Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park lies in northern Minnesota and is shared by both the United States and Canada. Known for its abundant waterways and lakes, it is extremely popular with fishermen, kayakers, boaters, and canoeists. It is also one of the more unique (and restrictive) national parks in the United States since much of it is only accessible via boat.

But, despite the strong emphasis on water activities, visitors need not even enter the water in order to derive great enjoyment from this wonderful aquatic paradise.

During the summer, the hiking trails through the forests and along the lakes offer plenty of enjoyment. During the winter, snowshoeing, skiing, and riding snowmobile are the activities of choice.

Due to the variable nature of the aquatic activities (usually, boats can only be rented during peak seasons), this guide focuses exclusively on land activities. However, more information on boat tours/rentals are available in the Planning section should you be fortunate enough to visit during the peak seasons.

And, of course, when you visit, make sure to follow this adventure guide to maximize your time in Voyageurs National Park.

Recommended Duration of Visit

2 days (ideal), 1 day (doable)

Recommendations: Before Arriving

Download an offline map of the entire Voyageurs National Park region, check the weather, prepare all your gear, and finalize nearby lodging.

Recommendations: Adventure Gear

Weather-appropriate clothing, swimwear (during the summer), sun protection, sunglasses, and comfortable hiking shoes, among others.

Click for some interesting facts about Voyageurs National Park

Fewer than 250,000 people visit Voyageurs National Park every year.
‘Voyageur’ is a French word that translates to ‘traveler’ in English.
About 40% of Voyageurs National Park is made of water.
You can actually boat to Canada.

PEAK SEASONS

Summer (June to August) is the peak season.

VOYAGEURS’S STORY

Established in 1975 and named after the voyageurs (French-Canadian fur traders who traveled extensively through the region).

ATTRACTIONS

Black Bay, Kabetogama Lake, and Blind Ash Bay, among others.

Voyageurs Sign, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, United States

LANDSCAPE

341 miles² (883 kilometers²) of lakes, waterways, forests, and wetlands.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Boat tours are the most popular, but they are limited to around summer time (from mid April till September).

PLANNING

Voyageurs National Park is open year-round and there is no entrance fee.

If you are planning to book boat tours/rentals, refer to the official Voyageurs National Park website.

VOYAGEURS’S STORY

Established in 1975 and named after the voyageurs (French-Canadian fur traders who traveled extensively through the region).

PEAK SEASONS

Summer (June to August) is the peak season.

LANDSCAPE

341 miles² (883 kilometers²) of lakes, waterways, forests, and wetlands.

ATTRACTIONS

Black Bay, Kabetogama Lake, and Blind Ash Bay, among others.

PLANNING

Voyageurs National Park is open year-round and there is no entrance fee.

If you are planning to book boat tours/rentals, refer to the official Voyageurs National Park website.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Boat tours are the most popular, but they are limited to around summer time (from mid April till September).

Attractions and Activities

Attractions Overview

Dancing Lights: Due to the low light pollution, Voyageurs National Park is one of the few places in the United States where you can watch the northern lights.
Brighten Up Your Day: You will be taking many photos against a picturesque landscape. Depending on the focus of your camera, the background or your profile might be dark. I recommend focusing on the background and turning on the flash. The flash will brighten your image and the focus will capture the background adequately. Naturally, you can skip the flash if your objective is to draw more attention to the scenery.
Just a Little Longer: The attractions are special in the sense that you can visit them in a relatively short amount of time, or you can easily spend the whole day.

Attractions Overview

Dancing Lights: Due to the low light pollution, Voyageurs National Park is one of the few places in the United States where you can watch the northern lights.
Brighten Up Your Day: You will be taking many photos against a picturesque landscape. Depending on the focus of your camera, the background or your profile might be dark. I recommend focusing on the background and turning on the flash. The flash will brighten your image and the focus will capture the background adequately. Naturally, you can skip the flash if your objective is to draw more attention to the scenery.
Just a Little Longer: The attractions are special in the sense that you can visit them in a relatively short amount of time, or you can easily spend the whole day.

Rainy Lake Visitor Center: The Rainy Lake Visitor isn’t what it used to be. Due to insufficient funding, a small tent is all that remains of this once glorious visitor center.

Just kidding. That’s just an outdoor display. On a more serious note, the Rainy Lake Visitor Center is an absolutely integral point of interest when visiting Voyageurs National Park.

Since Voyageurs National Park is one of the most remote national parks in the contiguous United States, obtaining updates on the status of the national park is absolutely crucial.

As a bonus, the visitor center is the starting point for many nearby hiking trails.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

Black Bay: The incredible Black Bay is one of the highlights of Voyageurs National Park. With scenic views comprised of large luminous lakes and lush forests, it is the quintessential representation of Voyageur National Park, encompassing some of the best features that the park has to offer.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours (depending on whether or not you get in the water).

Even when closed, the center offers vital brochures and maps that complement your Voyageurs experience.

Boat tours should be scheduled days in advance. Refer to the planning section above for more details.

Oberholtzer Trail: Located near Rainy Lake Visitor Center, Oberholtzer Trail is an easy and short trail through the nearby woods. To be perfectly honest, the views aren’t particularly spectacular, but it is a simple and popular warmup trail that cuts through the nearby highway.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

Echo Bay Trail: Echo Bay Trail is a relatively simple trail that overlooks Kabetogama Lake. Although deceptively simple, it offers over 3.5 miles of hiking year-round. Most of the fun comes from the ski trail during the winter.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 3 hours (depending on whether you choose to do some cross-country skiing or snowshoeing).

There will be clear signs throughout that show your location and the nearest overlook and benches.

Skis and snowshoes are actually available for checkout free-of-charge at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center.

Kabetogama Lake: Easily my favorite place in the entire park, Kabetogama Lake features a stunning and serene landscape against a backdrop of a beautiful lake, ideal for lounging and relaxation. Visitors can also hike to the Kabetogama Lake Overlook nearby.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

Blind Ash Bay: Blind Ash Bay offers arguably the best hike in Voyageurs National Park. Connecting to the Kabetogama Lake Overlook trail, it offers approximately 3 miles of hiking (round trip) leading up to the picturesque Blind Ash Bay.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 2 – 3 hours.

While the Kabetogama Visitor Center nearby is relatively humble, the surrounding scenery is quite fantastic.

The Blind Ash Bay trail starts at the Ash River Visitor Center. The visitor center itself may be closed during off-peak seasons.