FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Around FAQ

A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.

Add to trip View park guide

Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.

FAQ Details

Where is Voyageurs National Park? The park is located on the border between the U.S. and Canada, in the lake region of Northern Minnesota. The park is about five hours from the Twin Cities, and about three hours from Duluth. What's so unique about this park? The park combines 84,000 acres of water with 134,056 acres of glacially-carved boreal forests, which makes for a diverse array of activities and experiences. The park's northern border is the U.S.-Canada border, and links up with part of the Intercontinental Waterway, an important trade route from the 1700 and 1800s. The park is rife with history from Native American culture to the fur trappers of the 1800s, and also boasts an important slice of geological history. Some of the oldest exposed rock in the world exists here, carved up by the glacier that used to cover this area. There is amazing wildlife viewing here, especially an indigenous population of Eastern Timber Wolf, one of only two in national parks in the continental U.S. What can I do in the park? The park has over 52 miles of hiking trails, 110 miles of snowmobile trails, seven miles of designated cross-country ski trails, limitless kayaking, canoeing and fishing, 290 campsites, day use sites and houseboat sites and a myriad of historical points of interest. Between boating, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, there is enough to occupy a family for several days. Are there any permits or fees to get in to the park? Day use is free, no permit required. Reservations and permits are required for campsites. Where can I camp in the park? There are close to 200 campsites in the park which are available for reservation. If I don't want to camp, where can I stay? There are a number of lodges and resorts that are privately owned within the park, as well as in gateway communities nearby. Where do I leave my car while I am in the park? All three visitor centers have parking lots where you can leave your car overnight for free. How do I navigate around the lake? The lakes are marked with buouys that define commonly used channels. The buoys are also marked on navigational charts. How do I get to the Kettle Falls Hotel? There are no roads to the hotel. Either take a tour cruise, rent a boat, or take a charter plane to get there. Are there sandy beaches? Many of the developed day-use areas have beaches. If the landing area is sand, the park map will indicate so. Can I cut firewood? You are only allowed to use dead or downed wood, meaning wood that is dead or that is already fallen on the ground. Do I have to go through customs if I plan to boat to the other side of the border? You do have to go through customs if you plan to land on shore in Canada. Customs is located in Portage Bay on Sandy Point Lake and on Rainy Lake. If you do not plan to touch ashore you only have to get a CANPASS Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC). You can get a RABC in person at certain designated points of entry or in advance, by mail. All visitors are required to report back to US customs upon their return, unless in possession of a Form I-68. How can I charter an air taxi or charter boat to take me around the park? Many private lodges within the park have their own air taxi service. There is also a shuttle that runs from Kettle Falls Hotel and Rainy Lake Visitor Center to the Anderson Bay trailhead on Rainy Lake Peninsula. Once a week during the summer you can also take a shuttle from the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center to the Locator Lake Trailhead.

Difficulty

Open

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

N/A

Region

Learn About the Park