“Hey, bear,” I said after noticing the plump black bear sitting in the middle of the trail bingeing on that season’s abundant wild blueberries. I’m unsure whether she didn’t hear me or wasn’t having it. Either way, she didn’t budge. For a moment, I pondered turning around and re-doing the hike I just finished, hoping she’d eventually move on. “Hey, bear,” I said again with a little more authority this time. Still, nothing as she serenely occupied the entire width of the trail I needed to follow to get back to my vehicle. Fascinated and slightly annoyed, I repeated myself a bit louder while tapping my right foot on the ground. She heard me that time as she looked back, got up, and sauntered off to find a fresh patch of berries to finish her lunch. Needless to say, my first visit to Voyageurs National Park without a boat was a memorable one.
About Voyageurs
This is the last article in my trilogy of stories created to help you plan your visit to Minnesota’s only national park. The first article was an in-depth beginner’s guide to navigating Voyageurs National Park. If you missed it, you’ll want to be sure and read that too as it contains a lot of important information. The second article covered everything you need to know about paddling and camping in Voyageurs. Finally, considering that not everyone who visits Voyageurs will be comfortable navigating its big lakes, this last story covers everything you need to know to visit Voyageurs National Park without a boat.
Why visit Voyageurs (without a boat)
From the visitor centers to the interpretive signage, Voyageurs is undoubtedly a National Park. But that’s where the similarities end. Voyageurs is unique in that it is a water-based park. Of its 218,000 acres, almost 40 percent are water. This includes more than 600 miles of undeveloped shoreline and more than 500 islands. All of the campsites and many sites within the park require the use of watercraft to visit. That means extra considerations when planning a trip to Voyageurs National Park. But if you’re willing to take the extra steps, you’re sure to agree that it’s worth it.
Voyageurs is the perfect representation of up north Minnesota. It’s remote and rugged with breathtaking beauty behind every ridge and peninsula. The wildlife is abundant and you’re sure to hear the call of a loon, spot a bald eagle, and maybe even a moose. The skies are so dark you’ll swear you’re seeing double when you look up at the stars. And you’ll get all of this for the lowest-priced national park admission fee—free!
When to visit Voyageurs
Voyageurs National Park is open year-round and offers a unique experience with each new season. You’ll find the most services during the summer months. And the most quiet and solitude is found during the winter. Fall is another quiet time to visit and offers unforgettable beauty.
If I could only pick one time to visit it would be during September and October. It might be hot, or freezing, or raining, or even snowing. By this time of year, most of the bugs and crowds are long gone. And you can still enjoy many of the activities that are popular during the summer. But that’s just me. The most popular months to visit Voyageurs are June, July, and August.
Where to stay
As I mentioned, all of the campsites within Voyageurs require a watercraft. But don’t let that deter you from visiting Voyageurs if you don’t have a boat. The Kabetogama State Forest has two lovely first-come-first-serve campgrounds: Woodenfrog and Ash River. I stayed at Woodenfrog during my first visit to Voyageurs and enjoyed it so much that it’s on my list of places in Minnesota I long to get back to. There are additional public and private campgrounds in the area that you can explore here.
For an unforgettable experience, check out the Kettle Falls Hotel—the only in-park concession-operated lodging. Located 15 miles from the nearest road and only accessible by water, you can arrange a shuttle with your reservation. Additional lodging can be found in one of the five US gateway communities which you can access at the bottom of this National Park Service (NPS) webpage.
What to do
At first glance, it doesn’t seem like there’s much to do in this water-based park without a boat. But as I dug deeper while preparing for a recent paddling and camping trip, my Voyageurs wish list grew remarkably longer.
Like all National Parks, there are wonderful visitor centers. The Rainy Lake Visitor Center is open year-round with hours that vary seasonally. You can learn more about Rainy Lake and the other two visitor centers here. You’ll also find wonderful hiking trails near each of the visitor centers. You can explore all of your hiking options in Voyageurs here.
Although this article is specifically about visiting Voyageurs without a boat, I encourage you to do your best to get out on the water. These lakes are the crown jewel of Minnesota and shouldn’t be missed. You can find tours and watercraft rentals here. Or join one of the park’s guided boat tours. The park also offers special interpretive programs you can register for here.
Voyageurs is known for its dark skies. If you’ve dreamt of seeing the northern lights, this might be your shot. You can learn more about seeing the northern lights here. And learn about stargazing in Voyageurs here. If night skies are your thing, you won’t want to miss the annual Boreal Stargazing Week and the Voyageurs Star Party.
Learn more
If you haven’t already, check out the two previous articles about visiting Voyageurs National Park. The first is a beginner’s guide to everything you need to know to plan a memorable and safe trip. And while the second article is specifically about paddling and camping in Voyageurs, you’re sure to glean more insider tips.
The Voyageurs Conservancy, the official non-profit partner of Voyageurs National Park has a wonderful website to explore. While you’re there, consider donating to help them continue the wonderful work they do to support Voyageurs National Park.
The NPS Website is so in-depth it can feel overwhelming when you first start exploring the park, but once you dig in, you’re sure to find everything you need. I personally enjoy the depth and breadth of the information they provide, but did my best in these three stories to make it easy for you to find the information you’re most likely to need. If you’d like to explore more, you access the NPS website for Voyageurs here.
Voyageurs National Park is among the least visited National Parks in the lower 48 and in my opinion, that’s a big part of its appeal. Very few parks offer the quiet and solitude found in Voyageurs. I hope this article has inspired you to get out and enjoy Voyageurs even if you don’t have a boat. And you might want to do it soon before the secret gets out.
Holly Scherer is a Minnesota-based writer, photographer, outdoorswoman, and guide. She’s most at home in the great outdoors; camping, hiking, paddling, cycling, and gardening. When she’s not on an adventure, she and her husband live in the Twin Cities where they’re fond of saying, “home is where we store our outdoor gear.”