Reasons to Go
Boundary waters, bears, moose, walleye fishing, boating, kayaking and the sound of the loon. Did I mention living on a houseboat for vacation is a great way to unplug? Read more on how you can boat the Boundary Waters and sleep under a dark sky in Voyageurs National Park (International Dark Sky Designation).
Voyageurs National Park Headquarters 360 Hwy 11 East International Falls, MN 56649
What to expect and do at Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park, located in Northern Minnesota, earned the International Dark Sky Park designation in 2020. Even Forbes Magazine is all about the buzz when it comes to recommending Voyageurs National Park as an “Aurora viewing destination”. There are 3 lakes at the park: Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, and Namakan Lake.
Winter Season in Voyageurs National Park
Nearby International Falls, USA is a great location to stock up on essentials before heading out across the lake by vehicle for an opportunity to drive on the ice (park rangers will mark the routes). Take the moment to ensure you take the correct location prior to driving out to the area since cell service is limited.
Summer at Voyageurs National Park
Rainy Lake borders the United States and Canada and fittingly the start of a water world adventure. Houseboats provide a comfortable mode of transportation and provide enough room to sleep 6-10 passengers as it depends on the vessel you select. Houseboat rental season begins in late May and flooding is common in June. In the summer months, the opportunity to view the Northern Lights in all her glory from the deck of a boat is diminished as the sun sets well after 9 PM.
Fees associated with the Park
It is free to enter Voyageurs National Park. Much of the park is located on islands and the 3 lakes which surrounds them. While the visitor center is reachable via vehicle, most visitor choose to visit the park by renting a houseboat or by taking the boat tour. There are fees associated with both of these activities. Your visit to Voyageurs National Park can easily run you $2,000 for a party of 4 for 4 days (3 nights). The houseboat becomes the mode of transportation as well as your lodging and eating for duration of the trip. A boat permit is required and you may purchase the permit from recreation.gov Bes sure to post the permit and purchase the correct lake (out of 3 selections) for the day you will be traveling to that specific lake.
Houseboat Rentals
- Ebel’s Voyageur Houseboats
- Voyagaire Lodge & Houseboats
- Rainy Lake Houseboats (ramp and campsites temporarily closed in June of 2022 due to high water levels; check NPS website and Rainy Lake Houseboats for updates) about closures
Rainy Lake Boat Launch and Campsites Closed – early season 2022
Alert 2, Severity closure, Rainy Lake Boat Launch and Campsites Closed in 2022. Effective June 2, 2022 Due to storm surge and high water levels. The Rainy Lake boat launch and lower parking lot are closed. All campsites on Rainy Lake are closed. See NPS Website for story Rainy Lake & Campsites Closed
Rainy Lake Houseboats Service Review (Excellent)
I rented from Rainy Lake Houseboats. The website was easy to navigate to select my boat and make my booking.
Approximately one week priot to my arrival date, I received a video on operating the houseboat. Rainy Lake Houseboats provided excellent training, friendly service and top-rated professionalism. I traveled alone to International Falls and spent the 4 days on the vessel by myself. My options to see Voyageurs National Park were limited since the park boat tour had been temporarily discontinued during my visit.
Due to not being an experienced boater, the likelihood that I could park the houseboat (on my own) even on the best of conditions would have been very low. Given a 20 mph wind forecasted and a large houseboat, it was impossible for me to drive and park the boat without assistance. Upon finding out that I was traveling alone, the crew assisted me with getting me to an excellent mooring area. Rainy Lake Houseboats taxied me out to the mooring location. This personalized drop off and pick up is not a service that Rainy Lakes Houseboats provides and I’m not advertising it as so. However, in my circumstance, that Rainy Lakes Houseboats made my Voyageurs National Park dream come true. I’m forever grateful.
The houseboat was clean and fully equipped with everything for a 4 day adventure, except food and beverages. Stock up on groceries in nearby International Falls. Prior to departing International Falls, the team at Rainy Lake Houseboats ensured that I had a kayak for the trip since I would be unable to move the boat once it was parked in the mooring location.
Permit for houseboat and other vessels
Where do I get a permit?
- Once a reservation is made online or by phone, a confirmation email will be sent to the permit holder.
- You can print your permit from your recreation.gov account at anytime after making your reservation, but be certain of your plans before printing, as this action officially issues your permit.
- Once a permit is printed, you have confirmed your reservation and no refunds will be given.
- Permits must be brought to the park and placed in a rear window of the houseboat. If renting a houseboat, please check with the specific houseboat company on the placement of the permit.
- If a permit does not accompany you to your site, your reservation is void. No refunds will be given.
- Permits are non-transferable.
- If you lose or misplace your permit, stop at one of the park’s three visitor centers for assistance.
What is mooring?
Mooring is parking your vessel typically for an overnight stay. Rules in Voyageurs National Park and Boundary Waters should be adhered to.
- Designated houseboat sites may be used on a first-come, first-served basis.
- There is a limit of two-houseboats per designated site.
- Houseboats may stay at an undesignated site as long as they are at least 200 yards away from any developed site or structure.
- Houseboat users who wish to have a fire, may do so in existing metal fire rings, only at designated houseboat sites.
- Houseboats may not moor overnight at docks in Voyageurs National Park.
- Cabin cruisers and sailboats may stay overnight at tent sites with an advanced campsite reservation.
Navigation Equipment
Maps and navigation tools are pertinent and will help ease your comfort when exploring the coves and islands during your stay.
Navigation system by Navionics available as an app for your smartphone or Navigation device such as Garmin is a tried and true waterway navigation system for boaters, sailers and fisherman.
Sleep Under a Dark Sky
Camping
I prefer camping, what if I don’t want to rent a Houseboat?
You will still need to rent a boat or be dropped off by a boat to get to your secluded campsite. There are no drive up campsites located inside the national park. If you rent or bring your own canoe or kayak, all of your camping gear and food will need to fit into the boat (as well as you and anyone else in your group). Finding a kayak rental place that is closer to your campsite will limit the distance you travel with your gear. Even a small motorboat will run you $300 a day from Thunderbird Lodge and you will need to check the logistics of parking the boat at your campsite.
Follow this link: Camping in Voyageurs National Park on Recreation.gov and book your campsite at Voyageurs National Park. There are several types sites for camping and roughly 150 campsites which are scattered on islands throughout the 3 lakes of Voyageurs National Park. Bears are active in the park so ensure that your campsite has a bear box locker. The 3 lakes of the parks and many others in the area freeze over in winter and bears who have not yet started to hibernate may cross from one island to the next; therefore activity from one season to the next may be markedly different, despite territorial bear habits.
Kayaking and Canoeing
Since Voyageurs National Park is primarily a park with waterways and not trails, kayaking and canoeing are high on the list of recreation activities. Outfitters and other vendors can rent canoes or kayaks along with other rentals for your Voyageurs adventure.
Fishing License
Rainy Lakes Houseboat sold a Minnesota Fishing License to me on the day of my check-in.
You may also purchase a Minnesota Fishing License online from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources click: Minnesota Fishing License.