It’s now possible to walk or bike on a paved trail from the town of International Falls to the Rainy Lake Visitor Center in Voyageurs National Park. A new 1.7-mile trail was officially opened on June 11, linking to an existing trail and providing big opportunities for recreation.
The Rainy Lake Recreation Trail partly follows the south shore of the Rainy River. It was completed in collaboration between the National Park Service, Koochiching County, and Voyageurs National Park Association.
“People are really excited for this trail, and we’re ready for people to be active on it,” Park Ranger Justin Olson said in a release last year. “And if you’re in need of a break, there will be benches, a picnic table, and a bike rack here on the plaza at the visitor center.”
The trail is open for non-motorized activities like biking, walking, running, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
International Falls resident and trails champion Burgess Eberhardt was the ceremonial ribbon-cutter. He praised the project in the International Falls Journal: “It’s a wonderful addition to the park. I think every amenity helps bring people and keep people here. And it gives them something to do in addition to what they may have come up to do, whether boating or hiking.”