Voyageurs National Park Itinerary and Trip Report

We are so excited to share our Voyageurs National Park Itinerary and Trip Report! We spent multiple days exploring the park, including taking a ranger-led boat tour of Little American Island. We also saw the Northern Lights and tried numerous local restaurants.

Smoky Bear Park in International Falls Minnesota

TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Lodging Options near Voyageurs National Park
📍Voyageurs NP Tours, Kettle Falls Full-Day Small-Group Boat Tour
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip

Voyageurs National Park Itinerary and Trip Report

Voyageurs National Park is a water-based park steeped deep with fur trading history, abundant wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and a great place to see the Northern Lights in the lower 48. Winter recreation is also popular here and is most definitely worth exploring

Don't forget your boat, canoe, or kayak, as there is plenty of water to enjoy. Hikers will also have plenty of trails to choose from and let's not forget the winter. Voyageurs turns into a winter paradise and is a great place to bring your snowshoes, go snowmobiling, ice-fishing, and cross-country skiing.

Voyageurs is known for its wildlife. In fact, the National Audubon Society considers it an important birding area due to its significant diversity, including 68 species listed as species of greatest conservation need. They are well known for having Common Loons, Bald Eagles, and several other large mammals, including deer, black bears, moose, beavers, and gray wolves.

Day 1 - Spokane to Minneapolis, MN

Day 1 Stops include:

Fly to Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Stay at the Fairfield Inn near the Mall of America

We flew from Spokane to Seattle and then to Minneapolis with Alaska Airlines.

We had epic views of Mount Rainier National Park as we flew out of the Sea-Tac Airport.

Our flight didn't arrive in Minneapolis until late at night, so we booked the Fairfield Inn & Suites near the Mall of America for the night.

It was quick and easy to pick up our rental car at the airport and head 5 minutes down the road to reach the hotel.

Day 2 - Minneapolis to Voyageurs National Park

Day 2 Stops include:

Drive five hours North to Voyageurs National Park
Tour the Rainy Lake Visitor Center
Little American Island Boat Tour
Stay the night at the Cantilever Hotel

We dragged ourselves out of the hotel early and headed north to Voyageurs National Park. It is around a five-hour drive to the park from Minneapolis.

We booked the Little American Island boat tour to kick off our time in the park. The boat tour departs from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center near International Falls, MN.

The drive up to the visitor center was gorgeous. This is our first time exploring northern Minnesota, and it is absolutely gorgeous.

We are so excited to visit #56 of 63 National Parks together. The parks are becoming increasingly difficult to see, with the majority of remaining parks located in remote areas of Alaska and American Samoa, but we will make it happen.

We arrived at the Rainy Lake visitor center in time to explore for a few minutes, grab our National Park passport stamp, and head out to meet the boat.

The boat tour ended up only having four people on it which was amazing. The four of us sat on the top deck of the boat with an interpretive park ranger and the captain and had an amazing time.

The two-hour boat tour takes you to Little American Island, where a ranger-led hike is available to explore the island's gold mining history.

After the boat tour, we headed to Rainier, Minnesota, to stay at the Cantilever Hotel and Distillery. The hotel looked amazing online, so we were really excited to check it out.

Our first goal was to get something to eat, and I have to say that Cantilever restaurant was amazing! We never made it past the appetizer menu, as all the dishes looked so good.

We enjoyed epic pretzels and cheese dip, parmesan garlic tater tots, street corn dip, and Short Rib nachos that were amazing. We were definitely a bit hangry and starving when we arrived and ordered way too much food, which worked out great for leftovers.

Our goal was to enjoy a nice afternoon nap and then head out to explore International Falls and the local area. What actually happened is that the bed was so comfortable, we woke up at midnight and realized we had napped the entire afternoon.

Oops! Thankfully, we planned time into this trip to Voyageurs National Park for rest and chill time.

Day 3 - Rainier, MN to Kettle Falls Hotel

Day 3 Stops include:

Smoky Bear Park and the 26-foot statue of Smoky the Bear
Breakfast at the Chocolate Moose
Ash River Visitor Center
Boat Shuttle from the Ash River Visitor Center to the Kettle Falls Hotel
Kettle Falls Hotel

I must admit that we slept for more than 12 hours at the Cantilever Hotel. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and we were exhausted from weeks of on-the-go living, so we slept soundly.

The first thing on our agenda for the morning was finding Smokey the Bear Park! We had seen pics of the giant Smokey the Bear statue in International Falls, Minnesota, and had to see it for ourselves.

One thing we quickly learned during this trip is that Minnesota has a fondness for giant statues. It's so much fun seeing all the random statues along the roadside.

On our way to Smokey the Bear Park, we turned at the Vic the Voyager statue and had to stop for pictures. LOL!

I must admit that the giant Smokey the Bear statue did not disappoint. It is massive! We saw online that at different times of the year, they will dress Smokey in a fishing vest or flannel with ice skates.

After the statue, it was time to find some breakfast. We ended up at the Chocolate Moose, located outside of International Falls.

Breakfast was good with everything you expect for breakfast on the menu. The food was good not amazing or epic but it definitely filled us up for the day.

They had an Angler Special with biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak, and corned beef hash with two eggs that was definitely filling.

After breakfast we headed down to the Ash River visitor center to catch our shuttle boat to the Kettle Falls Hotel.

We were not sure what to expect for a shuttle boat to the hotel but the small boat we were picked up with was definitely smaller than we expected.

It was a 25ish-minute ride to the historic Kettle Falls Hotel. When we arrived, they loaded our suitcases behind a golf cart and drove us up to the hotel.

The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing on the covered porch talking with people who sat near us. This is our first time in Northern Minnesota and we are in awe of how friendly everyone is

We had multiple people message us on social after spending time talking letting us know if we needed anything all we needed to do was reach out to them.

It is absolutely amazing how friendly and excited everyone is to spend time in Voyageurs NP.

We had dinner at the hotel and it was great. They have a nice menu with quite a few options available. The slanted bar also serves pizza and pretzels.

The slanted bar is amazing and the place to be while visiting Kettle Falls. They serve a pink slushie with vodka that is popular with guests of the hotel and day visitors.

Our entire afternoon was spent relaxing on the porch and talking with people. It was amazing and such a great experience.

Day 4 - Kettle Falls Hotel to Lake Kabetogama

Day 4 Stops include:

R&R on the front porch of the Kettle Falls Hotel
Boat Shuttle from the Kettle Falls Hotel to the Ash River Visitor Center
Hike the Beaver Pond Overlook Trail
Lunch at the Thunderbird Lodge
Northern Lights Resort on Lake Kabetogama

We had an incredibly relaxing morning at the Kettle Falls Hotel. They offer a complimentary continental breakfast with cereal, toast, Eggo waffles, and assorted sweet treats.

After breakfast, we relaxed until it was time for our boat shuttle back to the Ash River Visitor Center. The boat ride back was fantastic. We sadly didn't see any Loons but we are hopeful we will see them at some point during our visit.

After loading our gear in our rental truck we headed out to explore some of the hiking trails in Voyageurs National Park. There is a variety of trails at each of the visitor centers.

The Beaver Pond Trail is a short walk into the woods with amazing views. We also explore a few of the overlook trails.

For lunch, we headed to the Thunderbird Lodge near the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. We had multiple recommendations from new friends we met while at Kettle Falls Hotel.

Lunch was amazing with an epic view over Rainy Lake. Do not miss the creamy wild rice and chicken soup! I wish I would have ordered a giant container of it.

The poutine burger came with cheese curds and brisket on top of the burger. We also enjoyed garlic cheese curds and spinach artichoke dip that was fantastic.

I have to pause and mention how amazing the cheese curds are in Northern Minnesota. They are on almost every menu and so far every time they have been delicious.

I have really been enjoying Grain Belt a local Minnesota beer that I was introduced to while at the National Park Lodge. It is light and so easy to drink.

We stopped by the Rainy Lake Visitor Center to turn in our Junior Ranger program and pick up our badge and patch. We decided to spend a bit more time in International Falls checking out a few stores and picking up groceries for our cabin.

Ronning's Store in International Falls has all the souvenirs you could want while visiting the park. It was so much fun wandering through this large store.

There are a few grocery stores in International Falls. We ended up stopping at a couple of them since we didn't realize beer is only sold in a liquor store.

The County Market has a liquor store attached to it so we picked up some Grain Belt Beer for the cabin we are staying at the next few nights.

Our goal is to have a campfire and relax while waiting for the northern lights.

For the next two nights we are staying at the Northern Lights Resort on Lake Kabetogama. On the way to the cabins we had to stop at the giant Wall-Eye statue welcoming visitors to Lake Kabetogama.

We booked two nights in the Northern Cabin at the Northern Lakes Resort. Check in was quick and easy and I have to tell you the views from the cabin are amazing.

There is a comfy couch that look right out to the lake shore. The cabin has two bedrooms and one bathroom perfect for families.

After dinner we set up a campfire and had an epic Facebook live Campfire Chat on the Park Ranger John FB Page. It was so much fun talking with everyone from around the country and sharing the campfire.

Once the sun went down it was time to start hoping and praying for the Northern Lights. The owners of the Northern Lights Resort were honestly amazing and turned off all of the deck lights so we would have an easier time seeing the northern lights.

They also texted their neighbors across the bay and asked if they would turn off their bright lights for a few hours. The customer service has been truly amazing at the resort.

We were able to set up our camera gear right next to the water with comfy chairs to relax in. It didn't take long before we started to see the glow from the northern lights form on the horizon.

The owners of the resorts pointed out a great tip for knowing where the northern lights are. They pointed out how bright some of the stars were but then there was a band of cloudy light that blocked all of the stars on the horizon that band was the northern lights.

They look a lot different with your naked eye compared to what the camera is able to pick up. We shot photos with both our Canon 5D set up with a 16-35mm wide angle lens and our Samsung cell phones both set up on tripods.

The tripods were needed to keep the cameras steady with longer exposures.

I can't put into words how amazing it was to see the aurora dancing in the sky. I have heard about dancing northern lights for years but this was our first time experiencing it.

I am going to admit that we are falling in love with Northern Minnesota every day we are here! We are already talking about needed to book a couple of return trips. The first one in the winter to drive on an ice road through Voyageurs NP! Talk about a new National Park Bucket List item.

The 2^nd trip in the summer to rent a houseboat and spend the night in the middle of the park looking for the northern lights. How cool would it be to sit in a hot tub on top of a house boat with the northern lights dancing above you!

We finally headed back inside close to 11 or midnight and crashed into bed. So excited to have seen the northern lights and so wiped out from all of the epic things we have done.

Day 5 - Lake Kabetogama

Day 5 Stops include:

Waking up with a view of the lake was blissful. We curled up on the couch with hot coffee and chai tea while looking for loons. It was the perfect quiet morning while on a park vacation.

We kept hearing that we had to stop at Pine Ridge Gift Shop with its amazing baked goods and coffee. This gift store is filled with epic souvenirs and amazing pastries. We ended up picking up a fun sweatshirt blanket with Voyageurs NP on it.

One of my wives friends grew up near the Ash River Visitor Center and was up visiting her family for the weekend. She was amazing and offered to take us out on their boat to explore more of Voyageurs NP.

Her family owns Ebel's Houseboats so we had the opportunity to explore a few of their houseboats and they were amazing. I have a new National Park Bucket List item….houseboating in Voyageurs NP watching the Northern Lights.

After spending a few hours on the water checking out the Voyageurs Campsites and sandy beaches we headed back towards the Ash River.

On our way back in we finally saw a Common Loon!

This was high on our park goal list so it was super exciting to finally see one.

We headed back up to International Falls to grab some firewood for another campfire and some lunch.

We ended up back at the Thunderbird Lodge for lunch. We realized their back deck was open so we could enjoy lunch with an amazing view.

Their chicken and wild rice soup is honestly amazing. I would happily visit again just to enjoy a giant bowl of soup.

After a late lunch/dinner and grocery shopping we headed back to the Northern Lights Resort.

Our evening was spent with another amazing campfire while watching the lake. The owner of the resort came by and chatted with us. We have been so impressed with the customer service and care that the resort offers.

They truly want you to have the best experience possible while staying at the resort and visiting the park.

Right when we were putting the fire out we realized that the northern lights were dancing in the sky again.

We grabbed our camera gear and tried to get a few more pictures of the Northern Lights. My wife was able to grab an amazing photo on her cell phone while the lights danced between the trees.

Such a great way to end another amazing day in Northern Minnesota.

Day 6 - Voyageurs NP to Minneapolis and Home

Day 6 Stops include:

St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
Mississippi River NRA
Fly home after another great National Park Trip!

We woke up early to pack and spend some time soaking in the views of the lake. We realized that we could visit both the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and Mississippi River NRA on our way to the airport in Minneapolis.

It was a 4.5-hour drive to the St. Croix NSR in Wisconsin. The visitor center is truly amazing.

Epic views of the river and great information on why it was one of the 1^steight rivers protected.

After leaving the St. Croix NSR we headed towards Minneapolis to try and visit the Mississippi River and NRA visitor center at Anthony Falls. We found parking and walked all over the place and never found the visitor center.

We were able to get great pictures of the Mississippi River and the locks but never found the visitor center. We decided to see if we could get to the visitor center at the Minnesota Museum of Science.

Sadly there were a few accidents on the freeway and we got to the museum 2 minutes before they were due to close. There was no time to park and run in to grab a brochure or National Park Passport stamp.

I think this means we are going to have to plan another trip to Minnesota. We found out there are 66 Minnesota State Parks including a few near the airport.

Our next trip is definitely going to include stopping at a few Minnesota State Parks and exploring more of this great area. We also need to visit Grand Portage National Monument which is the final Minnesota National Park Site we need to visit.

Sadly our time in Minnesota has come to an end and it is time to head home. Thankfully we have another great adventure coming up to Great Basin National Park in Nevada soon!

Best Vouageurs National Park Tours

Self-Guided Paddling Tour (Beginner)
⏳ Tour Length: All Day | 🛶 Check Rates and Availability

Explore Voyageurs National Park at your own pace on this self-guided paddling adventure, perfect for beginners and first-time visitors to the park. Designed for solo paddlers or pairs, each rental includes your choice of one canoe or one kayak, giving you the freedom to chart your own course through the breathtaking waterways of one of America's most water-rich national parks.

Two-Hour Personalized Small-Group Boat Tour
⏳ Tour Length: 2 hours | 🚢🦅 Check Rates and Availability

Departing from Thunderbird Lodge every two hours starting at 10 AM, this personalized small-group boat tour is one of the most flexible and comfortable ways to experience Voyageurs National Park on the water. With a maximum of just 6 passengers, every tour feels like a private experience, giving your group plenty of time with your captain and plenty of space to take in the scenery.

The Kettle Falls Full-Day Personalized Small-Group Boat Tour
⏳ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🚢🥾🦅 Check Rates and Availability

The ultimate Voyageurs National Park experience, this full-day luxury boat tour departs from Thunderbird Lodge and takes a small group of just 6 passengers deep into the heart of the park for an unforgettable day on Rainy Lake. Intimate, unhurried, and packed with remarkable destinations, this is the tour for travelers who want to see Voyageurs the way it was meant to be experienced.

Your captain navigates to some of the park's most stunning and remote locations, including Fujita Island, Anderson Bay Cliffs, Bushyhead Island, the Golden Triangle scenic overlook, and Daylight Beach. Each stop offers its own character and scenery, with ample opportunity to spot loons, bald eagles, white-tailed deer, black bears, beavers, and more along the way.

A lunch stop at the historic Kettle Falls Hotel is a highlight in itself, one of the most storied and remote destinations in the entire national park system, followed by an interpretive hike that brings the area's rich history to life. Complimentary beverages and convenient stops with full bathroom facilities keep the journey comfortable from start to finish.

Lodging Options in Voyageurs National Park

⭐️ 4.0 of 5 Stars - Kettle Falls Hotel - Click here for Rates and Availability.

The only lodging inside Voyageurs National Park, a National Register of Historic Places gem built in 1913 and accessible only by boat or floatplane, sitting at the remote intersection of Rainy Lake and Namakan Lake on the U.S./Canada border!

The hotel features 12 historic rooms with antique furnishings and shared hallway bathrooms, plus villas with full kitchens and private baths. The legendary Tiltin' Hilton Saloon with its famous sloping floor pockmarked by loggers' hobnail boots is a must-visit, along with the screened wraparound porch, dining room serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, kayak rentals, and daily shuttle boat pickup from the Ash River Visitor Center. Free WiFi, free parking at Ash River, open early May through early October!

Read our full review of the Kettle Falls Hotel Here!

Lodging Options near Voyageurs National Park

⭐️ 4.7 of 5 Stars - Cantilever Hotel - Click here for Rates and Availability.

One of the most unique boutique hotels in Minnesota, a Prohibition-era inspired destination perched steps from Rainy Lake in the tiny village of Ranier, just 10 miles from Voyageurs National Park!

The on-site craft distillery produces Minnesota grain-to-glass spirits served in the cocktail lounge alongside a full restaurant menu, with distillery tours available on Fridays and Saturdays. Rooms feature pillow-top custom mattresses, custom cabinetry, and select rooms with luxurious clawfoot soaking tubs. Unwind in the rooftop 12-person hot tub and sauna with sweeping views of Rainy Lake and the Cantilever Bridge, or catch the Northern Lights from the rooftop deck. Also features free yoga classes, e-bike rentals, a gift shop and espresso bar, free WiFi, and free parking. A truly one-of-a-kind Northwoods experience!

Read our full review of the Cantilever Hotel here!

Click on this link or the map below for a full list og hotels and vacation rentals in the area of Voyageurs National Park.

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