Visiting Voyageurs National Park

The Visitor Centers of Voyageurs National Park
The fact that one-third of Voyageurs National Park is water – including four large lakes, Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point – can make it difficult to access and explore. For this reason, the park has established three visitors centers for guests to not only learn more about the area’s history and wildlife, but also understand its unique geography. What’s more, the centers provide hiking trails, naturalist programs, boat tours and water access for watercraft of all types, so you can fully enjoy all the park has to offer.
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Rainy Lake Visitor Center
The first thing you see when entering the Rainy Lake Visitor Center is an adult stuffed moose, which serves as the building’s focal point and is a much-photographed feature. Located in the northern part of the park, the center is 11 miles east of International Falls on Highway 11. Several hiking and cross-country skiing trails are accessible from here, including the 1.7-mile Oberholtzer Trail and an immersive Ojibwe Indian camp exhibit open during the summer months.

The Rainy Lake Visitor Center is nestled on the shore of Black Bay and provides views across the water to the Kabetogama Peninsula. A free boat launch serves as an ice road entrance during the winter months, when the center remains open with seasonal hours. You can visit the center anytime or as shelter on rainy days for a variety of indoor activities for the entire family. There’s a theater for viewing a film about the life of the Voyageurs, historical and wildlife displays, a bookstore and children's activity table. The park also offers boat tours and ranger-led programs, including canoe trips out of the visitor center throughout the year.

Rainy Lake Visitor Center
1797 UT 342, International Falls, MN 56649
(218) 286-5258
nps.gov/voya
 
Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center
Kabetogama is the largest of the Voyageur National Park lakes located entirely in the U.S. It includes 25,000 acres of clean, cool water and more than 100 miles of forested shoreline, with less than 10 miles of it developed on the south shore. Open from late May through September, the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center is a great place to launch your Northwoods adventure. Features include interactive exhibits, a children's activity table, bookstore and theater for viewing a park film. There’s also a free public boat launch, separate paddle access and picnic area.

Several boat tours and ranger-led programs are offered through the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center. Voyage to historic Kettle Falls Hotel and Dam, explore Ellsworth Rock Gardens, where chances are good you’ll spot a bald eagle, or try your hand as a Voyageur aboard a 26-foot North Canoe. Join park staff as they portray historic characters from the region's past on a Twilight Walk and gather ‘round the campfire for an evening of stories, science, and history of the evening sky.

Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center
9940 Cedar Ln, Kabetogama, MN 56669
(218) 875-2111
nps.gov/voya

Ash River Visitor Center
To reach the third visitor center in Voyageurs National Park, take the scenic Ash River Trail (County Road 129) off Highway 53. Deer are plentiful along the road, which features several scenic outlooks that are worth the stop. The Ash River Visitor Center, open late May through September, is located in the historic Meadwood Lodge. It features a bookstore, children's activity corner, exhibits, and a theater. Nearby picnic tables invite you to relax over your picnic, and a free public boat launch and separate paddle access provide water access.

The center is the starting point for a ranger-lead, 1.5-mile hike along the popular Sullivan Bay Trail. You can also enjoy a tranquil canoe trip while keeping an eye out for wildlife including the Minnesota State Bird, the Common Loon, bald eagles, deer and bear. ​

Ash River Visitor Center
9899 Mead Wood Rd, Orr, MN 55771
(218) 374-3221
nps.gov/voya

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