Visitors to Voyageurs National Park no longer have to take their chances to secure a great campsite. The park has opened up the first phase of a new reservation system, with plans to make all sites in the park reservable by next year.
The first phase includes boats and canoes available to rent on lakes on the Kabetogama Peninsula, all campsites on the interior lakes, and 34 campsites on the park’s four major lakes. Park staff will monitor the program during this phase and by next year, all camping will require reservations.
The reservation system is the outcome of a three-year public process to discuss the idea. It included several public meetings, comment periods, publicity and other engagement. “During civic engagement, a lot of people requested we phase this process over a couple years so that visitors would become accustomed to the process. We fully agree with their input,” Voyageurs Superintendent Mike Ward stated in the park’s news release.
Reservation fees will range from $16 per night for a small campsite with no constructed tent pads to $24 for large campsites. All fees will go into the park budget. They were approved despite a federal moratorium on new or modified fees.
For more details, including a list of what sites are available to reserve this year, visit this link.
Reservations can be made on www.recreation.gov, calling 1-877-444-6777, or making same-day reservations at kiosks located in park visitors centers.