Voyageurs National Park Camping Permits

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·Voyageurs National Park

Overview

Camping reservations for the 2023 summer season become available on November 15, 2022 at 9am CST.

Great Facilities and Amenities

  • Campfire Allowed

    (All campsites have Campfire Allowed)

  • Checkin Time

    (Majority of the campsites have 3:00 pm)

  • Checkout Time

    (Majority of the campsites have 12:00 pm)

  • Firepit

    (53 of 160 campsites have Firepit)

  • Food Storage Locker

    (106 of 160 campsites have Food Storage Locker)

  • Hike In Distance To Site

    (Up to 4')

  • Max Num Of People

    (Up to 20)

  • Pets Allowed

    (142 of 160 campsites have Pets Allowed)

  • Picnic Table

    (2 of 160 campsites have Picnic Table)

  • Shade

    (152 of 160 campsites have Shade)

  • Site Access

    (Majority of the campsites have boat in)

Natural Features

View of a grassy campsite surrounded by trees with a picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof metal food locker. - Credits: NPS Photo
Large campsite on Rainy Lake - Credits: NPS
Voyageurs National Park Camping Permits - Credits: NPS Photo
Aerial view of a series of Voyageurs' backcountry lakes flowing into each other, surrounded by forest land. - Credits: NPS Photo

Voyageurs National Park is a land and water environment of great beauty, exceptional natural and cultural resources, and abundant recreational opportunities. Located in the lake-country of northern Minnesota, the park protects 218,054 acres that include roughly 134,000 acres of forest, 84,000 acres of water, 655-miles of undeveloped shoreline, and hundreds of islands. The park's 55-mile northern boundary is the international border between the United States and Canada and includes an important segment of the "transcontinental highway" traversed by French-Canadian voyageurs during the late 1700s and early 1800s.

There are four distinct seasons in Voyageur country. The air is temperate during June, July, and August when periods of fine, warm weather prevail. The frost-free season averages 120 days from June to mid-September. The average ice-out date is May 3 but varies year to year. Annual precipitation (rain and snow) averages 25-28 inches in the park and average snowfall ranges from 55-70 inches, but is highly variable. The first measurable snowfall occurs in late October and the last in late April or early May.

Recreation

Voyageurs National Park - Credits: Share the Experience, Nathan Manz

From spring through fall, explore Voyageurs National Park on land by stopping in at a visitor center or hiking any of our 52 miles of scenic hiking trails. To explore the vastness of the same lakes the Voyageurs and Ojibwe Indians once traversed, leave your car behind and explore park waters by kayak, canoe, sailboat, motorboat, houseboat or tour boat. Public boat launch ramps are available at park visitor centers, the Crane Lake ranger station and the two state forest campgrounds - Woodenfrog and Ash River.

With Voyageurs National Park's scheduled programs and boat tours, you can paddle a canoe on the Voyageurs Highway, watch wildlife by day and stars by night, and explore historic Kettle Falls Hotel, Hoist Bay and Ellsworth Rock Gardens. Check the park website for a current list of these activities and many more, or contact a Voyageurs National Park visitor center and speak with an interpretive park ranger. Reservations in advance are highly recommended for boat tours, and can be made here on recreation.gov. 

Permitted Equipment

  • boat-N/A

  • tent-Up to 14ft

Nearby Attractions

Unique attractions near Voyaguers National Park:

The City of International Falls sits on the U.S.-Canada border, across from Fort Frances, Ontario. You can have a picnic lunch in Smokey Bear Park, and then tour the Bronko Nagurski Museam and Koochiching County Historical Museum, which both sit on site. Don't forget to take a photo with the 26-foot statue of Smokey the Bear himself - a well-known and beloved national symbol of fire prevention and forest conservation. There are many unique businesses and shops along main street, as well as some great coffee shops and restaurants. Heading eastward out of town, you will pass the village of Ranier and numerous resorts where you can find delicious lake-side dining, fishing guides, hotel and cabin accomodations, houseboat rental companies and much more.

The Historic Port Village of Ranier is a quaint little community situated right where Rainy Lake empties into the Rainy River underneath a cantilever-style train bridge that spans from the U.S. into Canada. Here you will find lodging, an RV park, a park and playground, a public beach, public docks, delicous food, an ice cream parlor and a lakeside brewpub, all packed into one small charming town of about 150 residents. Be sure to take a photo with Big Vic, the 25-foot tall statue of a French-Canadian voyageur, who stands at the entrance to this unique little town. 

The entrances to the communites of Kabetogama and Ash River are located about 30 miles south of International Falls, and both serve as gateways to the southern district Voyageurs National Park. Be sure to stop and take a photo of yourself "riding" the walleye statue at the entrance to Kabetogama on Highway 53. 

Additional Information

Campsites