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Northern Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park isn’t as well known or widely visited as other national parks – and that’s just one of the things that makes it so special. It’s a seemingly endless landscape of sky, water, rocky islands, and lush forests, where you can paddle, boat, swim, fish, hike, and camp to your heart’s content. However, a visit to Voyageurs is a bit different than a visit to other national parks, and can take a bit more planning and research, depending on what you want to do.
There is much to see, do, and experience at Voyageurs National Park, and it’s definitely worth visiting. A trip to Voyageurs offers a chance to commune with nature at its best, and you can see it in as little as half a day. We’ve developed this guide to help you plan a visit to Voyageurs National Park and create an itinerary tailor-made for you, whether you have a half-day, a full day, or longer to devote to exploring this fantastic place.
More Voyageurs National Park Guides
Northern Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park isn’t as well known or widely visited as other national parks – and that’s just one of the things that makes it so special. It’s a seemingly endless landscape of sky, water, rocky islands, and lush forests, where you can paddle, boat, swim, fish, hike, and camp to your heart’s content. However, a visit to Voyageurs is a bit different than a visit to other national parks, and can take a bit more planning and research, depending on what you want to do.
There is much to see, do, and experience at Voyageurs National Park, and it’s definitely worth visiting. A trip to Voyageurs offers a chance to commune with nature at its best, and you can see it in as little as half a day. We’ve developed this guide to help you plan a visit to Voyageurs National Park and create an itinerary tailor-made for you, whether you have a half-day, a full day, or longer to devote to exploring this fantastic place.
About Voyageurs National Park
Located in north-central Minnesota near the Canadian border, Voyageurs National Park encompasses more than 218,000 acres of lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and forests. Forty percent of the park’s area is taken up by four huge lakes: Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Namakan Lake, and Sand Point Lake. The park also contains numerous smaller lakes, as well as multiple rivers, streams, and marshes. All the waters of Voyageurs National Park flow west into Rainy Lake, then north to Canada before eventually emptying into Hudson Bay.
The Kabetogama (pronounced “cab-uh-TOE-ga-ma”) Peninsula comprises most of the land area of Voyagers National Park. This peninsula, the many islands in the lakes, and all campsites within the park can only be accessed by boat. If you don’t have a boat of your own, there are numerous local businesses offering canoe and kayak rentals, boat tours, water taxis, camping and fishing guides, houseboat rentals, and other related services.
The trees in Voyageurs National Park reflect a fascinating mix of northern hardwoods and boreal forest; the hardwoods include red maple, white ash, aspen, and paper birch, with the boreal forest represented primarily by black and white spruce, black fir, jack pine, and red pine.
Wildlife is abundant in Voyageurs, where visitors often see animals like moose, black bears, gray wolves, and otters. Notable bird species include bald eagles, osprey, hawks, loons, warblers, and cormorants. Of particular importance in the aquatic ecosystems of Voyageurs is the beaver, which can transform entire landscapes by constructing a single, well-placed dam.
The best time of year to visit Voyageurs National Park is in June, July, or August when temperatures are mild. Summer is the best time for swimming, camping, hiking, and boating in the park. However, if you’re looking to enjoy cold-weather activities like snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing, then you’ll want to visit in the winter months.
Using this guide
If you’re visiting Voyageurs National Park, or considering a visit, but aren’t sure what there is to see and do, you’re in the right place. This guide contains suggestions for activities selected to highlight the huge variety of recreational and cultural opportunities available in the park. Each activity includes an approximate time range for completion to better help you plan.
Use the activity descriptions and time estimates in each section to build a custom, personalized itinerary that reflects your preferences. Don’t forget to take your group’s physical tolerances and abilities into account when making plans to visit Voyageurs National Park.
The itineraries on this page assume a starting point of International Falls, MN (including Ranier). If you’re staying in or near another gateway community, like Orr, Pelican Lake, Kabetogoma, or Ash River, this guide will be useful to you as well. You’ll be closer to the Ash River and Kabetogama Lake visitor centers and farther from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, so your driving time will be longer or shorter depending on your location and which activities you choose for your itinerary.
Fort Frances, Ontario is across the Rainy River from International Falls. If you’re staying in Fort Frances, make sure to factor in the time necessary to pass through the checkpoints at the border.
Half-day
What can you do at Voyageurs National Park if you only have half a day? A lot! Combine the activities below to plan and build your custom half-day itinerary.
Rainy Lake Visitor Center
One of the best places to start your visit to Voyageurs National Park is the Rainy Lake Visitor Center (RVLC), located 11 miles from the city of International Falls, Minnesota. Some of the things you can do at the park’s main visitor center, located on the shore of Rainy Lake’s Black Bay: watch the official park movie in the visitor center’s theater, take a walk through the ethnobotanical garden, talk to a park ranger, and view museum displays and exhibits showcasing the area’s wildlife, history, and cultures. You can also attend a ranger-led program or take a boat tour of the park.
Visitor Center / Ranger Programs / Picnic Areas
The Rainy Lake Visitor Center is open year-round, with operating hours varying by season. The facility has a public boat launch with separate paddle access. You can get your national parks passport stamp here. You can also pick up your Voyageurs National Park Junior Ranger wooden badge and fabric sew-on patch PLUS a special Voyageurs National Park Garden Explorer wooden badge that can only be earned at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. The free NPS Junior Ranger program is open to visitors of all ages. 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Like most national parks, Voyageurs offers free ranger-led programs that highlight park historical, cultural, or natural resources. These programs are offered at Voyageurs seasonally from June through September. Programs include guided tours of the Rainy Lake Visitor Center ethnobotanical garden every day at 4pm – inquire at the front desk if you’d like to attend. 30 minutes.
Another ranger-led event is the Telescope and Constellation Tour, part of Voyageurs Dark Sky Programs. Learn about stars and constellations in the Rainy Lake Visitor Center parking lot at 10pm on selected evenings. Contact the visitor center to inquire about the current schedule. No need to sign up for this presentation, just show up and enjoy. 1 hour.
Whatever you choose to do at Voyageurs National Park, you’re bound to get hungry. Enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the lakeside picnic tables near the visitor center and public docks, some of which have charcoal grills for cooking. 30-90 minutes.
Hiking Trails
Once you’ve explored the visitor center, consider taking a walk through the forest on one or both of the short hiking trails that can be accessed from the visitor center. The Recreation Trail is an easy paved trail for walkers, runners, bicyclists, and snowshoers. It’s also the only trail in Voyageurs National Park where leashed pets are allowed. The wide, gently sloping trail follows the Park Road for 1.7 miles (3.4 miles round-trip) from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center to its intersection with Minnesota State Hwy 11, occasionally dipping into the woods or around a rock outcrop. 1 to 2 hours.
The Oberholtzer Trail follows the edge of a cattail marsh through the forest and around the iconic glacier-deposited rocks that dot the park. Take in scenic wetland and lake views at two different overlooks on this easy, 1.6 mile round-trip hike. The trailhead for the Oberholtzer Trail is on the south side of the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Paddling / Boating / Backcountry Hiking
Another fun thing to do at Voyageurs National Park is to bring a canoe, kayak, paddleboard or motorboat, or rent one from one of the area retailers (the park does not rent these). Explore Black Bay, paddle or cruise around Rainy Lake, visit a day-use site or campsite for a picnic (unoccupied campsites can be used by anyone between 12pm and 3pm, without a reservation), fish from the boat, or all of the above. 1-6 hours.
If you’re bringing or renting a boat, you can use it to reach the trailhead for a scenic hike along the Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail. This backcountry trailhead is located about a mile from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center and is accessible only by water. Once there, hike through the forest on a moderately difficult trail 1.2 miles (round-trip) to an active beaver pond, quite an amazing experience. 2-3 hours.
NPS Boat Tours
A highlight of many visitors’ trips to Voyageurs is taking an NPS boat tour with park rangers and staff. Learn about Rainy Lake’s cultural and natural history, locate historic gold mines and fish camps, and view bald eagles and other wildlife. Boat tours departing from Rainy Lake Visitor Center that fit into a half-day itinerary include the Grand Tour (morning, 2.5 hours) and the Little American Island Tour (afternoon, 2 hours). Prices vary by tour.
Guided Fishing or Sightseeing Tour
There are quite a few outfitters and resorts that provide services on the lakes in Voyageurs National Park, offering boat / canoe / kayak rentals, dockhand services, water taxis and shuttles, and guided fishing tours, and sightseeing tours.
- More things to do at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center:
- Fish from a fishing pier or shore
- Hang out by the lake at one of the benches (you can fish from there, too)
- Watch for beaver, otter, and other wildlife that are common in Black Bay
- Use the public boat launch or canoe / kayak launch
Two Visitor Centers in Half a Day
The smaller Voyageurs National Park visitor centers at Ash River and Kabetogama Lake are located relatively close together on Kabetogama Lake. You can easily see both of them in half a day with plenty of time left over for a hike and picnic lunch. Both facilities have a public boat launch as well as separate paddle access, and you can get a Voyageurs National Park passport stamp and Junior Ranger badge at either location. Both centers are open seasonally, from late May through late September. The driving time between them is about 25-30 minutes.
If you time it right, in half a day you could see both visitor centers, take a short scenic drive with overlooks, take a short hike or ranger-led boat tour, and still have time to eat lunch at one of the picnic tables. Use the estimated times and activity descriptions below to plan your perfect half-day itinerary at these two Voyageurs National Park visitor centers.
Paddling / Boating
The Ash River and Kabetogama Lake visitor centers offer fantastic opportunities for exploring Kabetogama Lake and its many islands, and come complete with public boat launches and separate canoe / kayak access. Bring your own boat, or rent one from one of the area outfitters. There are day-use sites near both visitor centers, including some awesome island picnic areas. 2-6 hours.
Picnic Areas
There are so many things to do at Voyageurs National Park it can be hard to choose among them, especially if your time is limited. When planning your itinerary, though, don’t forget to make time to eat. Bring lunch or dinner and enjoy one of the picnic tables near the visitor centers, some of which have fire rings and grills. 30 to 90 minutes.
Ash River Visitor Center
The Ash River Visitor Center is located in the historic Meadview Lodge on Kabetogama Lake. The preserved log building houses a staffed information desk, kids’ corner, bookstore, and small theater showing the 12-minute official park video. The center has a public boat launch as well as separate paddle access, and Voyageurs National Park passport stamp and Junior Ranger badge are available here. 15 to 45 minutes.
Ranger Programs
The Telescope and Constellation Tour, part of Voyageurs Dark Sky Programs, is a ranger-led program that happens at 10pm on selected evenings at the Voyageurs Forest Overlook off Meadwood Road. Contact the visitor center to inquire about the current schedule. 1 hour.
Scenic Drive
On your way to the Ash River Visitor Center, turn north on Meadwood Road from County Road 129 (Ash River Trail) and enjoy the closest thing you’ll find to a scenic park road in Voyageurs National Park. The drive is relatively short at just over 3 miles, but along the way are 3 scenic overlooks, each accessed by a short (0.4 mile) trail: Voyageurs Forest Overlook, Beaver Pond Overlook, and Kabetogama Lake Overlook. 15-20 minutes roundtrip for scenic drive, 10-30 minutes per overlook.
Hiking Trails
Once you’ve finished at the visitor center, hike the Sullivan Bay Trail, an easy trek along an old road through the forest, ending with a scenic view overlooking Sullivan Bay. At the trail’s turnaround point there is a picnic table and fire ring, perfect for a mid-hike meal beside the lake. The 1.5 mile roundtrip hike features ancient exposed rock over 2 billion years old. The trailhead is located off Meadwood Road (the park road), 0.9 miles south of the Ash River Visitor Center. 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
If you’d prefer a hike that’s a bit longer, the Blind Ash Bay Trail features boreal forest and Kabetogama Lake views. to a clearing overlooking Kabetogama Lake. The 2.9 mile loop trail begins in the Ash River Visitor Center upper parking lot. 1 to 3 hours.
Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center
The Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center features interpretive cultural and historical exhibits, a bookstore, kids’ activity table, and staffed information desk. There is a small theater where you can view the Voyageurs National Park movie. The center has a public boat launch as well as a separate access area for canoes and kayaks. You can also get your Voyageurs National Park passport stamp and Junior Ranger badges here. 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Hiking Trails
The Echo Bay Trail is an easy, 2.5 mile loop through a mix of boreal conifer (spruce, fir, pine) and northern hardwood deciduous (aspen, birch, ash, maple) forest. See beaver-created wetlands, rock outcrops, and maybe some of the area’s famous birds or other wildlife. To reach the trailhead, travel north on Gamma Road (County Road 122) approximately 2 miles from the visitor center.
NPS Boat Tours
National Park Service ranger-led boat tours are available at the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center. Reserve tickets online in advance or at the visitor center for same-day tickets (if seats are still available).
Full day
What can you do in one day in Voyageurs National Park? If you’ve got a full day to spend at Voyageurs National Park, you can add even more activities to your itinerary. Simply mix and match the ones above, or see below for more ideas. Here’s just one example of what you can do in one day at Voyageurs National Park:
- Tour the visitor center(s) and watch the park movie (1 hour)
- Take a walk or hike (2 hours)
- Eat lunch at a picnic area (30 minutes)
- Spend the afternoon paddling, backcountry hiking, or on a boat tour (4 hours)
- Take a scenic drive or attend a ranger-led program (30 minutes)
And here are some other things to see and do in one day at Voyageurs National Park:
- Visit all 3 visitor centers. Start at the visitor center closest to you and work your way to the farthest – or do the opposite, it’s your day! See visitor center ideas and activities in the Half day itineraries section above.
- Go fishing. The lakes in Voyageurs National Park are known as some of the best multi-species fishing lakes in the world. Walleye, crappie, pike, bass, and perch are the most abundant species – and their are definitely trophy fish among them in the lakes of Voyageurs. There are numerous places near the visitor centers to fish: docks, fishing piers, benches, or along the shore. You can also bring or rent a canoe, kayak, or boat. Guided fishing tours are available from local outfitters.
- Take a longer boat tour. One of the most interesting and unique things to do when visiting Voyageurs National Park is to take one of the boat tours the park offers. A full day allows the opportunity for a longer tour like the one to Kettle Falls. You could also take two separate, shorter tours. The boat tours aren’t offered every day. You can check the schedule and make reservations on Recreation.gov. Day-of reservations are also available in the Rainy Lake and Kabetogoma Lake visitor centers if there are still seats available.
- Take all day to paddle around and explore. A canoe or kayak is a fantastic way to get into some of the smaller bays and channels in the park’s lakes for some quiet solitude. For a picnic lunch, there are day-use areas as well as camp sites which you can use without reservations from 12-3pm if they’re unoccupied. Many of these are located on islands.
- Take a long hike or more short hikes. A full day at Voyageurs offers the opportunity to see more of the park’s beautiful northern hardwood and boreal conifer forest. You could take two or more of the short hikes listed in the Half day section above, or hike part of a longer trail like the Kab-Ash Trail. The ultimate hiking experience at Voyageurs National Park, however, is a backcountry hike.
More about hiking: A backcountry hiking trail at Voyageurs National Park means that the trailhead can only be accessed by water. You can rent or bring a boat, canoe, or kayak. You can also hire a water taxi service to take you to the farther trails, although that can get a bit pricey for a one-day excursion. Here are some ideas for backcountry hikes:
- Locator Lake Trail: this trailhead is over 5 miles by boat from the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center so you’ll need to factor that in if you’re planning to paddle there. The 2.1 mile trail winds north from Kabetogama Lake across the peninsula to Locator Lake, a true wilderness lake inhabited by wolves, bears, moose, bald eagles and mountain lions. Not to mention a few loons!
- Anderson Bay Trail / Cruiser Lake Trail: to access these trails in one day, you’re going to need access to a motor boat. Start the Cruiser Lake Trail at either Anderson Bay on Rainy Lake or Lost Bay on Kabetogama Lake. These trails are remote, rugged, and are full of one-of-a-kind wilderness opportunities. The Cruiser Trail is 8 miles one-way; the Anderson Bay Loop Trail is 2.5 miles.
Multi-day
What can you do in Voyageurs National Park if you have more than one day? When you visit Voyageurs for 2, 3, or more days, there are even more opportunities for adventure and exploration. Some suggestions include camping, backpacking, or a stay at the only lodging inside the park. A multi-day trip to Voyageurs offers a chance to get to know the parka bit more intimately, with more time (and an endless number of places) to find a bit of quiet solitude.
To plan a multi-day trip to Voyageurs, use the activities and ideas from the half day and full day itineraries above. We’ve also added a few new suggestions below.
If you are able to camp at Voyageurs National Park, the front-country and back-country campsites are simply sublime. You need a boat to get to both types of sites, with back-country sites requiring an additional hike to reach them. Both site types are quite dispersed from other sites and offer abundant solitude, with many front-country sites located on their own private islands.
If you possibly can, we recommend a stay at the historic Kettle Falls Hotel. It’s the only lodging available inside Voyageurs National Park and it’s honestly like no other place you’ve ever been. It’s small and fills up fast, so book early. The best way to get a reservation is to call the hotel directly. Like most locations in the park other than the visitor centers, you need a boat to get there.
Backpack the Kab-Ash: The Kab-Ash trail has two campsites that you can reserve on Recreation.gov. You can backpack into these primitive sites equipped with fire rings and cleared areas for tents, no boat required.
Rent a houseboat: Want to tour one of the lakes in style, comfort, and at your own pace? Rent a houseboat and have a great time while supporting local businesses.
Even with this exhaustive list, we still haven’t covered all the things there are to see and do at Voyageurs National Park. It’s truly a natural resource treasure, and if you haven’t been there yet, you should definitely consider going. Visit the park website for more activity ideas, or check out the other guides in our series on Voyageurs National Park:
