News Release

Voyageurs National Park to Reopen Rainy Lake Boat Launch and Resume Full-Service Operations at Kettle Falls

Date: July 8, 2022
Contact: Tawnya Schoewe
Contact: Brian Harmon

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN: Voyageurs National Park is lifting the temporary closure of the Rainy Lake Visitor Center boat launch beginning Friday, July 8, followed by 19 Rainy Lake campsites reopening the following day on Saturday, July 9. Other Rainy Lake campsites in the park remain closed due to flood conditions.

You can find an updated campsite closure list here: https://www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm and search for available campsites here: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/249981/itinerary.

Boaters on Rainy Lake are reminded that within the park a no-wake restriction of 300’ from any shoreline remains in place. On areas of Rainy Lake outside the park, within Koochiching County, the no-wake restriction is 500’ from any shoreline. Many docks and beaches at sites on Rainy are still overtopped by high water and visitors should use caution when approaching sites. Hazard markers on Rainy maintained by the park are not installed.

The Kettle Falls Hotel will resume portage operations between Rainy and Namakan Lakes on Friday, July 8. All other services provided at the hotel are also operational. Based upon current staffing the Kettle Falls portage will operate seven days a week from 7:30 am until dark. This will include the new aquatic invasive species (AIS) decontamination process for vessels being portaged from Rainy Lake to Namakan Lake. Boaters wanting to portage are reminded there may be delays given that vessel decontamination can take 30 – 45 minutes. For more information on zebra mussel AIS decontamination at Kettle Falls, go to - https://www.nps.gov/voya/learn/nature/aquatic-invasive-species.htm