News Release

Voyageurs National Park Reservations for 2024 Boat Tours and North Canoe Programs Open April 15

The Voyageur tour boat heading east on Rainy Lake

NPS / John Cowman

News Release Date: April 2, 2024

Contact: Candy Braton, [phone]

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN: Voyageurs National Park staff announce that reservations for ranger-led boat tours and North Canoe Voyage programs open at 9:00 am CST on April 15 for the 2024 season.

Park staff encourage visitors to make reservations as soon as they know their plans, as tours do tend to fill up. Visitors can view boat tour descriptions and schedules, and reserve their tickets, by going to recreation.gov’s Voyageurs National Park Tours page, while North Canoe Voyage program tickets can be reserved on the Special Interpretive Programs page. Tickets can also be purchased by contacting the National Call Center at [phone]. Walk-ins are allowed only if non-reserved space is available.

Tours departing from Rainy Lake Visitor Center

• Grand Tour
• Life on the Lake
• Stars Over Rainy
• Kettle Falls Cruise
• Anderson Bay Overlook Tour (a special event on September 3 only)

Tours departing from Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center

• Ellsworth Rock Gardens

Tours departing from Ash River Visitor Center

• Kettle Falls Cruise
• Life on the Lake
• Stars Over Namakan

Special Interpretive Programs

• Rainy Lake North Canoe Voyage departing from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center
• Ash River North Canoe Voyage departing from the Ash River Visitor Center

Voyageurs National Park’s alternative transportation program is crucial for providing meaningful visitor experiences in a unique water-based park where much of the rich natural and cultural resources can only be viewed beyond where roads end. For visitors without a vessel, boat tours offer a way to experience the scenic and expansive waterways, abundant wildlife, ancient geologic formations, and remote visitor destination sites that are dedicated to sharing the park’s history and significance.

Fee revenue brought in from the transportation program allows these tours to be self-sustaining, covering costs for fuel, maintenance, and approximately 85% of the seasonal staff that conducts tours. This includes boat captains and deckhands to safely transport visitors, and knowledgeable interpretive rangers to provide engaging programs. Similarly, revenue from the Special Interpretive Programs helps cover costs involved with offering these unique visitor services.