-
Voyageurs National Park is located in north central Minnesota on the Canadian border in the Rainy Lake area. The Park is located on the northern border of Minnesota, 55 miles of the park stretch along the Ontario border. Voyageurs is about 15 miles east of International Falls, Minnesota and 300 miles north of Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota (five hours by car), three hours from Duluth, Minnesota, and four hours from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness lies to the east of the park. The park lies in the southern part of the Canadian Shield.
-
Voyageurs is a water based park. Access to the Kabetogama peninsula, the islands and nearly all of the park’s shoreline is by watercraft. Free public boat ramps and parking are available at the park’s visitor centers and at the Kabetogama State Forest Campgrounds. Watercraft rental and water taxi service are available from private outfitters and resorts at each of the park’s four gateway communities – Ash River, Crane Lake, International Falls and Lake Kabetogama. Hiring a guided boat tour is highly recommended for newcomers to the park.
-
all park campsites/houseboat sites are accessible only by water; there are over 200 sites; Voyageurs does not have any campsites that are accessible by car or foot. There are two small campgrounds in the park – north shore of Crane Lake (King Williams Narrows) and Mukooda Lake (interior lake just north of Crane Lake). There are five individual sites at each of these small campgrounds; accommodates up to 45 people
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources operates two drive-in campgrounds – Woodenfrog on Kabetogama Lake and Ash River in Ash River. Resorts in gateway communities have campsites for tents and RV’s. -
Visitors can camp in the park for 14 consecutive days and 30 calendar days all year. Visitors can leave their cars parked at a visitor center for the duration of their stay in the park.
-
Visitors must use one of the park’s developed campsites because they are built to protect the park’s resources and to withstand use. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov.
-
We like to say that Voyageurs is just like the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness with one exception, Voyageurs is Fun. All campsites, unlike BWCAW, feature:
- tent pads (large: 13’ x 13’ or small: 7’ x 9’); small tent sites usually have 2 tent pads. large tent sites usually have 4 tent pads.
- metal food lockers (52” wide x 36” deep x 21” high)
- privy (toilet)
- fire ring
- picnic table
- dock (not all sites)
-
Yes. The park has three visitors centers – Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake and Ash River. Rainy Lake is open year-round with reduced hours during the winter. Kabetogama Lake and Ash River are open seasonally. The park also has a ranger station at Crane Lake with very limited hours. The park maintains an informational bulletin board and overnight permit station across the street from the Ranger’s house. No other NPS facilities are at Crane Lake.
-
The visitor’s centers are all accessible as are the tour boats. There are also a variety of HA campsites and visitor’s destinations within the park.
