Camping Basics
- Review the information provided at the "Safety" and "Rules & Regulations" links.
- All boat-in campsites in the park are free, but you must have a permit.
- All sites, except the handicap accessible Voyageurs Narrows site are occupied on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no reservation system. Your permit is not a reservation for a site.
- The handicap accessible site at Voyageurs Narrows may be reserved by calling (218) 875-2111.
- Obey all site closure signs. The park will only close an area if it is necessary to protect visitor safety or the health of park resources.
- Store food properly. All food, garbage, and equipment used to cook food must be kept in a vehicle, vessel, or metal food locker. Otherwise food items should be hung from a tree, ten feet up and ten feet out from the tree or pole. This regulation applies throughout the park.
- Tent campers must use tent sites. Ten campers may not stay overnight in houseboat sites or day use sites. Day use is allowed at tent sites until 2 p.m.
- Houseboaters must use houseboat sites. Houseboats may not stay at tent sites or day use sites. Day use is not allowed at houseboat sites because there are no toilets.
- Group sizes are as follows:
- small tent site - 9 people
- large tent site - 18 people
- houseboat site - 2 houseboats, maximum
- Campfires -- Use only dead and downed wood, including driftwood, except within developed areas and where posted.
- Cutting live trees and dead standing trees is prohibited.
- Fires are only permitted in metal fire rings. Construct no new rock rings. If you are staying in a campsite without a fire ring you must bring and use a campstove.
- Make sure that all campfires are completely extinguished before you leave.
- Overnight docking is permitted at Kettle Falls, but not at park visitor centers.
- Leaving property unattended in an overnight site for 24 hours or more is illegal.
- Use tent pads where provided - no digging, trenching, or leveling allowed.
- Use the privy when one is available. Otherwise, dig cat hole for human waste.
More Information:
Voyageurs National Park is Bear Country
For many people, seeing wildlife is a primary reason for coming to Voyageurs National Park. You can help make sure that your visit helps keep park wildlife wild by taking a few simple steps to store your food and garbage properly. All developed campsites are equipped with a bear-resistant food storage locker. Use it to store all food items, including your food, cooking gear, pet food, toothpaste, lotions, sunscreens and garbage.
If a bear-resistant food locker is full or unavailable you should hang items in a tree at least ten feet from the ground and four feet from the trunk to deter animals from gaining access. Make sure that you clean fish away from your campsite and dispose of fish entrails by cutting them into small pieces and disposing of them in deep water.
Make it a habit to NOT bring food into your tent, and don't leave food items unattended. Bears that learn to associate people and campsites with food can become a serious problem. Please do your part by not feeding wildlife, intentionally or by accident. This will help keep animals healthy and helps to prevent problems that could ruin your visit or the visit of people that come after you. Please call the park or stop by the visitor center for more information.