Paddling the Rugged Waters of Voyageurs National Park

Take a virtual tour with us as we explore the untamed wild of Voyageurs National Park, one of the few places in the United States where you can look south to see Canada. When you visit the more than 344 square miles of rugged waters and mossy forest floor in Voyageurs National Park, you can take a step back and time and experience the wilds of northern Minnesota as the park’s namesakes did. Hop in a canoe and paddle out to see what’s in store!

Navigating Voyageurs National Park

A stone’s throw from Canada on the border of the United States, Voyageurs National Park is the only one of its kind named after a group of people. The voyageurs were French traders who paddled the water day in and day out smoking pipes and looking for Native Americans with whom they might trade cloth and other items for valuable furs. In particular, the beaver pelt was the most prized fur possession of the late 1700s when the voyageurs were prominent in this area, which was the backbone of North America’s fur trade.

Especially at that time but still today, the beaver was and is omnipresent in the waters and along the shoreline of this region. You’ll discover this when you visit the park and take a canoeing expedition to spots such as Kettle Falls Dam, which is only reachable by boat. Visitors from all over come to Voyageurs for hiking, picnics and, most importantly, fun on the water! Join a modern-day voyageur adventure on the Rainy Lake North Canoe Voyage to explore the park’s magnificently maintained shores.

If you’d like to stay overnight in Voyageurs National Park, the only place you can do so is Kettle Falls Hotel, which was opened in 1910 and remains operational. This spectacular in-park lodging is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so you know when you rent a room that you’re experiencing an essential piece of the great American story. So do yourself a favor and book a trip to serene and magical Voyageurs!