Location: International Falls Map
Area: 218,054 acres (882 km2)
Official site
The Voyageurs National Park is a national park in
the United States. The park is located in northern Minnesota on the
border with Canada. Its name evokes memories of the French-Canadian
fur traders who were the first Europeans to enter the region.
The park was established in 1975 and, with its numerous lakes
and bays, is a paradise for kayaking and canoeing. The Kabetogama
Peninsula is suitable for hiking. In winter, cross-country skiing
and snowmobiling are popular. One of the numerous lakes is Rainy
Lake, which is only partly in the national park and partly in
Canada.
Among others, the endangered wolf and the bald eagle
live in the Voyageurs National Park.
Voyageurs National Park is located on the Canadian
Shield, and its rocks average 1 to 3 billion years old. These are among
the oldest rocks on the North American continent. Formed early in the
Earth's formation, the park's rocks were compressed and folded under
tremendous pressure. Later, molten lava flows penetrated through the
layers and formed a mosaic of various gneisses and granites.
Subsequently, the Wisconsin Ice Age and earlier continental glaciations
scoured the area and formed additional layers of sedimentary rocks.
Most of the rocks in the park belong to the Archeon-Ketico Territory
of the Superior Geologic Province, which is associated with the Kenolan
orogenic belt. Schist and gneiss are present in the western and central
parts of the park, and the Vermilion Granitoids (2.69 to 2.64 Ga) are
present in the eastern and southeastern parts. The Kabetogama-Kenora
dyke group (2.2 to 2.1 Ga) is aligned with a Precambrian fault system
running in a northwesterly direction. In the northwest corner of the
park, metamorphic rocks from the Wabigoon Territory form a
northeast-trending greenstone belt. A lateral strike-slip fault
separates the two subprovinces, called the Rainy Lake-Seine River Fault
Zone; the 1893-1898 gold rush occurred in this area on the Cabetogama
Peninsula in the northwestern part of the park. The Little American Mine
on Little American Island is one of 13 abandoned mines in the park.
There are terminal moraines in the southern part of the park and a
glacier-carved lake basin in the northern part, but glacial outwash and
glacial till deposits of less than 100 feet are common. Lake Agassiz
deposits are found within the park, with glacial striations and glacial
gravels common.
The first proposal for a national park on the site came in April 1891 from the Minnesota legislature. Voyagers National Park was founded on April 8, 1975 by Executive Order of US President Richard Nixon.
Voyageurs National Park runs along the border between Canada and the United States along the Pigeon River. The name of the park recalls the Canadian fur traders (trappers and trappers) who remained the only white inhabitants for years to trade furs. The park offers many waterways that allow kayakers to practice their sport. The Kabetogama peninsula, which constitutes the bulk of the park, is accessible only by boat. The park welcomes around 200,000 visitors a year.
The park encompasses the Kabetogama Peninsula, as well
as 4 main lakes: the American part of Rainy Lake, the American part of
Namakan Lake and Sand Point Lake, and all of Kabetogama Lake (104 km²).
In total, the park is home to around thirty lakes and 900 islands or
islets.
Fauna includes, among mammals, wolves, black bears, elk,
white-tailed deer, beavers, otters, muskrats, foxes and weasels. Birds
include cormorants, loons, owls, wild turkeys or the iconic bald eagle.
Voyageurs National Park is located in the Canadian
Shield and the rocks are on average 1 to 3 billion years old. These are
among the oldest rocks on the North American continent. Formed early in
the Earth's formation, the park's rocks were compressed and folded under
tremendous pressure. Later, molten lava flows penetrated the layers,
forming a mosaic of various gneisses and granites. Subsequently, the
layers were scoured by continental glaciers prior to the Wisconsin Ice
Age, forming additional layers of sedimentary rocks.
Most of the
park's rocks belong to the Archeon-Ketico subzone of the Superior
orogenic belt, which is part of the Kenolan orogenic belt. Schist and
gneisses are found in the western and central parts of the park, while
the Vermilion Granitoids (2.69-2.64 Ga) are found in the eastern and
southeastern parts of the park. The Cabetogama-Kenoradike Group (2.2-2.1
Ga) follows a Precambrian fault system running in a northwesterly
direction. In the northwest corner of the park, metamorphic rocks of the
Wabigoon subprovince form a northeast-trending greenstone belt. The
lateral strike-slip fault that separates the two subprovinces is called
the Rainy Lake-Sain River fault zone; the gold rush of 1893-1898
occurred in this area on the Cabetogama Peninsula in the northwestern
part of the park. The Little American Mine on Little American Island is
one of 13 abandoned mines within the park boundaries. There are terminal
moraines in the southern part of the park and a glacier-carved lake
basin in the northern part, but glacial outwash and glacial till
accumulations are typically less than 100 feet. Agassiz Lake sediments
are present in the park, and glacial striations and glacial gravels are
common.
The campground is managed by the National Park Service and accessible only by waterway; the 282 sites are classified as frontcountry and backcountry tent sites, houseboat sites, and day-use sites, all designated by signs. Tenting visitors are not allowed to camp at houseboat sites or day-use sites. Maps showing the locations of these sites are available at the Visitor Center. Permits are required for overnight stays. Permits are available at recreation.gov, park visitor centers, and boat ramps. Public and private campgrounds accessible by car are located near the perimeter of the park.
The park has over 80 kilometers of hiking trails. Some trails are on the mainland, but most traverse the peninsula inside the park, with some long-distance backcountry trails.
Visitors can tour the park's lakes and islands by canoe, kayak, or motorboat. The peninsulas inside the park can only be reached by boat, except when the lakes are frozen over and an outer route can be taken. Canoes and boats are available for rent on the park's inland lakes. During the summer months, shuttle service to the inland lakes is available, as well as ranger-guided boat tours that explore the park's nature and history.
Walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, and crappie can be caught in the park's major lakes. Largemouth bass, lake trout, bluegill and other small mambo, and yellow perch can be found in the smaller lakes scattered throughout the park, but not all species are found in all lakes. Lake trout, for example, are found primarily in Cruiser Lake north of Kettle Falls. Lake Shoepack and Root Lake (Little Shoepack Lake) in the central peninsula of the park are home to the Shoepack strain of muskellunge, which is distinctly different from the Mississippi strain (or Leech Lake strain) found throughout southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Lake whitefish are also commonly caught in sport nets in the fall when they migrate to shallower waters to spawn.
The Voyageurs Forest Overlook, Beaver Pond Overlook, and Kettle Falls Dam areas are popular stargazing The park is also home to the International Dark-Sky Network (ISDN). In addition, the park is working toward becoming an International Dark-Sky Association Dark Sky Park.
The park is covered with snow from late November
through early April. The ice road on Rainy Lake is plowed and marked
from the Visitor Center boat ramp toward Cranberry Bay or around Dryweed
Island, depending on ice conditions. Activities available include lake
driving, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, winter camping, ice
fishing, and snowshoe hiking. Snowmobiling is limited to the Chain of
Lakes Scenic Trail, which runs along the frozen lake surface and through
the center of the Kabetogama Peninsula. Trail maps are available at the
Visitor Center.
Snowmobile use in Voyageurs National Park, as in
Yellowstone, has been controversial with opponents who argue that it
detracts from the natural beauty of the park and negatively impacts
wildlife.