Voyageurs National Park

National park · Northwest St. Louis

Voyageurs National Park

National park · Northwest St. Louis

Minnesota

Highlights

Destination with multiples lakes & islands plus campsites, hiking trails & ranger-led guided tours.

Minnesota Get directions

nps.gov

@voyageursnps

@travelleisure

"A national park in Minnesota known for its water-based recreation and boreal forests." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s

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@travelleisure

"Voyageurs National Park might be one of America’s least-visited national parks, but don’t let that fool you. This 218,055-acre natural wonder is one of the most incredible destinations in Minnesota (and the country as a whole). Named after the first European settlers to travel through this part of the world, this park near the Canadian border is known for its waterways, its dark, starry skies, and the regular appearance of the aurora borealis. In 2020, DarkSky International even awarded Voyageurs its certification as an International Dark Sky Park." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a freelance writer with over eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. S

Guide to Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota

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@eater

"A tranquil landscape of lakes and islands, where loons replace the din of city sirens. It’s easy to maintain social distance for a few days, considering a third of the 250,000-acre park is water, and most activities involve kayaks, canoes, and fishing." - Matt Kirouac

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An Pham

Google

Beautiful park. I would've liked to have gone on a day that wasn't foggy and plagued by mosquitoes, but the park was gorgeous regardless. Lots to do between the three visitor centers - small trails to hike, pretty overlooks to relax at, and lots to soak in.

Al Wysocki

Google

Let me start this by saying I love National Parks and I have a bucket list to see all of them. My experience with my group a Voyaguers National Park was awful. We hiked the Kab-Ash trail from hwy 129 to the campsite Red Pine H1. The trail was the worst I’ve ever been on and this is my 23rd national park with hundreds of trails. Almost the entire trail was overgrown and some of the boardwalk needs repair. There were about a dozen large and smaller tree blow overs that cover the entire trail and you have to go around them into the woods which is difficult at times if you’re backpacking like we were. What I read was mosquitos die down starting in August. This was not the case, I have never seen so many mosquitoes in my life. I can’t even exaggerate how bad they were. Mosquito nets, gloves, multiple types of bug spray, and layers of clothes didn’t help. When you stopped walking you couldn’t see they were so bad! We didn’t even stay at the campsite one night, we found a bridge where it was tolerable. We left and kayaked the lake which was beautiful! If you’re going to stay. Based on what we experienced, stay along the shore of the lake with an open site, or a house boat. The lake experience is worth it. The interior avoid at all costs!

Asiri Bo

Google

The park is a paradise for boaters, canoeists, and kayakers. Since much of the park is only accessible by water, having a boat or renting one is almost essential. Fishing is another popular activity, with opportunities to catch walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. There are also several hiking trails, though they are relatively short and often require a boat to reach the trailheads. During winter, the park transforms into a snow-covered wonderland, offering snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Camping in Voyageurs is a unique experience due to the park’s water-based nature. Most campsites are accessible only by boat, offering a secluded and peaceful camping experience. The campsites are well-maintained and offer basic amenities like fire rings and tent pads. For those who prefer more comfort, houseboat rentals are a popular option, allowing visitors to explore the park in style. There are also a few lodges and cabins in the surrounding area for those who prefer not to camp.

Michael Barton

Google

Voyageurs is an under visited park with lots to offer. It excels at paddle packing. You must have a boat to really explore the park because no camping is available except on islands in the park's lakes. The park doesn't rent boats so plan to bring your own or rent from a local outfitter. If you do need somewhere cheap or free to sleep nearby, check the overnight parking area at Wooden Frog which also comes with water and vault toilet facilities. There are three different visitors centers each offering something different.

Andrea Sparks

Google

I really enjoyed this National Park, and I'm surprised why it's one of the least visited. There are many trails and lakes, so you can always find something to do or do nothing at all. It truly was relaxing. We stayed on Lake Kabetogama in the campground. There is a restaurant and boat launch close by. I was really hoping to see the northern lights, but no such luck, maybe next time. I definitely recommend it if you want to get away. I almost hate to tell everyone because I enjoyed it not being overcrowded!

Megan Thayer

Google

We spent 2.5 days in the park and were able to see and do quite a bit! We visited all 3 visitor centers! The Rainy Lake visitors center was the biggest and is a must. The Ash river one is pretty small, however our favorite hike was there so you might as well stop by. We hiked the Blind Ash Bay Trail which was about 3 miles with a pretty view at the top. We were able to rent canoes and a pontoon boat for the day. It was fun being able to explore the park on our own! There is not much as far as facilities, so keep that in mind. There aren’t really docks on any of the islands so you’ll have to be creative how to explore those. We unfortunately didn’t get to experience the northern lights but woke up one morning to see the stars. Definitely a must! Overall it’s a beautiful, sprawling park!

Alix Thomsen

Google

Went on the Stars over the Rainy during Labor Day weekend and saw the northern lights! It was an awesome trio and the people at the VC were super nice and helpful. The boat captain was kind and funny, too. The ranger had his last trip this day and he was awesome! BUT we forgot his name by the time we wrote this review...

Y M

Google

A nice National Park to spend the day, I would reccomend touring the park with a boat tour.