What to Do in Voyageurs National Park with Kids
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Voyageurs National Park is unlike any other. The views are amazing from everywhere.
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The kids riding the boat out to Little America island
If you’re looking for what to do in Voyageurs National Park with kids (or without!), you’re in the right place. This park is home to over 900 islands and spans a watery stretch along the U.S.-Canadian border. The National Park is made up of 84,000 acres of water and 655 miles of undeveloped shoreline. It is home to 4 major lakes; Sand Point Lake, Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, and Namakan Lake. Voyageurs was designated a National Park on April 8, 1975. Voyageurs National Park is visited by approximately 233,000 people annually and is made up of about 218,200 acres of protected land. Whether you are traveling with kids or without, you’ll find so many things to do in Voyagers National Park.
Every visitor should make a stop at one of the three Voyageurs National Park visitors centers to get a park map, get a weather update, info about the park’s land and water conditions, and possible closures. You can also visit HERE to see up-to-date closures and weather. The Rainy Lake Visitor Center is open year-round. Both the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center and Ash River Visitor Centers are open for the summer season only. (May - September) Park Rangers are also a wonderful resource for finding out the parks more off the beaten path spots.
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When to Visit Voyageurs National Park
Weather is something major to consider when visiting Voyagers National Park. Summertime is Voyageurs’ busiest and warmest season, but the temperatures are mild. Late May to early September is arguably the best time to visit Voyageurs National Park. This time of year the park is fully open; trails, visitor centers, Ranger-led activities, etc. Between these months you’ll be able to get the full outdoor experience.
We visited in July in the middle of peak season. The park was not crowded at all. We easily secured a ranger-led tour, stayed in a cabin along the water, and barely saw anyone else on the trails. The temperature was mild during the day and cool in the early morning and evening. Summertime does mean mosquitos though, so bring the bug spray!
Winter is very cold but absolutely gorgeous. It snows heavily in Voyageurs and the lakes freeze over. If you visit in winter, be prepared with snowshoes, lots of layers, crampons for icy conditions, tire chains for the snow, etc. Also, come prepared to witness the absolute beauty of the wildlife in winter — and possibly see the Northern Lights!
The average annual weather for Theodore Roosevelt NP — reference COURTESY of google.com
How to get to Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park is absolutely amazing, but it is not on the way to anywhere. For this park, expect to drive a few hours north off of any main highway. It is worth every single mile you drive. I promise.
Obligatory national park sign photo!
Minneapolis to Voyageurs National park is 4 hours, 16 minutes
How far is Voyageurs National Park from Fargo? 4 hours, 40 minutes
Duluth to Voyageurs National Park is 2 hours, 30 minutes
Chicago to Voyageurs park is 9 hours, 50 minutes
Winnipeg, Canada to Voyageurs National park is 4 hours, 45 minutes
Isle Royale National Park to Voyageurs National Park is about 3 and half hours — this is too Grand Marais, MN where you will need to catch the boat!
Voyageurs National Park is located along the United States and Canadian borders. The park is located along US-53 which gives access to Ash River and Kabetogama Visitor Centers. Rainy Lake Visitor Center is most easily accessible International Falls which is a small town directly on the USA/Canada border. There is a Wal-Mart here to stock up on essentials!
READ NEXT: Theodore Roosevelt National Park with Kids
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How Much Does it Cost to Get into Voyageurs National Park?
Ash River National park Visitor Center
Entrance Fee
There is no fee to visit Voyageurs National Park!
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Where to Stay in Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park Lodges:
We stayed at sandy point lodge which is located on lake kabetogama — i highly reccomend staying here!
Kettle Falls Hotel:
This unique National Park hotel is located on the far Eastern side of the Kabetogama peninsula. It is only accessible by watercraft or floatplane during the summer months. In the winter you can also get to the hotel by snowmobile. Kettle Falls offers hotel-style rooms and different Villa options for guests.
Kettle Falls has an array of amenities for guests including A Trading Post, Bar/Saloon, On-site Restaurant, Boat Portage, 16' and 18' Fishing Boats for rent, Boat Docking, Canoes & Kayaks, Volleyball, a pool, swimming areas, and wi-fi on the property.
When booking, ask about the round-trip boat shuttle service to make your trip easier!
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The views from the shore of kabetogama lake from the sandy point lodge are incredible
Voyageurs National Park Campgrounds:
There are 147 front country and 14 backcountry reservable campgrounds located inside Voyageurs National Park. However, every single campsite is only accessible by water and requires a permit. This means you can not solely hike or drive into the campsite. **In winter, it could be possible to walk to a site on the frozen lakes.
Canoes and boats can be rented for the day on many of the backcountry lakes at Voyageurs National Park. Each boat costs $12 for the day, plus a $10 reservation fee.
There are 161 reservable campsites in voyaguers!
The Playground at sandy point lodge!
the view of the lake from our dining room table! I loved this place so much.
Where to Stay Outside of Voyageurs National Park
We stayed for 4 nights at Sandy Point Lodge and enjoyed this view from our cabin’s porch
Voyageurs National Park has many options for staying outside the park, but outside of the park doesn’t mean what you think. We spent 4 nights at Sandy Point Lodge and the lodge is located directly on Kabetogama Lake which is the National Park! The property is privately owned but still gives direct access to the park.
Recommended Hotel Near Voyageurs National Park:
Sandy Point Lodge: This property is amazing. It is located directly on Kabetogama Lake with direct access to Voyageurs National Park waters. Here you can stay in a hotel-style room or rent your own 2-bedroom cabin. The Lodge offers a beachfront for play, a very nice playground for kids, a volleyball court, a frisbee golf area, on-property boat rentals, and they even offer boat slips for guests. Sandy Point also offers its guests free Kayak and Canoe rentals to explore the nearby islands! Bring your fishing poles and fish right off of the lodge’s dock! My kids loved this place. Every night we sat in front of our lakeside cabin cooking smores over our campfire. I watched the sunrise over the lake every morning. I will be staying here again. If you can, visit in summer AND in winter! In winter, you can enjoy ice fishing, snowmobiling, skiing, and so much more!
Recommended Campground Near Voyageurs National Park:
Campgrounds Near Voyageurs: Voyageurs National Park is spread out and with 4 separate lakes, there are many places to find a great campsite. I’ve linked to several suggested campgrounds which are all accessible by land.
Other Recommended Hotels in International Falls, Minnesota:
If you prefer to stay in hotels, use the map below to find a hotel that fits your family size and budget.
the kids standing at the overlook along blind ash bay trail
What to do in Voyageurs National Park with Kids
The kids on the boat to little America island
1) Hike
Voyageurs National Park has hiking for any ability, but a lot of its trails are located on the islands and are only accessible by boat. All of the hikes listed below are accessible by land — meaning you can drive and park at the trailhead. If you are looking for hikes to do out on the islands, click HERE. When planning your Voyageurs National Park itinerary, make sure at least a couple hikes are on the plan!
Best Hikes for Toddlers in Voyageurs National Park
The Kids hiking in voyageurs national park
Ethno Botanical Garden Trail: (Rainy Lake) This very easy 0.25-mile nature trail is accessible! This trail takes hikers to a replica Ojibwe encampment and teaches all about the plants the tribe used.
Sulivan Bay Trail: (Ash River) This easy 1.5-mile trail takes hikers down a wooded path where it opens up with rewarding views of Sulivan Bay!
Oberholtzer Trail: (Rainy Lake) This easy 1.7-mile trail takes hikers through forest lands and wetlands and out to two different overlooks of the lakes!
Voyageurs Forest Overlook: (Ash River) This easy 0.5-mile loop is a perfectly short hike through the woods!
Kabetogama Lake Overlook: (Ash River) This very easy 0.2-mile trail takes hikers to a pretty overlook of the lake!
Beaver Pond Overlook: (Ash River) I SO wish we had done this!! This easy 0.2-mile trail takes hikers to overlook beaver pond. Go at dusk or dawn to have a very good chance to see Beavers in the wild!
i loved how you could see so many islands from the overlook along blind ash bay trail
Best Hikes for Kids in Voyageurs National Park:
The kids hiking along the blind ash bay trail
Blind Ash Bay Trail: (Ash River) This moderate 0.9-mile nature trail does have a steep incline. However, this trail gets hikers up close with wildlife and the rocks of the badlands.
Echo Bay Trail: (Kabetogama) This easy 2.5-mile loop trail takes hikers through the woods and past several rocky outcrops to see the water.
Rainy Lake Recreation Trail: (Rainy Lake) This easy 1.75-mile trail leads hikers along the park roads, through the woods, and past several rock outcrops. Experience a variety of outdoor habitats on this trail!
we searched for moose and beaver at this pond! NO LUCK!
Best Hikes for Teenagers in Voyageurs National Park:
Dont forget to check out the lake overlooks near ash river visitor center
Kab-Ash Trail: This difficult 27.9 mile trail connects the Kabetogama and Ash River communities. Hikers will go through backcountry forests and wetlands on this extensive system of interconnected trails.
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Latham fishing on kabetogama lake
2) Fishing
Charletta holding up the sauger she caught!
If there is one main “must do” in Voyageurs National Park it is to get out on the water and go fishing!
Voyageurs National Park has 30 named lakes inside of its borders. The park is made up of 341 square miles of aquatic habitats! There are also 56 fish species living in these waters.
Anglers flock to Rainy, Kabetogama, and Namakan lakes because they are the largest lakes in the area. In these lakes, you can find Walleye, Sauger, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and most notably, the Lake Sturgeon.
You can hire a fishing guide, rent a boat, or bring your own boat! We were lucky enough to make friends with our cabin neighbors who took us out fishing on their boat. It was my absolute favorite day in the park!
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A Youth Sized Fishing Pole is a MUST for Voyageurs National Park --- This is one we like!
3) Ranger Led Tour
Take a ranger-led tour! Voyageurs National Park is one of a handful of National Parks that is mainly water. To get the full immersive experience, consider taking one of these amazing Ranger Led tours. We took the Little American Island tour and while the island itself was cool, it was the boating on the lake that won us all over. Being out among the 900 islands, being able to see Canada, and seeing the wildlife from the water was incredible.
The view of the little american island sign from the nps boat
All tours can be booked online at recreation.gov (links and descriptions below):
Little American Island Tour: “This [90 minute] tour takes you to Little American Island where you may depart from the tour boat with a park ranger to catch glimpses of the area's mining past on a 1/4 mile (accessible) walk.” -NPS
Ellsworth Rock Gardens Cruise: “On this tour, cruise across Kabetogama Lake to the Ellsworth Rock Gardens. At the gardens, join a park ranger for a 1/4 mile tour of the unique rock sculptures, building remnants, and winding paths. The lower portion of the tour is accessible.” -NPS
Rainy Lake Cruise: “Discover the wonders and beauty of Voyageurs National Park. The captain will navigate Rainy Lake in search of abandoned gold mines, abundant wildlife, and a historic commercial fish camp.” -NPS
Kettle Falls Cruise (Kabetogama Lake): “The Kettle Falls Tour boards at the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center - 9940 Cedar Lane, Kabetogama, MN, 56669. Voyage to the Historic Kettle Falls Hotel. This tour takes you on a cultural and natural history tour of the park. Spend 2 hours aboard the Amik tour boat getting to the hotel. Upon arrival, spend 2 hours on land dining, and touring the site and nearby dam. Finally, enjoy a 1.5-hour cruise on your return route.” -NPS
Kettle Falls Cruise (Rainy Lake): “Voyage to the Historic Kettle Falls Hotel. This tour takes you on a cultural and natural history tour of the park. Spend 2.5 hours aboard the Voyageur getting to the hotel. Once at the hotel, spend 2 hours on land dining and touring the site and nearby dam. Finally, enjoy a 2 hours cruise on your return route.” -NPS
Latham throwing rocks in the water on little american island
4) Stargazing
Half the park is after dark! Did you know that Voyageurs National Park is an EXCELLENT place to view the stars? Did you know that sometimes you can even see the Northern Lights from this park? You can!
The most popular spots to view the stars inside the park are Beaver Pond and Kettle Falls Dam, but as long as you have a clear view of the night sky from a shoreline or clearing you will be good. The best time to view the stars is on moonless nights, but that does not mean that you can’t see millions of stars on a regular clear night.
Don't forget to bring a star chart, astronomy binoculars (or a telescope), a chair, and a red flashlight!
I watched the sunrise every single morning from my cabins porch at sandy point lodge. it was the dreamiest.
7) Voyageurs Junior Ranger Program
The newest voyageur national park junior rangers
It’s easy to become a Junior Ranger in Voyageurs!
Pick up one of the Junior Ranger books from any of the Visitor Centers. Then, head out to explore the park’s ecology, animals, and history! Once the book is complete, head back to a visitor center where a park ranger will check your work in the booklet, give the oath, and then present the coveted Junior Ranger Badge!
Check out the Junior Ranger page to learn more!
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8) Winter in Voyaguers
here you can see otter tracks on the frozen lake in voyaguers in winter!
The weather in the winter in Voyageurs can be brutal. The temperatures drop well below 0 degrees. However, this time of year is also a magical season for the park.
What can you do in winter in Voyageurs National Park? Well, for starters the lakes freeze completely. Yes! Completely! This means you can snowmobile, ski, walk, and fish from the TOP of the lake. Our hosts at Sandy Point Lodge showed us photos of deer and wolves roaming across the frozen lake tops.
I have to admit, summer was an absolute dream in Voyageurs, but I am so hoping I get to go back in the middle of deep winter to see the magic.
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Voyageurs National Park is the only National Park located in Minnesota. People come from all over the world to experience the quiet, gorgeous waters of these lakes. With endless fishing, boating, and epic wildlife - this park can not be missed. No matter whether you camp inside the park or stay nearby, Voyageurs National Park is the perfect adventure for all ages.
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