If you’ve been to both areas, which would you recommend for a first timer? My paddles have seen numerous trips, both along the border regions, as well as points much farther north.

In terms of ease of planning, access to entry waters, ease of exiting, remoteness in terms of seeing (or not seeing) other folks (it seems as though both locations have float planes and fish camps/resorts), cost, ease of dealing with reliable local contacts, I’m curious as to your thoughts. Yes, both areas are beautiful and have their staunch defenders and advocates.

Why would you select one of these over the other? Thanks.

Are you looking for whitewater rivers or lakes? Both parks have both. Both parks with surrounding park areas are really big!

I did a big loop in Wabakimi this year starting on the Allenwater bridge doing the whitewater and going through a bunch of other areas to getting picked up paddling out on Little Caribou Lake.

This coming year I’m doing Woodland Caribou PP and Atikaki Bloodvein River which is whitewater on the Manitoba side. Interesting part with Atikaki in Manitoba is I don’t think I have to pay a per night camping fee like in Ontario.

I had planned on doing both once I got to a certain progression in my tripping. The amount of WCPP that burned a few years ago had me hold off on that until after doing Wabakimi. Give it a bit more time to recover. The Kopka River is pretty amazing technically a different park but alongside Wabakimi. At some point I’m doing the Kopka River trip. I guess in essence I think you should do both! Pick one, and pick a route and do that one first. Then do the other park the next year. I’ll be interested to see what others say that have tripped in both.

Friends of Wabakimi can be a great resource. They have maps and if you have questions they are more than willing to answer them. Wabakimi maps is associated with them now as well but you can still get specific route maps set up where you just flip the laminated pages. Wabakimi maps also has descriptions of the different routes and options.

Ryan

Hey, GN!! -
Yes, do both.

I did WCPP with another board member about 10 years ago. It is a great park. There is now, I believe, only one outfitter catering to canoeists there. And access is by road shuttle or air. We actually went in via motor tow at the east end of the park, but that outfitter closed so I am not sure if crossing Red Lake to enter is still available. WCPP itself is smaller than Wab and gets more canoe traffic. But it is still about as remote as needed. And fishing is fantastic in either park.

Wab has fewer visitors per year. And you can access the park by air, road shuttle, train, or by road at a few spots. There are at least 2 outfitters on the east side of the park available. I know of one air service on the west side but he might only fly in to his own camps...not sure.

We used an outfitter in Wab in 2011 and rented boats. That was helpful because our route had to change on entry day due to active fires. The folks there helped us re-route and gave us good maps. That knowledge is a valuable resource. They also helped us book a train ride out of the park.

I grew up in Oak Park IL. So Ernest Hemingway has been a favorite author my whole life. The whole train experience has a real Nick Adams feel to it and that enhanced the whole trip for me. (If you haven't read any of the Nick Adams stories give a look-see!)

Do you have your own canoe? Once I got my own boat that changed how I entered. Road access on the west side has been my thing the last 3 trips, 2015, 16, and 22. And I use Ignace as the post trip hotel/shower stop. I'm a cheapskate so I like saving a couple hundred bucks on outfitter fees. But I only can because I got the basic info from them initially.

Personally, I saw more people in WCPP than in all 3 trips to Wab. But that is probably due the fact that our route went past several fish camps. We even had to use a second choice campsite once because our first choice was taken. So my own impression is that Wab feels more remote.

I never went into Manitoba. My research indicates that you pay a flat fee to park a vehicle at an access point and no per night fee.

I live in the Chicago area and so driving to either park takes about 18-19 hours. There seems to be more hotel rooms in Red Lake than Armstrong. But if you are using the outfitters in Armstrong they have nice places to stay.

Outfitters have more detail on their maps, e.g. good fishing spots, campsite ratings, etc. I have used Wabakimi Project maps and Ontario topos the last 3 trips. I am a map and compass guy and enjoy using the two map sets.

Wab is my personal favorite. But if you are used to BW or Q you will love either WCPP or Wab as far more remote and far emptier.

One more thing...I originally looked at Wab because I longed for an experience more like the old timey boundary lakes trips I had read about. So fishing camps and float planes were an expected part of my trip. Cached boats at portages were a little jarring at first, but those are really only at the close in portages. I was very happy that I really did get that old timey feel in both parks.

And another thought...portages in both parks are generally much shorter than the southern parks. And they start/stop right at the rapids. And many are very difficult to find because they are not used very often. That aspect is fun for me (Type 2 fun...frustrating while there but great afterward).

Are you getting the idea that I really want to discuss this stuff and miss the northland? .... I could go on and on, but you want to enjoy your own research and planning. Again, one of the greatest parts of these trips is the planning...

Having been to both, I would recommend Wabakimi. It was the best canoe trip of my life. The fly-in, the lack of people, the fishing, the train out... all great.

Woodland Caribou was just flat. We paddled in and flew out so we could spend more time in the good fishing area. But it was a bit busy with lodges and motor traffic. On day 3, after looking at pictographs, I completed a portage and was greated by motor boat fishermen who asked, "how did you get here"... and they never offered me a beer.

Thanks for the responses. Recent extensive fires seem to indicate Wab may be a wiser choice for the next year or so.
This trip will be a flat water trip.
Those that drove to an entry point for Wab what length of time passed before you got away from fish camps, float planes etc. (civilization)? Some Canadian gravel roads can be brutal on vehicles, How would you describe the quality or lack thereof of the roads to an entry point?
I’ve taken the RR to exit some previous trips. The RR passing Wab seems quite unpredictable despite having scheduled runs. Some forum members have waited more than 10 hours. Seems as though a trip would have to build in an extra day to be on the save side, especially if party members are catching flights back home to other parts of the USA.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. If other idea pop into your brain feel free to send them my way.

I have entered Wab via Smye Lake 3 times now.
You go through Smye Lake, Smye Creek and then enter the park proper in Wilkie Lake.
Rusty Meyers has a fish camp right across from that portage. Ignace Outposts has a fish camp on Flindt Lake, about 1/2 way down the west shore. After that I didn't see any other fish camps.
Getting from the Smye entry to Flindt is a full day paddle at moderate pace.
From Flindt there are a lot of ways to go.
There is a fish camp on Smoothrock closer to the east side of the park.
There are others along the south part of the park nearer the RR
Once you reach the interior of Wab the fish camps a few and far between.
Also, I usually go in August so fishing season is mostly over.

In 2015 I had a Kia Sportage with a bit more ground clearance.
But I drove my Prius there in 2016 and 2022.
I had to keep it under 20MPH for the 40km on the 702 Rd, but there is no water crossing or anything like that on that road. The road is gravel and is fairly well maintained. But rain does cause some spots requiring caution.
Also, the parking area by Smye is hidden off the road a few hundred feet.
The track into it requires caution, but like I said, I got my Prius in and out with little difficulty.
That area is gravel and is large enough for several vehicles.

BTW...the Friends of Wab maps show the location of the permanent fish camps.
So you can route away from them for the most part.

J - What loop did you do out of Smye? I was up there last year and did an 11-day from Burntrock to Tamarack. I'd like to get an 8/9-day loop out of Smye. I have a 4x4 truck if that matters.

Gaidin53 is correct, re: no park fee in Atikaki. Is there less burn in Atikaki than WCCP? My impression from a Wabakimi meeting is fire only hot the Flindt River system (western park). That might color your decision a bit.