Recreational Activities
Voyageurs National Park offers a wealth of recreational activities in both summer and winter. Activities include birding, camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, guided tours, hiking, houseboating, ice fishing, kayaking, motorboating, picnicking, sailing, sightseeing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and wildlife viewing.
Birding
Voyageurs National Park is a premier site for birding. The park's richly varied ecosystem supports some of the greatest diversities of bird life in North America, with over 240 species, including bald eagles, loons, cormorants, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, osprey, white pelicans, and a diversity of songbirds. Visitors should bring binoculars and a bird guide to enjoy bird watching in any season.
Voyageurs National Park is a premier site for birding. The park's richly varied ecosystem supports some of the greatest diversities of bird life in North America, with over 240 species, including bald eagles, loons, cormorants, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, osprey, white pelicans, and a diversity of songbirds. Visitors should bring binoculars and a bird guide to enjoy bird watching in any season.
Boating
Boaters may use kayaks, canoes, sailboats, tour boats, houseboats, or motorboats in this boaters' paradise with nearly 84 thousand acres of water (approximately 40 percent of the park's surface area). The four "big lakes"--Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand point--offer opportunities to explore 655 miles of shoreline, including numerous bays and over 900 islands, and plenty of open water. The boating season at Voyageurs typically runs from mid-spring through mid-fall, when the lakes ice over until the following season.
Click here to learn more about houseboating at Voyageurs National Park.
Boaters may use kayaks, canoes, sailboats, tour boats, houseboats, or motorboats in this boaters' paradise with nearly 84 thousand acres of water (approximately 40 percent of the park's surface area). The four "big lakes"--Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand point--offer opportunities to explore 655 miles of shoreline, including numerous bays and over 900 islands, and plenty of open water. The boating season at Voyageurs typically runs from mid-spring through mid-fall, when the lakes ice over until the following season.
Click here to learn more about houseboating at Voyageurs National Park.
Camping
There over 200 secluded boat-in campsites within the park. Fifty-one of the campsites may be reserved in advance. Drive-in campsites are available just outside the park at Woodenfrog State Forest Campground on Kabetogama Lake and at Ash River Campground.
Click here to learn more about camping at Voyageurs National Park.
There over 200 secluded boat-in campsites within the park. Fifty-one of the campsites may be reserved in advance. Drive-in campsites are available just outside the park at Woodenfrog State Forest Campground on Kabetogama Lake and at Ash River Campground.
Click here to learn more about camping at Voyageurs National Park.
Canoeing and Kayaking
Voyageurs National Park is considered to have some of the best kayaking and canoeing in the country, with opportunities for all skill levels. Although the major lakes are shared with other boats, the area is large enough that paddlers can avoid the traffic. There are also smaller interior lakes, at which the park service provides canoes or rowboats for a small fee.
Voyageurs National Park is considered to have some of the best kayaking and canoeing in the country, with opportunities for all skill levels. Although the major lakes are shared with other boats, the area is large enough that paddlers can avoid the traffic. There are also smaller interior lakes, at which the park service provides canoes or rowboats for a small fee.
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
The park has both groomed and ungroomed trails for all skill levels; most are accessible from either the Ash River or Rainy Lake visitor centers. Cross-country ski rentals and snowshoes for loan are available at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. There are a large number of adult-sized skis, poles, and boots available during regular visitor center hours for $5.00 a day. Children's skis, boots and poles are available free-of-charge during regular visitor center hours.
The park has both groomed and ungroomed trails for all skill levels; most are accessible from either the Ash River or Rainy Lake visitor centers. Cross-country ski rentals and snowshoes for loan are available at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. There are a large number of adult-sized skis, poles, and boots available during regular visitor center hours for $5.00 a day. Children's skis, boots and poles are available free-of-charge during regular visitor center hours.
Fishing and Ice Fishing
Voyageurs National Park provides excellent fishing opportunities throughout the year. The lakes are known to have over 50 different species of fish, including lake sturgeon, walleye, northern pike, black crappie, and smallmouth bass. Many believe these waters have the best walleye fishing in the United States, if not the country, and some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in Minnesota.
Voyageurs National Park provides excellent fishing opportunities throughout the year. The lakes are known to have over 50 different species of fish, including lake sturgeon, walleye, northern pike, black crappie, and smallmouth bass. Many believe these waters have the best walleye fishing in the United States, if not the country, and some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in Minnesota.
Guided Tours
Voyageurs National Park offers a wide range of guided boat tours and ranger-led programs during the summer and fall, primarily June to September. Programs take place throughout the park; most boat tours depart from the Rainy lake and Kabetogama Lake visitor centers.
Voyageurs National Park offers a wide range of guided boat tours and ranger-led programs during the summer and fall, primarily June to September. Programs take place throughout the park; most boat tours depart from the Rainy lake and Kabetogama Lake visitor centers.
Hiking
Walking the park offers exceptional solitude, a greater for spotting wildlife, and an opportunity to experience the landscape up-close. For the day hiker, Voyageurs has trails both short and long, easy and difficult. The park also offers guided hikes., The changing leaves make autumn a particularly spectacular time to hike in the park.
Click here to learn more about hiking trails at the park.
Walking the park offers exceptional solitude, a greater for spotting wildlife, and an opportunity to experience the landscape up-close. For the day hiker, Voyageurs has trails both short and long, easy and difficult. The park also offers guided hikes., The changing leaves make autumn a particularly spectacular time to hike in the park.
Click here to learn more about hiking trails at the park.
Sightseeing
There are many visitor destinations in the park, ranging from historic structures with a unique past to extraordinary scenic outlooks. Popular destinations include Ellsworth Rock Gardens, Kettle Falls Hotel, the I.W. Stevens Pine Cove Resort, and Casareto Cabin on Crane Lake.
There are many visitor destinations in the park, ranging from historic structures with a unique past to extraordinary scenic outlooks. Popular destinations include Ellsworth Rock Gardens, Kettle Falls Hotel, the I.W. Stevens Pine Cove Resort, and Casareto Cabin on Crane Lake.
Snowmobiling
Over 110 miles of snowmobile trails are maintained by the park. Voyageurs National Park is one of the only national parks in the lower 48 states that allows snowmobiling. All snowmobile trails travel over the ice except for the overland safety portages that bypass unsafe ice and the ungroomend Chain of Lakes Trail that winds through the heart of the Kabetogama Peninsula. During the winter months, the park also allows visitors to travel by car on a designated ice road. This is permitted by ice conditions. |
Stargazing
The distance from city lights and the northern location of Voyageurs National park provides visitors with excellent stargazing opportunities. Constellations are prominent, the band of the Milky Way is often distinguishable, and sightings of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, are common.
The distance from city lights and the northern location of Voyageurs National park provides visitors with excellent stargazing opportunities. Constellations are prominent, the band of the Milky Way is often distinguishable, and sightings of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, are common.
Swimming
Swimming can be refreshing on exceptionally hot days. The 84 thousand acres of water cover in the park offer plenty of swimming opportunities. Due to their smaller size, the inland lakes get a little warmer during the summer than the four big lakes, but a few of the islands on the big lakes do have some great sandy shore beaches.
Swimming can be refreshing on exceptionally hot days. The 84 thousand acres of water cover in the park offer plenty of swimming opportunities. Due to their smaller size, the inland lakes get a little warmer during the summer than the four big lakes, but a few of the islands on the big lakes do have some great sandy shore beaches.
Wildlife Viewing
The combination of forest and lake environments at Voyageurs National park allow a diverse variety of wildlife to flourish. At night, visitors may hear the cry of a loon, the howl of a wolf, or the hoot of an owl. Snow may preserve the tracks of a fisher, mink, and possibly even a moose and lynx. With binoculars, visitors may see soaring bald eagles and osprey and on the trees to glimpse colorful and elusive warblers. The park is home to over 240 different species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 10 species of reptiles and amphibians, 53 species of fish, and numerous invertebrates. Voyageurs is one of only two national parks in the continental U.S. that has indigenous populations of wolves, the other being Yellowstone National Park. Visitors should view all wildlife from a distance for safety and not disturb them. Using binoculars, a spotting scope, or a telephoto camera lens will help visitors view animals “close-up” without affecting their behavior.
The combination of forest and lake environments at Voyageurs National park allow a diverse variety of wildlife to flourish. At night, visitors may hear the cry of a loon, the howl of a wolf, or the hoot of an owl. Snow may preserve the tracks of a fisher, mink, and possibly even a moose and lynx. With binoculars, visitors may see soaring bald eagles and osprey and on the trees to glimpse colorful and elusive warblers. The park is home to over 240 different species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 10 species of reptiles and amphibians, 53 species of fish, and numerous invertebrates. Voyageurs is one of only two national parks in the continental U.S. that has indigenous populations of wolves, the other being Yellowstone National Park. Visitors should view all wildlife from a distance for safety and not disturb them. Using binoculars, a spotting scope, or a telephoto camera lens will help visitors view animals “close-up” without affecting their behavior.