Voyageurs National Park

Become a Junior Ranger at Voyageurs National Park

Explore and learn about Voyageurs National Park as you become a Junior Ranger. Ask for a Junior Ranger Book at any Visitor Center. Learn about the park, its history, and animals by completing activities in the book, then explore the park on the water, on trails, or at a ranger program. The stop by the Visitor Center to be sworn in as a Junior Ranger and get your patch and badge.

Go sledding on Sphunge Island

Visitors will find picnic tables and a fire ring at the bottom of the hill near the sledding hill parking lot. The sledding hill consists of a small hill for younger children and a larger hill for older children and adults.

Hike Anderson Bay Loop

This trail takes you through the forest past rocky clearings and beaver ponds to spectacular views of Rainy Lake form the shoreline and Anderson Bay from the top of the cliffs.

Hike Beaver Pond Overlook Trail

A short uphill hike through an aspen and pine forest leads to a rocky outcrop high above a beaver pond. Although beavers are no longer active at this pond, this trail provides great birding opportunities, and the possibility of spotting large wildlife.

Hike Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail

Take a boat one mile from the visitor center and hike this trail through northern pine country to a scenic, active beaver pond.

Hike Blind Ash Bay Trail

This narrow, winding, rocky trail exposes users to the wonders of the boreal forest. This path is great for birding, it is also frequented by deer and other wildlife. From closed in forest to post card worthy views of Kabetogama Lake, this lollipop loop trail has it all. 

Hike Echo Bay Trail

This wide trail showcases the transition between deciduous and boreal forests as you pass through lowlands and rocky outcrops. With views of wetlands created by the engineering genius of the North American Beaver, and dense forest, the trail is popular with birders. Sightings from warblers to woodpeckers and even raptors are common.

Hike Kab-Ash Trail

Please note: The Salmi Road entrance to the Kab-Ash Trail in the Kabetogama community is closed (click to see map). This multi-day trail connects the Kabetogama and Ash River communities through an extensive system of interconnected backcountry forests and wetlands. With multiple trailheads, you can explore smaller sections or plan an adventurous thru-hike with primitive camping opportunities along the way. Difficulty: Strenuous; Hiking Distance: 27.9 miles (44.9-km) one-wa

Hike Kabetogama Lake Overlook Trail

This short handicap accessible trail takes you through a pine forest to a viewpoint where you can sit on a bench and see Kabetogama Lake framed by the trees.

Hike the Cruiser Lake Trail

This rugged trail crosses over the peninsula, up rocky cliffs and down into remote wetland areas. See parts of the park many people do not visit. Start your hike either at Anderson Bay on the Rainy Lake side or Lost Bay on the Kabetogama side. Reserve a backcounrty campsite to turn this into a multi-day trip. Hiking this trail increases your chances of spotting a moose or hearing the howl of a wolf.

Hike the Locator Lake Trail

Please note: The Cranberry Creek Portage Trail into Locator Lake from Rainy Lake has been permanently closed. Explore this two-mile, one-way hike as an afternoon adventure, or use it as a starting point for an exciting backcountry camping experience. It twists its way through forest and wetlands from Kabetogama Lake until it ends on the southern shoreline of Locator Lake - one of a series of unique interior lakes with rental canoes and reservation-only campsites. 

Hike the Mukooda Trail

Accessible only by boat, the Mukooda Trail meanders through a mix of deciduous and coniferous forest and over rocky ridges, scraped bare by ancient glaciers. Take a journey through natural and cultural history on this narrow strip of land separating Sand Point Lake and the glacially carved Mukooda Lake. Look for picturesque views from high ridges and signs of wildlife as you wander through this unique and remote part of the park. 

Hike the Oberholtzer Trail

Wander through deciduous and conifer forest as the trail twists around the edge of a cattail filled wetland and past rocks deposited by ancient glaciers. Look for signs of wildlife as you hike to two different overlooks with marsh and lake views.

Hike the Sullivan Bay Trail

This easy hike along an old forest road leads you through both coniferous and deciduous forest. The trail ends at a viewpoint on Sullivan Bay with a picnic table and fire ring. It treats those who are interested in geology with lots of exposed rock, created by volcanic activity over 2 billion years ago.

Hike Voyageurs Forest Overlook Trail

This short trail takes you through a section of forest revealing the changes in the forest at different elevations. Growing trees have blocked the overlook that used to be at the parking area. There are picnic tables and grills by the parking area.

Paddle through Blind Ash Bay

Explore the rocky shoreline and a calm bay with your canoe or kayak.  From the paddle launch head west one mile between the rocky shore and small islands before turning south to explore Blind Ash Bay. Your total trip length will be about 2.5 miles.

Rainy Lake Recreation Trail

The Rainy Lake Recreation Trail offers visitors a peaceful experience as it meanders along the park road, into the woods, and around rock outcrops. This paved trail is a great option for leashed pets, bicyclists, walkers, runners, and snowshoers to take in the views of forest, lake, and marsh scenery. It is a non-strenuous, accessible trail that requires about 1.5 hours round trip to complete.

Recreational Fishing in Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park has many options for the aspiring or experienced angler.

Ski the Echo Bay Trail

Tucked amid the community of Kabetogama, the Echo Bay Ski Trail offers novice skiers another tracked ski trail.

Snowshoe the Oberholtzer Trail

Grab a pair of snowshoes and experience the 1.7 mile round-trip Oberholtzer Trail.

Stargazing at Voyageurs National Park

Come see the night skies at Voyageurs National Park. We have been recognized as an International Dark Sky Park because of the quality of our night skies and our commitment to protecting the sky form light pollution. The best places to view the night sky at Voyageurs are the Voyageurs Forest Overlook parking area, Kettle Falls Dam, and the Beaver Pond Overlook. If you are up by international Falls there are good viewing locations around the Rainy Lake Visitor Center.

Take a boat tour of Voyageurs National Park

See Voyageurs National Park from a boat on a tour guided by a park ranger. A variety of boat tours leave from Rainy Lake Visitor Center and Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center primarily from June to August and last from 90 to 390 minutes. This is a great way to see the park and some wildlife, especially if you don't have a boat of your own. 

Visit Little American Island

Discover the past on this self guided walk Little American Island. This island was home to one of the area gold mines during the brief gold rush of the 1890s. You will see mine shafts, tailing piles, and machinery along the side of this short trail. Signs tell the story of the gold rush.

Visit the Ethno-botanical Garden

This one-acre garden of native plants restores a site that had been overtaken by invasive plants.

Voyageurs' Tilson Connector Trail

This trail accessible year-round. Once sufficient snowfall accumulates, the trail will continue be groomed for classic, cross country skiing that leads to the Tilson Bay Trails that are managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Watch the Northern Lights Over Voyageurs National Park

The Aurora Borealis, also known as northern lights, are radiant colors that light up the night sky over middle and high latitudes of the northern hemisphere, including at Voyageurs National Park.