Outfitters trying to remain positive as future of RABC program remains unknown

Outfitters along the Gunflint Trail and near the Canadian border are looking ahead to 2026 with uncertainty about the future of the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) program.

“We’re just kind of waiting and seeing just like everybody else,” said Grant Hopke, owner of Seagull Outfitters.

He describes the current situation as a mix of “wonder and hope.”

In September 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency paused processing new and renewal applications for RABC permits while it reviewed and updated the procedures. RABC permits allow U.S. travelers to enter Quetico Provincial Park and the Canadian backcountry without going through an official port of entry.

Existing RABC permits are set to expire in less than three weeks on Dec. 31, 2025.

While the Canada Border Services Agency has stated it is still accepting RABC permit applications, there has been no official word on the approval of new permits or the renewal of existing permits.

It has left many Gunflint Trail outfitters in limbo as they begin planning for the 2026 season.

“Even though there’s been radio silence from Canada and the CBSA, we’re trying to stay positive,” said Matthew Ritter, co-owner of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.

Given its location towards the end of the Gunflint Trail and near the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Ritter said, a significant amount of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters’ business will be impacted if the RABC program is not continued.

“We offer remote canoe trips into Quetico Provincial Park and serve as a marina for cabin owners on the Canadian side of Saganaga Lake,” Ritter said. “Between those two services, we stand to lose a significant amount of business during the 2026 season if nothing changes.”

Tow Boat Ride Service | Contributed by Voyageur Canoe Outfitters

The pause in the RABC program over the past year has already affected the business.

“This past season was a hybrid year with limited exceptions for existing RABC holders. We saw some traffic into Quetico, but it was only a fraction of our normal volume,” Ritter said.

He said, at this point, “We’re searching for any information about the future of the program—even a general timeline would help.”

At Seagull Outfitters, Hopke said the pause has also posed challenges and raised concerns about additional impacts in the year ahead. With no RABC permits available for 2026, he said it means fewer people will be visiting the Gunflint Trail and Grand Marais, or be able to access the Quetico.

With pre-season prep work beginning in January, Hopke said the uncertainty around the RABC program has raised questions about how to plan staffing and supply purchases for next summer.

Regardless of how the RABC program shakes out, Hopke said, “We’re going to be here.”

Route Planning | Contributed by Seagull Outfitters

Seagull Outfitters, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, and other businesses along the Gunflint Trail and in Ely face a challenging few months as they make difficult decisions about the year ahead.

“We would like to see this resolved sooner rather than later. We’re just kind of sitting in limbo right now. So to have some more concrete information would help tremendously,” Hopke said.

WTIP contacted the Canada Border Service Agency for an update on the RABC program as permits are set to expire on Dec. 31. Luke Reimer, a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency, wrote in an email to WTIP, “We do not have a further RABC update right now.”

Kalli Hawkins December 14, 2025