Although most of Voyageurs National Park trails are maintained throughout the year, becoming snowshoe and cross-country ski attractions during the winter months, Spring is perhaps the best time for a hike through the forest. Delicate, lime-colored leaves are just beginning to appear, pairs of mating geese can be seen – and heard – over nearby lakes, and cool breezes keep temperatures mild. 

All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes, drinking water and a map in order to immerse yourself in nature and witness the emergence of a new season. And, with a variety of trails to choose from, hikers can easily find one that suits their individual skill levels, from 20-minute jaunts to hours-long adventures. 

Drive-to Trails
Voyageurs is known for its acres of water (84,000) and miles (more than 600) of undeveloped shoreline. But that doesn’t mean you need a boat to explore and enjoy the park, which features close to a dozen land-accessible trails.  

• Echo Bay Trail is an easy hike, located three miles from the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center off Country Road 122. The 2.5-mile loop passes through lowlands and rocky outcrops and includes a great blue heron rookery.
• Blind Ash Bay Trail is a moderately difficult narrow, winding trail accessible at the Kabetogama Lake Overlook near the Ash River Visitor Center. The 2.5-mile loop boasts spectacular scenery and is open for snowshoeing in the winter. 
• Kab-Ash Trail is the longest and most strenuous, this 28-mile system of trails connects the Kabetogama and Ash River communities. Four trailheads make it possible to hike sections of this trail or the whole trail for an in depth view of the park.

ADA Accessible
In addition to providing varying degrees of difficulty and lengths, park trails also provide the opportunity for people with disabilities to experience Voyageurs’ singular scenery. 

• The Ethno-botanical Garden Trail features an Ojibwe Indian camp and native plant garden that invite visitors to consider what life was like for the area’s native people. 
• The first ¼ mile of the Oberholtzer Trail is wheelchair accessible and, located just outside the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, is a showcase for the park’s diversity of forest and wetlands found in the park.
• The Rainy Lake Recreation Trail is a wide, paved path that welcomes runners, walkers and bicyclists. Leading from highway 71 to the entrance of Rainy Lake Visitor Center the 1.75-miles include benches for taking a breather while taking in the views of Rainy Lake. 

Trails with Views
Make time in your trip to the Ask River Visitor Center to enjoy theses little-known gems:

• The Beaver Pond Overlook is the second trailhead on the left, where a short uphill hike is rewarded with an overhead view of an abandoned beaver pond. Lucky – and quiet – hikers may also see large wildlife like bear and moose here.
• Take the third pullout on the left to access the Kabetogama Lake Overlook, an easy .2-mile hike that leads to a west-facing view of the lake.

​
Before you begin a journey on any of the park’s trails, be sure to pick up a map at one of the visitor centers.

Interested in hiking at Voyageurs National Park? Let us know in the comments below!

Although Northern Minnesota is usually associated with winter sports like hockey and cross-country skiing, spring is a great time to enjoy baseball and softball games in International Falls, which hosts Little League, junior- and senior-high school and junior college teams.

Rainy River Community College
RRCC offers fans the opportunity to experience the excitement of collegiate sports with both men’s baseball and women’s fast-pitch softball teams. Consistently ranked one of the top teams in their conference, many Voyageurs go on to play at the Division I, II, and III levels.

The baseball/softball season runs from March through May, and with 40-50 games, there’s ample opportunity to see the Voyageurs on their home field during the week and on weekends. For a complete schedule, visit rainyriver.edu/athletics/baseball/ and rainyriver.edu/athletics/softball/.

Falls High School
The FHS Broncos also have baseball and softball programs, including 7th and 8th grade, junior high and varsity teams. Part of the Iron Range conference, the Broncos take on teams from Hibbing, Virginia, Mesabi East, Littlefork, Cherry and others. Games are held throughout the week, usually Tuesday and Thursday, with varsity teams typically competing Friday afternoon. Fields are located behind the high school, and a complete schedule is online at isd361.k12.mn.us/athletics/activities-schedules.

Little League
Watch future hall-of-famers as they grow into the game of baseball from May through June or early July at three field locations: Rizzo, Holler Elementary and Kerry Park. A staple of many small towns across the country, the Little League program in International Falls boasts a full roster of kids ranging in age from 4 to 12. Games are played throughout the week, and a schedule is posted online at ifallsll.com.
​
For History Buffs
Immerse yourself in one of baseball’s golden eras with “Town Ball: The Glory Days of Minnesota Amateur Baseball” by Armand Peterson and Tom Tomashek. The book chronicles the characters of the sport from 1945 to 1960 and includes the International Falls team, the “Mandos,” an acronym for its sponsor, the Minnesota and Ontario Paper Company.