Quetico is special.
This land isn’t for the faint of the heart. With black bears, untamed rapids and challenging portages, it takes a certain kind of traveler to come here. But as cities and suburbs continue to grow, Quetico is a sanctuary of true wilderness in Northwestern Ontario—160 km west of Thunder Bay, contiguous to Minnesota and straddling the famed “Voyageur’s Highway”.
We think that’s worth protecting.
Quetico is huge!
At almost 5000 square kilometres, you could fit land the size of Prince Edward Island inside the Park! Quetico includes 1400km of canoe routes, 612 portages, over 2000 campsites and over 500 lakes – lots of space for the hundreds of animal and plant species who call it home. A protected wilderness area of this size is both wonderful and rare.
Quetico is ecologically rare.
Quetico sits at the junction of three ecozones: the Great Lakes forest, Boreal forest, and prairie – all within the Arctic watershed. The continental divide runs through the Park. That makes it an ideal hub for long-term ecological research on subjects like climate change, forest harvesting, and other high-impact environmental issues.
Quetico is part of Indigenous culture.
Indigenous peoples have lived in this region for thousands of years. In fact, 28 Indigenous pictograph sites can still be sighted in the Park. For many Anishinaabe at Lac La Croix, these pictographs and their locations are sacred. To protect and respect this land, we’re deeply honored to work with and learn from the Lac La Croix First Nation.
Quetico is filled with wildlife.
The park is home to hundreds of species: from much-loved small animals like loons, chipmunks and beavers to big creatures like black bears and moose! We’ve even had rare sightings of lynx, deer and timber wolves. Lucky birdwatchers may spot over 250 different species. Anglers will find lake trout, bass, walleye and northern pike.
Quetico is Canadian history.
In addition to being home to Aboriginal peoples, Quetico houses the “Voyageurs’ Highway” – once traveled by French explorers, Scottish traders, and the Hudson’s Bay Company. The army even passed through Quetico on their way to the Louis Riel rebellion battles. Visit the Ridley Research Library to learn more. (Painting: French River Rapids by Paul Kane.)