Voyageurs is unlike any other national park I have visited, and that is the whole point. Set on the Minnesota and Canada border, it is a park made of water, with four big interconnected lakes and a maze of islands where the main way to get around is by boat. Will and I came up here to film, and once we got out on the water, the place completely won us over.
This is a park you experience differently than a drive-up canyon. You rent a boat, book a tour, or paddle, and you trade overlooks for quiet bays, loon calls, and some of the darkest skies in the country. Here is my honest, ranked list of the best things to do in Voyageurs National Park.
For the full trip plan, including lodging and boat logistics, see our complete Voyageurs National Park guide.
Things to Do at a Glance
| Activity | How You Do It | Time Needed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger boat tour | Guided boat | Half day | First-timers |
| Ellsworth Rock Gardens | Boat access | Half day | Everyone |
| Kettle Falls | Boat access | Half to full day | History |
| Northern lights and stargazing | Self-guided | Evening | Everyone |
| Kabetogama Lake Overlook | Short hike | 1 hour | No-boat visitors |
| Houseboating | Rental | Multi-day | Groups |
1. Take a Ranger-Led Boat Tour
If you do not have your own boat, this is the single best way to experience Voyageurs, and my top recommendation for first-timers. Park rangers run narrated tours to places like Ellsworth Rock Gardens and Kettle Falls, handling the navigation while telling you the human and natural history of the lakes.
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- Logistics: Tours run in summer, generally from late spring through September. Reservations open in spring on recreation.gov and the popular trips sell out, so book early.
- Tip: Bring layers. It can be cool and breezy on the open water even on a warm day.
2. Visit Ellsworth Rock Gardens
On the shore of Kabetogama Lake, Jack Ellsworth spent more than two decades, from the 1940s into the 1960s, turning a granite outcrop into terraced flower beds, winding paths, and quirky stone sculptures. It is one of the most unexpected and personal places in the park system, and reaching it only by boat makes it feel earned.
- Access: Boat only, by ranger tour or your own watercraft. Once ashore it is a short, easy walk through the gardens.
3. Explore Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls is a remote, boat-access spot with a historic hotel built in the early 1900s and a dam where, owing to a quirk of geography, you can look south into Canada. It is steeped in fur-trade and bootlegging lore, and the trip out is half the experience.
- Access: Boat only, often as a longer ranger tour or via private tour boats and outfitters. Plan a half to full day.
- Note: Hotel and dining operations can change year to year, so confirm what is open before you plan around it.
4. Watch for the Northern Lights
Voyageurs is a certified International Dark Sky Park and one of the better places in the lower 48 to catch the aurora. When the solar activity cooperates, the lights reflect off the lakes for a double show. Even without aurora, the Milky Way here is something city dwellers rarely get to see.
- Best time: Fall through spring offers the longest, darkest nights. Check an aurora forecast and find a spot with an open view north over the water.
5. Hike to the Kabetogama Lake Overlook
If you want a real view without a boat, this short hike off the Ash River area climbs to a rocky overlook above Kabetogama Lake and its islands. It is the best land-based view in the park and a great option for a visit when the water is rough or you are short on time.
- Distance and difficulty: A short, moderate climb of about 1.5 miles round trip with some rocky steps. Plan about an hour.
6. Rent a Boat or Go Houseboating
The most immersive way to do Voyageurs is to get your own keel in the water. Motorboat rentals let you explore at your own pace, and houseboats let you sleep out on the lakes at your own island campsite. For groups, a houseboat trip is the classic Voyageurs vacation.
- Logistics: Rent through outfitters near the Rainy Lake, Kabetogama, Ash River, or Crane Lake areas. Houseboats and boat-in campsites need reservations, so book ahead for summer.
7. Paddle the Quiet Bays
Kayaks and canoes are the right tool for the sheltered bays and the smaller interior lakes, where motorboats cannot reach. Paddling is how you find the loons, beaver lodges, and total quiet. The park also runs a North Canoe Voyage program in a big voyageur-style canoe if you want the historical experience.
- Note: The big lakes can get rough fast in wind, so beginners should stick to protected water and watch the forecast.
8. Fish the Border Waters
These lakes are legendary for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and crappie. Fishing is one of the main reasons people come back to Voyageurs year after year, and it works from a boat, the shore, or through the ice in winter.
- Note: You need a Minnesota fishing license, and some border waters have special regulations, so check the rules before you cast.
9. Experience the Park in Winter
When the lakes freeze, Voyageurs transforms. The park plows an ice road on Rainy Lake in suitable conditions, and snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing take over. The long winter nights also make for prime aurora watching.
- Note: Ice road and trail conditions depend on the weather and are never guaranteed, so confirm with the park before you rely on them.
10. Start at a Visitor Center
With so much of the park on the water, the visitor centers at Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, and Ash River are where a good trip starts. Rangers help you match the conditions to the right activity, book tours, and understand the boating and safety basics. Ten minutes here saves a lot of guesswork.
Planning Your Visit to Voyageurs National Park
Getting There
The park sits on the northern Minnesota border near International Falls, roughly 4.5 hours north of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The main access points are the Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Ash River, and Crane Lake areas, each with its own boat ramps and outfitters.
Fees and Reservations
There is no entrance fee for Voyageurs National Park. The costs to plan around are boat rentals, ranger tours, and boat-in campsites. Tour and campsite reservations open in spring and fill up, so book early if you are visiting in summer.
Best Time to Visit
Summer, from roughly late May through September, is prime time for boating, tours, and warm-weather camping, and it is when the visitor centers and tours operate. Fall brings color and fewer bugs. Winter is a different park entirely, built around ice and snow, with excellent aurora odds.
How Many Days Do You Need?
Two days lets you take a boat tour, see Ellsworth or Kettle Falls, and get a night of stargazing. With a houseboat or several days you can really settle into the rhythm of the lakes, which is the best way to know this park.
For lodging, maps, and a full itinerary, see our complete Voyageurs National Park guide.
What to Bring to Voyageurs
Gear we recommend for Voyageurs. Affiliate links support our work at no cost to you.
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More Than Just Parks Film Watch our 8K film of Voyageurs We spent weeks in Voyageurs, one of our favorite public lands destinations, capturing it the way it deserves. Take a few minutes and see it for yourself.
