Unless things have changed, it's only for car-camping.  Back-country hasn't been available in the past.

I find it interesting just seeing what's booked up. I don't usually make reservations so the Availability Calendar will be very helpful in that regard. It seems to account for non/resident quota differences. Wonder if it frees any unused resident quotas ~3 days out.

I just went through the reservation process and confirmed my backcountry Q permit.  Everything seemed fine but I did have to email a confirmation to myself - it doesn't do it automatically.  Looks legit to me.

I looked at the web site yesterday.  The 888 number said you would save money if you used the web site to reserve a date for Quetico.  My entry date will be June 16 so I will let you know how it works.  The site will not let you go more than 5 months into the future.
Westwood

Westwood wrote on Jan 12^th, 2012 at 10:59pm:

5 months is the rule for all reservations on OntPPs.
There are also penalties for cancelling/changing 4 months or less before the entry date.  I think they get punitively higher the closer to your entry date you make the change.

People used to book their favourite sites a year in advance and for the maximum stay allowed, cherry-picking the best sites.  Then they wouldn't use the reservation.  The site goes empty.  The park doesn't collect their cash.  People who would have used the site can't.  Basically it became a de-facto case of if you could afford it you could claim a site and have it go vacant.  In a fit of rightous egalitarianism (justly so imo) restrictions & penalties were put in place with the result being more people using the parks and 'offenders' paying the price for their campsite-camping ways.

What's really fun is trying to book a yurt.  They go fast.

I went to the site today to reserve for June 16 entering Dawson Trail on Pickerel Lake.  Everything went well and took about 10 minutes to complete.  Except for one date every day for May and June was available.  When I was done, I printed off the confirmation page.  It took longer than a phone call did, but I'm sure it will be quicker next time.  Plus, I could do it after 5:00 PM and unlike a phone call you don't get a busy signal or put on hold.  Overall I liked how it worked.

Westwood

Westwood wrote on Jan 19^th, 2012 at 2:43am:


Good.  It appears they got my note.

PhantomJug wrote on Jan 12^th, 2012 at 5:38pm:


4 months later, my confirmation email arrived today.  Not that I needed it but it was nice of them to remind me that I can enter the park next Sunday.

PhantomJug wrote on May 14^th, 2012 at 6:01pm:


The story of CAMIS, the contractor who runs the reservations, is amusing at best & insulting at worst.  Perfect example of government outsourcing to everyone's detriment.