This Lesser-visited National Park Has 500 Islands and 30 Lakes — and It's One of the Best Places to See the Northern Lights in the U.S.

Voyageurs National Park might be one of America’s least-visited national parks, but don’t let that fool you. This 218,055-acre natural wonder is one of the most incredible destinations in Minnesota (and the country as a whole). Named after the first European settlers to travel through this part of the world, this park near the Canadian border is known for its waterways, its dark, starry skies, and the regular appearance of the aurora borealis. In 2020, DarkSky International even awarded Voyageurs its certification as an International Dark Sky Park.

Made up of 30 lakes — four large, 26 small — 500 islands, and 655 miles of coastline, Voyageurs is also one of the few national parks that’s best seen from the water. “If you have multiple days to see Voyageurs and feel comfortable driving a boat, renting a boat to do some exploring on your own is a great way to travel through the park at your own pace,” says Emily Schwanke, owner of Voyageurs Guide Service LLC.

Whether you’re intrigued by the stargazing opportunities or the chance to captain your own vessel, here’s everything you need to know about visiting Voyageurs National Park.

How to Get There

The closest airport to Voyageurs National Park is Falls International Airport (INL) in International Falls, Minnesota — though flights are limited. The airport is served by Delta and SkyWest, both of which only offer routes to and from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). From INL, you’ll need to rent a car to reach the visitor centers (and a few trails); most of the park is only accessible via boat. Alternatively, you can drive the 280 miles from MSP in a little less than 5 hours.

Know Before You Go

If you’re scrolling through this article ahead of your trip to Voyageurs National Park, you’re already off to a good start. Ditzler stresses that reading up on the park before your journey to northern Minnesota is paramount. “If you come without doing a bit of research, you may not realize that nearly all of our campsites are only accessible by watercraft, or that our tour boat tickets may be sold out for a specific date,” he says. “I don’t like disappointing anyone, but if you don’t plan ahead, you may not be able to experience everything you hoped for.” Can’t find the answer to a specific question or concern online? Feel free to call the visitor center. “We are here to help, so don’t be shy.  Leave a voicemail if we are closed at the time, and we will call you back,” says Ditzler.

While there’s no entry fee to the park, you may want to reserve some of your travel budget for boat or equipment rentals, campsite reservations, and guided tours. Travelers interested in taking a boat out should be aware that the park has four water access points found at the Crane Lake Ranger Station and the Kabetogama Lake, Rainy Lake, and Ash River visitor centers. Scenic and naturalist-led boat tours are available from mid-June through September and range from 1.5-hour trips to 6.5-hour excursions; tickets can be purchased online.

It’s also important to note that your experience — which includes the available activities, the scenery, and the wildlife — within the park with be significantly different depending on the season. “In the springtime, loons make their way back to the lakes and carry their babies on their backs,” says Schwanke. “There are gorgeous wildflowers blooming in Voyageurs from June to September; in July and early August, you can find delicious wild blueberries and raspberries all over the rocky shorelines.” Come October, she says you can expect “reds, oranges, and yellows, with a background of evergreens.” Winter is particularly special, with Schwanke adding that it’s a “great time for finding tracks in the snow and seeing larger animals such as moose or timberwolves.” No matter when you schedule your Voyageurs trip, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see a bald eagle.

Best Time to Visit

According to Ditzler, the best time to visit Voyageurs National Park “depends on what you like to do.” For instance, he recommends August or September for camping. “The weather will likely still be warm, and, in August, you could even plan your trip to coincide with the Perseid meteor shower and our annual Star Party,” he says, noting that the mosquitoes will also be in decline around that time. Schwanke agrees, saying that September is “hands-down” her favorite time in the park. “September is magical in Voyageurs… It can still be very warm during the day for swimming, nights are cooler, the northern lights like to come out more often… and the leaves are starting to turn,” she explains.

Ditzler also recommends January or February, as there “will likely [be] enough snow to experience the park on skis or a snowmobile,” but he says it’s “always a good idea to first call or check the official Voyageurs National Park website for trail conditions” before you make the trek up.

How to See the Northern Lights

As with most destinations where the northern lights are a major draw, you’re going to need both flexibility and patience. Ditzler recommends following solar activity forecasts from NASA and NOAA and checking the local weather forecast for possible cloud cover.  “You don’t want to come when it is likely to be cloudy, or when there is a full moon,” he says. For the most amazing views of the auroras, Schwanke says it’s “best to be on the water for the panoramic views of the sky,” as there’s “practically no light pollution.”

Ditzler echoes her sentiment and adds that “visiting in the winter can be particularly rewarding.” The coldest months of the year come with more hours of darkness, and, he says, “you may be able to drive your car out on the ice road for clear views. ” Just be sure to get away from the tree line in order to have a clear view of the northern sky; Ditzler says this “should increase your chances of seeing the aurora.”

Best Things to Do

Get out on the water.

Unsurprisingly, one of the top things to do in Voyageurs National Park in the summer months is to navigate the area by water. “A park boat tour, private tour guide, renting a boat, taking out a canoe or kayak, or even a houseboat are great options,” says Ditzler. He also calls the park’s North Canoe experience — where visitors head out in a 26-foot-long canoe and learn how the early French-Canadian voyageurs would travel and transport goods in canoes made by the Indigenous Ojibwe — “a fantastic family program.” If you’re hoping to see wildlife, Schwanke says your best bet is to rent a canoe on one of the backcountry lakes (which can be done when booking a camping permit) and “paddle around the smaller, more intimate lakes.”

Explore the area’s hiking trails.

When most people think of Voyageurs, they think of traversing it by water — but hiking is also an option. “My favorite hike that you can drive to is the Blind Ash Bay Trail in the Ash River area.  You can get some beautiful views of Kabetogama Lake,” says Ditzer. If you’re feeling “really adventurous,” he also suggests the Anderson Bay Loop. Though the trailhead can only be accessed by boat, he shares that the views are “spectacular” and “you feel like you are in the heart of the park there.”

Spend a day snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing.

In the winter, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing are popular activities (equipment can be rented from the park), and Ditzler says “There are signs of wildlife in the snow nearly everywhere.” Visitors hoping to snowshoe should check out Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail, one of Ditzler’s favorite snowshoe hikes. “You can explore a beaver pond and walk right out to a beaver lodge,” he adds.

When the lake freezes over, rent a snowmobile from a local outfitter; the park has 110 miles of staked and groomed snowmobile trails, though Schwanke specifically calls out the Chain of Lakes trail. “It is a one-way track through the Kabetogama Peninsula and is just the most beautiful, breathtaking trail,” she says.

Go fishing — either by yourself or with a guide.

With 30 named lakes inside the park, there are plenty of opportunities to catch a few fish. Before you begin your fishing trip in Voyageurs, you’ll need to acquire a Minnesota fishing license. Once that’s in hand, you’ll be ready to land a yellow perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike, or black crappie. Ditzler shares that hiring a local fishing guide is a good idea for beginners, and you can find a list of guiding services on the park website.

Places to Stay

“If you want to stay inside the park, there are three options,” says Ditzler.  “You can camp at one of the many campsites spread out along the shoreline and islands of the lakes, you could stay on a houseboat, or you can reserve a room at the Kettle Falls Hotel.” The latter is a historic property that’s only open from May through September.

Campsites

“If you’ve brought a tent and plan to camp, it is way worth it to rent a boat and actually get into the park to camp — all of the national park campsites are lake-access only — as opposed to camping at a campground near town,” says Schwanke. There are over 150 campsites within the park, including frontcountry, backcountry, and primitive sites. The 147 frontcountry campsites are located on the park’s largest lakes (Sandpoint, Rainy, Kabetogama, and Namakan) and are outfitted with tent pads, fire rings, picnic tables, bear lockers, and outdoor toilets. The remote backcountry campsites are found on the park’s interior lakes, have fewer amenities, and are reached via boat followed by a several-mile hike. Reservations are required for each campsite, and rates start at $10 per night.

Houseboats

One of the most immersive ways to experience Voyageurs National Park is to stay on a houseboat. All vessels are commercially rented from companies outside of the park. Northernaire Houseboats and Rainy Lake Houseboats serve the Rainy Lake area; Ebel’s Voyageur Houseboats is located in the Ash River area; and Voyagaire Lodge & Houseboats is on Crane Lake. Permits are required and can be purchased online. Boats can park in both designated and undesignated houseboat sites, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Designated sites have beach or rock access, mooring posts or rings to secure the boat, and metal fire rings.

Outside the Park

“If you’ve got an RV and are looking for a place to park it, Headquarters RV Park just outside of the town of Crane Lake is a beautiful campground with lots of trees and privacy,” says Schwanke. Ditzler also recommends Woodenfrog Campground, which he says is “probably the closest RV campsite and an option for tent camping if you can’t get a boat to reach the national park campsites.” Voyageurs Outpost on the western edge of Crane Lake is another option. According to Schwanke, the two geodesic domes her team has built “give you the privacy and feel of camping in the woods, with luxuries that make you feel at home.” Plus, she says, “You can’t beat viewing the night sky from the large bay window or 40-foot deck that the dome sits on.”

Places to Eat

“There is only one restaurant within the park, and that is at the Kettle Falls Hotel,” says Ditzler, noting that there are plenty of other options just outside the park. Schwanke recommends Nelson’s Resort on Crane Lake: “It’s an old time-y supper house atmosphere with incredible food and live music every weekend.” If you’re camping or spending time on a houseboat, you’ll want to come prepared to make your own meals. “Having a shore lunch consisting of the fish you may have caught earlier that day is a cherished memory for lots of visitors here,” says Ditzler. “Just be sure to keep your cooking gear in a bear locker when you are finished, or you may have an uninvited guest.”