Voyageurs National Park
An adventure wonderland all year long full of exposed rock ridges, cliffs, wetlands, forests, streams and lakes. This is a place of transition between land and aquatic ecosystems, between southern boreal and northern hardwood forests, and between wild and developed areas. Whether you are exploring by land, water or ice there is something for everyone.
Voyageurs National Park
Award-winning Destination in Voyageurs National Park on Lake Kabetogama
You simply can’t get closer to a Voyageurs National Park vacation than from Northern Lights Resort. We are located so close to the park that the waterline of our lakeside resort rests at the beginning of the park’s boundary. Lake Kabetogama is arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in all of Northern Minnesota, and our prime lakeside location makes it a great home-base for your Voyageurs experience.
We’ve been recognized by both Travel & Leisure and CNN Travel as a Top 10 Lake Destination in the USA in 2012. TripAdvisor and Family Vacation Critic have also listed Northern Lights Resort as a top Voyageurs National Park destination for 8 years running.
With such “5 Star” recognition and ideal location, it’s no wonder that guests travel here year after year to enjoy the stunning beauty and adventure. The wooded shorelines of the Voyageurs lakes are a beautiful combination of forest, sandy bays and ancient glacier carved rocks known geographically as the Canadian Shield. The rocks are laced with granite and quartz to bring sparkle and wonder to your journey throughout the park.
It’s Free – sound too good to be true?
Unlike many National Parks that have a gated entrance where you pay to enter, access to the only Minnesota National Park is free! There are three visitor centers at Voyageurs National Park – Ash River, Kabetogama and Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Your cabin rental on Lake Kabetogama at our resort is centrally located to explore the entire park.
What sets Northern Lights Resort above the rest?
We offer unparalleled privacy on Lake Kabetogama. As the only resort on the Echo Island bay, our private north woods setting is a tough location to beat. Be careful; once you come to visit, you may never want to leave!
We offer the largest private floating waterpark in Voyageurs National Park and all of Northern Minnesota.
Abundant watercrafts free to use for our guests: paddle boards, paddle boats, canoes and both kid’s kayaks and sea-going kayaks.
Other lake recreation activities include a private sandy beach with lounge chairs, volleyball net, and a playground area.
We offer a full-service harbor with gas and live bait. Did you know we’ll even clean your fish for you?
High-quality boat rentals at a price you can afford pontoon and fishing boat rentals are offered for people to launch from NLRO to explore the national park. All boats are fully equipped with GPS for safe boating.
Our cabin and boat rentals are centrally located on Lake Kabetogama for easy access to the water and all Voyageurs National Park destinations.
Our resort is close to the Kabetogama Voyageurs National Park Visitor Center and only a few minutes by boat or car. How does only two stop signs and no stop lights sound for you city drivers? We are centrally located to explore the two other additional visitor centers in the park too (Rainy Lake Visitor Center and Ash River Visitor Center). Scroll down this page for visitor center details and tips for planning your visit to Voyageurs National Park.
Voyageurs is a park like no other.
This film is the culmination of several weeks spent in the northernmost region of Minnesota known as Voyageurs National Park. Encompassing more than 340 square miles, Voyageurs is a watery wonderland almost exclusively accessible by boat. Journey with us as we explore a land blanketed in pristine lakes, erupting with kaleidoscopic fall colors, and home to the most spectacular displays of the northern lights on the planet. This is Voyageurs. Filmed primarily in stunning UHD 8K.
As you plan your trip, you’ve likely heard that Voyageurs National Park is best seen by boat! There are many nice attractions and sites readily accessible by car, including three visitor centers, hiking trails, and great photography opportunities around Lake Kabetogama. Here are our top recommended national park attractions to visit by land or by boat.
TOP VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK ATTRACTIONS BY BOAT
Ellsworth Rock Gardens is the number one picnic destination in Voyageurs National Park. Mr Ellsworth dedicated three decades to landscaping and sculpting unique art featured among over 60 terraced flower beds that were constructed on the stunning granite outcrop. At the peak of the garden’s bloom more than 13,000 lilies of four different varieties brightened the shoreline of Kabetogama Lake. The sculptures live on in all their glory and the park continues to maintain as many flower beds as budget and time allow. In 2021, the National Park built a larger dock with a handicap accessible ramp on the dock so that more people could enjoy access to the area.
Kettle Falls The renowned “Tilton Hilton” fondly referred to by locals, this historic Kettle Falls Hotel is located within the National Park on the roadless Kabetogama Peninsula at the dam between Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake. There are nice nature trails between the dock, the falls and the hotel. During the busy season golf carts are available to give you a free lift (tips appreciated of course)! Although there are no longer natural water falls, the rush of the water at the dam is a refreshing sight to behold.
PHOTOGRAPHY TIP - Walk up to the top of the Kettle Falls Dam for a top scenic photo spot and enjoy the view over Rainy Lake and look south on Canada.
Accessible from our resort dock for a self guided tour or join a scheduled National Park Tour to see Kettle Falls and launch from either the Kabetogama Visitor Center or Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Bring a picnic or dine at the family friendly restaurant and lounge at the hotel, but be advised that the bar area is definitely PG-13 with racy pin-up posters from the roaring 20’s. Oh, if these walls could talk, the stories they would tell!
Why the Tilton Hilton you ask? Checkout the legs on the pool table to see for yourself! The legs of the table are all different lengths to keep it level and tell the tale of the adversity that harsh winters can have on structures up north. Renovations were done to the hotel many years ago, but the classic tilt to the bar floors was retained for future generations to enjoy.
LOCAL TIP - if you bring your fish they will do a fish fry of your fresh catch at the restaurant! Also, the “Pink Thing” is a specialty-slushy-lemonade adult beverage and a favorite of many.
The I.W. Stevens Resort - located on Stevens Island and forest was untouched by logging. The original home of the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Company retreat. This site preserves the historic recreation and resort buildings of the 1930’s and has been preserved by the National Park.
https://www.nps.gov/voya/learn/historyculture/i-w-stevens-resort.htm
The Grassy Cliffs... add !
When Planning Boat Tours of the National Park, if you don’t own your own boat, both private and public tours are available. Private tours will either meet you at our resort dock or at the local visitor center. To contact a private tour operator, click here.
PLANNING TIP - If you are interested in booking a Voyageurs National Park guided boat tour, tickets go on sale April 15th of each year.
National Park group boat tours launch from both Kabetogama and Rainy Lake visitor centers. In the summer of 2022, Voyageurs National Park launched a new tour boat - Ne-zho-dain (pronounced Knee-Zho-Dan) based at the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center to serve park visitors. Tickets will become available for purchase on April 15th of each year for that summer’s tours. These tickets and other Voyageurs National Park Tours can be purchased at Recreation.gov
For more information on water taxis to Voyageurs National Park back country trails and campsites, private tours and National Park guided tours here.
Voyageurs has many options for guided tours as well as boat rentals, so you can choose a larger group tour or something very private and tailored to your needs. If you are interested in a self guided tour, contact us at the resort and we will help you chart a nice route for ½ or full day tours and equip you with a boat rental with GPS and maps to enjoy the National Park at your own pace. For more information about our boats available at Northern Lights Resort & Outfitters, checkout pictures, rates and boat details. xx NLRO.com/boats.
Voyageurs National Park Visitor Centers
There are three Voyageur National Park Visitor Centers and each of them offers a nice slice of history, yet is unique in its own way
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Open late May through mid-September and is a short drive from the resort (approximately 5 minutes). The National Park film shares a day in the life of a Voyageur is on display here with flexible viewing times. TIP - When you arrive let the front desk know you are interested in seeing the film and they will queue it up for you!
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Open late May through mid-September and is also an easy drive from the resort to the south (approximately 20 minute drive). This historic resort lodge has been preserved with a nice seating area in front of the fireplace and features a gift store There are several nice trail systems to walk, hike and explore the area.
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Open primarily from May through September with reduced hours all year round. Enjoy the nature trails, museum and the National Park film is also shown here. Photo Tip - take a selfie with the amazing Moose on display.
Kabetogama Area to our north to tour Canada by car or boat
Although Kabetogama Lake is fully American waters, you can actually go fishing in Canada easily and boat right into Canada waters from our dock at Northern Lights Resort! We are so close to Canada, that some guests like to head across the border for a day trip into Canada. Here are a few tips if you would like to venture into Canada by car or boat (and not just look across the border but go across the border).
Fort Frances is located across the international bridge from its sister city, International Falls, Minnesota making it the gateway to Northwestern Ontario. Once you cross the bridge into Canada, you are right in Fort Frances. As soon as you go through customs, turn to your left and you'll see the Information Centre. Fort Frances is one of the scenic stops on the "MOM's Way" (Manitoba-Ontario-Minnesota) route. There are several mom & pop restaurants and a Walmart for supplies too!
For more information call 1-800-334-4460 or 807-274-3930. Visit the CANPASS website for information on Canadian customs and regulations for entering the country. If you plan to fish in Canadian waters, you will need to get a Canadian Fishing License (in addition to the Minnesota DNR license).
Voyageurs National Park Activities and Events
In addition to the activities and lake recreation at our resort our visitor center offers many family and youth activities. Click Here to Learn More. If you don’t want to drive your own boat on the lake, choose a water taxi or guided tour launched from a Voyageur’s Visitor Center.
Hours do vary at each visitor center, so please check the most current information by visiting the links below or calling the number listed.
Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center 218-875-2111
Ash River Visitor Center 218-374-3221
Rainy Lake Visitor Center 218-286-5258
Crane Lake Ranger Station 218-993-2481
The Best of Minnesota Wildlife awaits you in Voyageurs National Park
Wildlife abounds within Voyageurs National Park where you will often see eagles soaring overhead or diving to catch a fresh fish for lunch. Eagles aren’t the only ones catching fish around here. There is no shortage of fish for the avid angler. The fresh, clear cool waterways are excellent for hooking big game fish. Come fish for walleye, northern pike or a fish fry of bass, crappie and perch.
The historic Kettle Falls is not only a lovely landmark, but their diner will even fry up your fish for you! Check out our Kabetogama online fishing guide for more tips.
The Minnesota State bird, the loon, is often seen from our dock or as you explore the Voyageurs Chain of Lakes. You will learn they will dive quickly and deeply and can hold their breath for over a minute. The game is who can spot the loon first after it resurfaces! To see the mother loon carry her babies on her back is priceless. To hear the call of the loon is unforgettable.
The Kabetogama peninsula is the best place to see moose or bears in their natural habitat in Northern Minnesota. Come see an active beaver dam or deer grazing. In 2014, two fawns were born here at Northern Lights and as we enter 2016 they are regular residents roaming our property.
What about the wolves? Even though there are five wolf packs that claim Voyageurs National Park as their home, they are more likely heard than seen!
A playground for nature-lovers.
Cozied up by the Canadian border, Voyageurs is 218,000-acres of greenspace sandwiched between boreal and deciduous forests, with four major lakes and miles of interconnected channels. These passageways were once vital to American Indians, fur traders, fishermen, miners, and loggers. Nowadays, most travelers take to the rugged park in the summer so they can explore the water; drifting along in a houseboat, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and fishing are all popular activities. Winter draws its own crowd, as Voyageurs morphs into a patchwork of frozen lakes for hardy snowmobilers, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers.
The best way to see the park and wildlife is by boat!
Two of the best hiking trails in Voyageurs are on the south shore of the Kabetogama peninsula, which is easily accessed from Northern Lights Resort by boat. You can bring your own boat or rent one from us. Our resort guests have free access to our canoes and kayaks to paddle the park at their leisure during their vacation stay. Refer to our Kabetogama Lake Maps page and boating tips for navigating the Voyageurs Chain of Lakes.
There are several hiking trails also accessible by car, too. The Echo Bay Trail is just down Northern Lights road from our resort and a lovely “loop” trail. Find a full list of trails with maps on the National Park website.
Bring your camera and binoculars to view the wildlife and great variety of birding, too! Our Voyageurs birding page highlights the large variety of species and hiking trails in the region. If you enjoy wildlife photography, you can’t miss out on Voyageurs.
Picnic Lunch on your own Private Island
Lake Kabetogama has over 200 islands to see and explore. Pack a picnic lunch or go blueberry picking. Any campsite within the park is available to use for your picnic shore lunch, as long as it is not occupied.
The #1 visitor destination within Voyageurs is the Ellsworth Rock Gardens. We highly recommend making this a top destination on your “must see” list while you visit Voyageurs. It features a nature walk among unique rock sculptures and flower beds. Pack a lunch and take advantage of their picnic shelter and tables (and a vault toilet if you need to make a pit stop). It also offers a lovely view of Lake Kabetogama at treetop level.
Happy Hour and breathtaking sunsets off the dock
There is a happy vibe of activity and lounging on our spacious lakeside dock. Bring your own beverage of choice, kick-back, relax and enjoy the view and other guests. Did we mention the inspiring sunsets? WOW!
Enjoy a campfire and toasting s’mores!
After another exciting day of exploring all that the national park has to offer, come back to your cozy lakeside cabin to recharge and have a campfire. More s’mores, anyone?
And before you call it a day, be sure to look up at the night sky. The stargazing here is spectacular and inspiring.
With all the comforts of home at your lakeside cabin and such close access to the scenic wilderness of Voyageurs, what are you waiting for?
Contact us today to help plan your Voyageurs National Park family vacation!