Voyageurs Outfitters

We enjoyed our tour with Merritt. Finding the boat was difficult- their dock is to the right of the Thunderbird Lodge and there was no signage. That could be improved. The tour itself was interesting and informative. Merritt did a good job combining his history with the park history. It was quite warm the day we went so driving faster may have made it better. He supplied drinks and snacks which were appreciated. I would go again and recommend to someone else to go.

We did the “2-hour Grand Boat Tour” with Voyageur Outfitters and had a great time! It was both informative and fun — a perfect way to experience some of the beauty of Voyageurs National Park from the water. Eagles and historical places and facts aplenty! Captain Tim made the trip even better with his mix of knowledge and humor. He shared interesting facts about the area and its history, and his laid-back, friendly style made everyone feel welcome. He really seems to enjoy what he does! Highly recommend this tour if you’re visiting the area. It’s a relaxing, scenic ride with just the right amount of storytelling, history, and fun. Yes, $120 per person feels very high, but that’s going rate it seems. Cancellation policies are very unforgiving as well.

Incredible experience! Booked a tour very late the night prior and were able to get us in no problem. Merritt, the boat captain, was incredibly kind and interesting. Very personable, not just reading from a script, and lots of unique stories about all the different locations. Makes me want to come back and stay at the lodge. Would absolutely recommend this to anybody interested in a tour of the lake.

We did a 2 hour small group tour and it was wonderful. What a perfect way to experience Voyageurs! Captain Donn was highly skilled, knowledgeable, and fun. We saw an entire family of bald eagles: 2 babies near the nest and each parent on a nearby island. The company was very accommodating as we ended up booking less than 24 hours in advance due to trying to avoid storms in the area. They got us a time slot that worked and a perfect tour!

We had the pleasure of taking our tour with Captain Merritt. We had planned for the forecasted rain and dressed in layers since the high was mid 50's and we'd be out on the water. The boat was covered from the weather which reduced the intermittent rain as a factor. Merritt gave us a great tour of Voyageurs with a lot of local insights and history. The rocky islands were beautiful and the ride was smooth. It is the best way to see Voyageurs which is made up of many islands. If we had a more favorable weather forecast, we would have done the self guided kayak tour with them. But the weather didn't put a damper on our Voyageurs experience, it worked out to be a beautiful and memorable experience.

Our guide Merritt was amazing - informative, prompt & friendly! We did the full day tour to Kettle Falls. He knew everything about Voyageur National Park and the area. Filled us in on the history and we got to see the historical sites. Note that you are on the water the majority of the time. They stop at Kettle Falls and a fish camp. You can request to stop at Anderson Bay to hike but need to request ahead since something else will get cut short.

We did the two-hour boat tour of Rainy Lake on 6-10-25. Our Captain, Tim, called the day before to confirm the reservation, let us know what to bring, etc. He was on-time to pick up our group; he was very friendly, knowledgeable, and personable. It was nice having someone who grew up in the area to share the stories and facts of the area. He also shared recommendations for local dining and shopping which we took advantage of the following day and he was spot on! Thanks Tim!

While the Rainy Lake Visitors Center is well worth a stop, no exploration of Voyageurs National Park is complete without a water experience since 39% of the park is water. Voyageurs Outfitters is the best company to complete your park tour. We took the 2 hour small boat tour with Captain Bobby and crewman / owner Mason who guided us out into the Inner Channel where we saw loons, geese, a bald eagle’s nest including a bald eagle, as well as historic Harry Oveson Fish Camp. The boat ride included drinks, snacks, guided commentary and excellent well maintained equipment. The two hour tour was worth every penny. If you take it, you’ll be very glad you did!