Voyageurs National Park Planning & Tips

Carry a good map
Unless you're at a resort with wireless Internet and a good signal, don't rely on your cell phone or GPS to work. Rental boats are equipped with radios for emergencies, but the best advice is to use a good map, make sure someone knows where you're headed, and to be smart about weather.

Outdoor smarts
If there's even a chance of lightening, get off the water and find shelter immediately. Do not pitch tents on top of exposed tree roots in case the tree is struck.

Load up with sunscreen to prevent burns even on deceptively cloudy days or cover up with light, breathable layers, which also helps with mosquitoes and biting midges. Several layers, including moisture-wicking materials, are essential for winter visits.

While not always a concern on remote islands, this is black bear territory. That means locking food in vehicles (if in state forest campgrounds), in metal food lockers or suspended 10 feet high in trees. Consult with local rangers for more advice.

Further Afield
Families can take a day trip to Fort Frances, Canada, from International Falls' International Bridge and border crossing (or go by boat while in the park). Adults do need passports or passport cards, and kids need birth certificates. Double check current regulations before traveling.

The Art of Smart Timing
Like anywhere in Minnesota's Land of 10,000 Lakes, July and August are the peak months for tourism. Tick (and usually black fly) season is over, the days are warm, and the lakes inviting and cool. Evenings cool off nicely -- perfect for a crackling campfire. The days also shorten, so kids don't have to stay up until 10 p.m. to glimpse the stars, a full moon across the water and the possibility of spectacular northern lights.

Reservations are recommended for resorts, the Kettle Falls Hotel and houseboats, but overall crowding isn't a problem near this remote park.

While July and August are best for camping and swimming, September also is attractive. The boreal forest -- mostly evergreens and birch -- isn't as colorful as a deciduous forest, but the gold leaves and deep greens look beautiful against fall's crisp blue skies and shimmering lakes. It's also a great time to hear loons as they gather for migration. Houseboating and resorts are the best option for fall, as temperatures drop rapidly at night. January through March are the best months for winter visits.

Getting There
It's a five-hour drive from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport or a three-hour drive from the airport in Duluth. There also are smaller airports at Hibbing and International Falls to truly shorten the drive, but timing can be tricky. Car rentals can be arranged at airports.

Getting Around
There is no public transportation to the park. A vehicle is essential to reach the park. Once there, it can be swapped for houseboats, canoes, kayaks or boats. Contact the chambers of commerce near your park entrance for watercraft rental information.

Off the Radar
It's a 30-mile detour south of the park's Crane Lake Visitor Center to see the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary, but worth the drive for the unique opportunity to see black bears in the wild. Volunteers take visitors by bus into the woods each evening Tuesday through Sunday to watch the bears from observation platforms. The bears amble between feeding stations scattered below or playfully (sometimes shyly) climb trees. The best month to go is August when they're bulking up for winter. Admission is $3 for kids 6-17 or $7 for adults.

Visitors Bureaus
Voyageurs National Park
3131 Highway 53, International Falls, MN, 218-283-6600
Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau
301 Second Avenue, International Falls, MN, 800-325-5766
Kabetogama Tourism Bureau
9903 Gamma Road, Kabetogama, MN, 800-524-9085
Ash River Trail Tourism Bureau
10261 Ash River Trail, Orr, MN, 800-950-2061
Crane Lake Visitor and Tourism Bureau
7238 Handberg Road, Crane Lake, MN, 800-362-7405