Voyageurs National Park covers 218,222 acres in Minnesota. It became a national park on April 8, 1975, the 37th of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 206,326 recreation visits in 2025, the 53rd most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Voyageurs
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
Voyageurs National Park spans 218,000 acres of lakes, forests, and streams in northern Minnesota. Established in 1975, the park is named after the French-Canadian Voyageurs who once navigated these abundant waters. Voyageurs National Park provides exceptional opportunities for recreation and exploration amidst landscapes rich in natural beauty, history, and cultural heritage.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data. You do not need a pass to enter. Parking, ferry, boat or other transport fees can still apply.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Voyageurs: May and September. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: August, with about 47,714 visits in a typical recent year. That is 4.4 times as many as October.
- Quietest month: April (89 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Voyageurs, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: ready-made plans for 1 to 3 days
- Things to do: 14 hikes and 12 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 0 campgrounds, 1 lodges
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center: Gas station (unnamed), 2.7 miles away. Closest airport Falls International Airport (26 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Hike Blind Ash Bay Trail (1 to 3 Hours): This narrow, winding, rocky trail exposes users to the wonders of the boreal forest. This path is great for birding, it is also frequented by deer and other wildlife. From closed in forest to post card worthy views of Kabetogama Lake, this lollipop loop trail has it all.
- Hike the Locator Lake Trail (2 to 5 Hours): Please note: The Cranberry Creek Portage Trail into Locator Lake from Rainy Lake has been permanently closed. Explore this two-mile, one-way hike as an afternoon adventure, or use it as a starting point for an exciting backcountry camping experience. It twists its way through forest and wetlands from Kabetogama Lake un
- Hike Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail (30 to 60 Minutes): Take a boat one mile from the visitor center and hike this trail through northern pine country to a scenic, active beaver pond.
- Hike Kab-Ash Trail (1 to 5 Days): Please note: The Salmi Road entrance to the Kab-Ash Trail in the Kabetogama community is closed (click to see map). This multi-day trail connects the Kabetogama and Ash River communities through an extensive system of interconnected backcountry forests and wetlands. With multiple trailheads, you can explore smaller sec
- Hike the Oberholtzer Trail (45 to 80 Minutes): Wander through deciduous and conifer forest as the trail twists around the edge of a cattail filled wetland and past rocks deposited by ancient glaciers. Look for signs of wildlife as you hike to two different overlooks with marsh and lake views.
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
There are four distinct seasons in Voyageur country. During June, July, and August periods of fine, mild weather prevail. The frost-free season averages 120 days from June to mid-September. The average ice-out date is May 3. The first measurable snowfall occurs in late October and the last in late April or early May.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota): about 10 h 55 min by car (577 miles)
- Indiana Dunes (Indiana): about 12 h 40 min by car (644 miles)
- Badlands (South Dakota): about 13 h 50 min by car (755 miles)
- Gateway Arch (Missouri): about 15 h 30 min by car (821 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Voyageurs National Park?
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data.
What state is Voyageurs National Park in?
Minnesota.
When did Voyageurs become a national park?
April 8, 1975.
How many people visit Voyageurs?
206,326 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Voyageurs?
May and September. August is the busiest month and October the quietest while the park is fully open.
