A Winter Adventure in Quetico Provincial Park

It's a world-class paddling destination in Summer; explore Quetico in a new way this winter.

By Trevor Gibb Trevor Gibb is the Superintendent of Quetico Provincial Park

April 12, 2023

Each March, cross country skiers of all abilities descend on Quetico Provincial Park and the nearby town of Atikokan for the Cross Quetico Tour. Normally known for its world class wilderness canoeing opportunities, Quetico’s interconnected waterways become a venue for a ski adventure like no other in winter. The one-day Cross Quetico Tour is a group event where participants are encouraged to stay together over their choice of 35-, 45- or 60-km routes that stretch from the town of Atikokan south to the Quetico park boundary, then east across the canoe routes of Batchewaung and Pickerel Lakes, to the tours end point at the parks Dawson Trail Campground. The Cross Quetico Tour is a true wilderness experience. All trail grooming stops at the park boundary, and skiers make their own tracks across the portages and pristine waterways of the park.

It might be sunny, snowy, blowy, warm, or cold. No matter what the conditions on the day of the tour, the park takes on its own memorable character and skiers get to experience the park in a truly unique way.

Instead of heading home after the Cross Quetico Tour, there are now additional opportunities to unwind and spend the weekend (or longer) at Quetico’s Dawson Trail Campground. We are very excited about our newly renovated Log Cabin. It offers year round accommodations in a well-equipped traditional log cabin. Just imagine, after the Cross Quetico Tour or a day of skiing on the parks groomed ski trails, you could kick back in front of a woodstove in a cozy, snow-covered cabin.

Quetico also rents a smaller lakefront cabin called the Winter Retreat from September through April each year. This one-room cabin offers a view of French Lake Sunsets and a lakefront patio. The Winter Retreat is just a short walk down a private trail from the parking lot. A sled is provided to transport your food and supplies.

So why not plan a real winter adventure this year and visit Quetico Provincial Park and the town of Atikokan for the Cross Quetico Tour, or plan any winter getaway at one of the parks cozy cabins! There are almost 30 km of maintained ski trails at Quetico’s Dawson Trail campground, and more than 450,000 hectares of backcountry wilderness to explore on ski or snowshoe in winter. The opportunities are endless.

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About Trevor Gibb

Trevor Gibb is the Superintendent of Quetico Provincial Park – Formerly he has held positions as the Assistant Superintendent of 29 parks in Northeastern Ontario including Polar Bear Provincial Park, and Backcountry Warden at Killarney Provincial Park. He has also lived in the Canadian Arctic as a high school teacher. In his spare time it is not uncommon find him bobbing around Quetico in his old canoe.