Here are links to a couple of recent articles in the Duluth News Tribune about the BWCA.  You might need to set up a free account to view them.  The first article is about the declining use of the wilderness:
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The second is about a couple of campers who spent an unintended night in the woods:
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Hey, at least at least they can't accuse us of loving it to death anymore!

It surprises me that the BW seems to have lost twice as many visitors as Q. I'd have thought it would be the other way around considering cost, past passport and fishing issues for Quetico. Either way, both a better value now than they were 6 years ago.

I hear the downturn is due to these internets.  Alright fine. So now people can simply read about all the bad things like bugs and rain and wind and lightening, oh my. So much for the slick brochures. New (better?) gear sounds rather expensive as well. Oh and all the hoops we jump through to avoid bears. "Wait. There's bears? We heard about the bugs but that's a deal breaker dude."   

Anyone remember what their outfitted trips have cost over the years? Just the canoeing part not the drive. My first two, early 80's, couldn't have cost more than $150 for permit, license, canoe and food - 2 weeks in Q. (More than my rent at the time but food was included!)

What's deluxe outfitting costing these days? Are there volume (youth) discounts? Has it changed much? Timeframe involved? Anyone do the contractor bag over the shoulder anymore?

Let's go with wonder woman eh?

Hello everyone.  I wrote an article about the down trend in Quetico.  I am glad to see people here think it is something to be concerned about and should be remedied.  I had one person comment that he liked the high fees and restrictions because it keeps the "idiots" out.  With the recession here in the USA the $20.00 a night fee also keeps out a lot of the middle and working class here in the USA not to mention the poor.  The "idiots" that the commentator may have been talking about may have been me, but I think he is also indirectly talking about those that cannot afford the Quetico experience anymore.

I am going to Quetico August 10 and it will be great to have the park relatively to myself, but it also concerns me that visitation is way down.  The more people that discover how beautiful it is up there the more people who want to protect it and protect the outdoors in general.

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db wrote on Jun 30^th, 2010 at 5:39am:


Here's a link to Canoe Canada's current rates:

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The oldest CCO historical rates on wayback machine are from 2001. If you're not familiar with that site, just go to (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) and paste the above url into the obvious place. Then choose the date you want to go back to. (Just like Mr Peabody and Sherman!  )