul until paddling out.  I will never forget that encounter!  They both had on fluoricent (sp?) green/orange rain parka's on and seemed extremely heavy loaded.  Not a cloud in the sky by the way.  The fishing was slow and we all decided that the trip in was not worth the solitude.

We have been going to WCPP for the last few years.

Fewer people go there than Q, there are some motors, planes and cabins. Q is generally more scenic, especially than those areas affected by big forest fires in the 80's. WCPP is more rugged and therefore more wilderness-like IMO.  

Fishing can be great or terrible, depending on the body of water.  Some good sized lakes are too shallow/sterile to hold fish.  Some lakes have walleye, some areas of the park don't.  Very few hold SMB. A fair number hold LT, pike are everywhere other than the sterile lakes.

Ontario camping permits are required, just like Q.  No reservations are required.

For great information contact Claire Q or Doug Gilmore  at woodland.caribou@mnr.gov.on.ca

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The topo maps on QJ now include Algonquin, Woodland Caribou, Quetico, Nopiming and Whiteshell Provincial Parks. The 1:50,00 maps for Atikaki and Woodland Caribou are in black and white though. Must be true wilderness...