Voyageurs National Park Camping Permits

Open — Open year-round for camping. Peak summer season reservations (May through October) opened November 15, 2025, at 9 a.m. CST via Recreation.gov. Eight specific campsites operate on a rolling one-week booking window year-round. Winter camping available with access via snowmobile or skiing once lakes freeze.

Notify on Availability Reserve

From Recreation.gov

Campsite reservations for the 2026 summer season will become available at 9 a.m. CST on November 15. The following campsite are released on a one-week rolling booking window to provide options for short-term trip planners. * **Rainy Lake (west end):** Mio Beach R64 and Nuthatch R21 * **Rainy Lake (east end):** Jack Pine Bench R55 and Hitchcock R105 * **Kabetogama Lake:** Fox Farm K50 and Round Bear K29 * **Namakan Lake:** Johnson Bay N13 and Hammer Bay South N59 * **Sand Point Lake:** South Island S17 and Feldt Channel S5

About

Voyageurs National Park protects 218,054 acres of pristine northern Minnesota wilderness, including 84,000 acres of water and 655 miles of undeveloped shoreline. The park's camping system is designed for water-based exploration, with 147 frontcountry campsites scattered across the major lakes (Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point), all accessible only by private watercraft or water taxi from visitor center boat ramps. These sites feature tent pads, fire rings, picnic tables, bear lockers for food storage, and vault toilets. For a more remote experience, 14 backcountry campsites are located on interior lakes, requiring boaters to first reach a trailhead, then hike up to several miles to access pristine backcountry lakes. Each backcountry reservation includes use of a park-provided canoe stationed at the lake. The two primitive campsites, Red Pine and Blueberry Ridge, are the only mainland sites and can be reached via the Kab-Ash Trail without a boat. These hike-in sites feature only fire rings and cleared tent areas, following Leave No Trace principles. The park sits along the historic voyageur water highway, where French-Canadian fur traders once paddled the same routes in the 1700s and 1800s. Located on the international border with Canada, Voyageurs offers exceptional opportunities for wildlife viewing, fishing, paddling, and exploring hundreds of islands. The region experiences four distinct seasons with an average ice-out date of May 3, a 120-day frost-free season from June to mid-September, and significant winter snow accumulation of 55-70 inches. Summer brings warm weather ideal for boating and fishing, while winter transforms the park into a snowmobile and ice fishing destination with groomed trails and ice roads.

Directions

Voyageurs National Park is approximately 5 hours north of Minneapolis-St. Paul via I-35 and Highway 53, 3 hours north of Duluth on Highway 53. Falls International Airport serves International Falls. All campsites except primitive sites require boat access from visitor center boat ramps at Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Ash River, or Crane Lake. Private watercraft or water taxi service required.