Voyageurs National Park: Practicalities
Most travelers access Voyageurs from Hwy-53, which runs northwest from Duluth. After just over one hundred miles, at Orr, comes Rte-23, which runs northeast toward Crane Lake at the eastern end of the park. About 28 and 31 miles further along Hwy-53, highways 129 and 122 lead, respectively, to the visitor centers at Ash River (May-Sept daily 9am-5pm; tel 218/374-3221) and Kabetogama Lake (May-Sept daily 9am-5pm; tel 218/875-2111). Another prime visitor center is at Rainy Lake (May-Sept daily 9am-5pm; rest of year times vary), at the westernmost entrance 36 miles farther on via International Falls.Once inside the park, you need to take a few precautions . Check (natural) mercury levels in fish before eating them, don't pick wild rice (only Native Americans may do this), be wary of Lyme Disease (a tick-induced gastric illness), boil drinking water, and watch out for bears. Discuss such matters and procedures, along with customs procedures in case you plan to paddle into Canadian waters, with a ranger before venturing out.
The definitive way to experience the park is to camp on one of its many scattered islands, most plentiful around Crane Lake (if you don't have your own boat, cruise operators can drop you off and pick you up at a later date). There are also first-come, first-served state-owned campgrounds on the mainland at Ash River and Woodenfrog, near Kabetogama. However, most visitors stay in one of more than sixty resorts . Basically family-run cottages, these usually cater for weekly stays, with all meals, though you can rent rooms nightly. Most popular are those around Kabetogama, such as Watson's Harmony Beach (tel 218/875-2811, ; $50-75), a great place for picking up tips on the park; Arrowhead Lodge (tel 218/875-2141, ; $50-75), well known for its restaurant; and the basic, cheap and cheerful Driftwood Lodge (tel 218/875-3841, ; up to $35). You can book through the Kabetogama Lake Association (tel 1-800/524-9085, ). Resort associations for Crane Lake (tel 218/993-2346), Ash River (tel 1-800/950-2061) and Rainy Lake/International Falls (tel 218/283-9400) can also fix you up with lodgings, including houseboats (usually $1000 and up per week).
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