A week in Voyageurs National Park
Just spent a week in Voyageurs Park with my 3 daughters and their families. I have posted about the park on previous trips as this has been an annual event for us and fortunately this year all except my bride were able to join for at least part of the week (a trip back in September is planned with just her). This year we launched 2 boats from Ash River on the east end of Kabetogama and proceeded northeast about 22 miles to Kettle Falls Hotel where there is a truck portage past the falls into huge and beautiful Rainy Lake on the Canadian border. Kettle Falls is a logging era hotel between Namakan and Rainy Lake and is accesible only by water and run by a National Park concessioner. From Kettle falls we proceeded west 16 miles to our campsite on Nelson Island near the Brule Narrows on Rainy Lake where we spent our first two nights. After Nelson Island we backtracked 10 miles to stunning Anderson Bay for the remaining 5 days.
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The park consists of 4 large lakes, Crane Lake, Sand Point Lake, Namakan Lake, and Rainy Lake. All are interconnected and navigable with the exception of the truck portage at Kettle Falls.
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Launching at Ash River
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Kettle Falls truck portage. Just call on VHF and they will drive down and portage you across the falls for $25. I was told that there is a gathering of wooden boats at Kettle Falls each September so may try to get some more information on that for next month.
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Campsites are individual and reserved in advance and are equipped with bear lockers, picnic tables, tent pads and fire pits There is a burning ban in place and we were unable to use the fireplace this year. Some like this one on Virgin Island have docks and many have a sand beach or landing and a least some protection from the sometimes wild weather seen on these big lakes.
Bruce
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