In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com

Brian Wright's Outdoors Info Page

Hey there, welcome to my canoeing info page. I've got some info here for you.

Don't leave any of the following items out when you prepare for your canoeing trip.

TENT		Don't pay more than $25 for a two person tent. I've been using a $20 tent from Target for the last five years, sometimes in snow storms, it's starting to get a bit faded but it's still OK. Unless you're going to the Himalayas an expensive tent is a complete waste of money, unless of course you're one of those people that buy expensive gear to impress people.
FLASH LIGHT		Don't forget a good flash light or a head lamp. Many people say that you should always bring minimum 2 lamps but if your lamp is good just bring extra batteries and an extra light bulb.
MULTI PURPOSE TOOL		I haven't made my mind up yet if I like Leatherman tools better than Swiss army knives. Leatherman tools are better for big stuff while Swiss army knives are better for more detailed work.
STRING		Don't forget to bring some string, you always find a use for it.
COOKING POT		This is a very important item, you will need a pot to melt and heat water. Drinking hot water will warm up your whole body. I would recommend just getting a cheap mess kit and using the pot from it. You could just grab a pot from your kitchen but these tend to be relatively heavy which is OK in your kitchen but not in your canoe.
STOVE		People in the old days used wood stoves in the wilderness, why shouldn't we? The Trailstove works on ancient concepts, but is made from the latest materials using the latest manufacturing technology resulting in a very light stove.
FIRE TOOL		Pocket lighters are cheap and light, and fire is very important on a cold winter night. Bring at least three of them just in case one or two stop working. If your lighter gets jammed with snow it may not work until you remove the snow and dry it, so make sure your lighters are in a place where they don't get directly exposed to snow. Don't use matches, they run out quite quickly, and once they get wet they'll never work again.

Making a fire

Gather some wood, a handful of very thin twigs and a couple of handfuls of finger thick sticks will be enough to get things started. You also need to gather a number of larger pieces of wood to keep the fire going for as long as you want to.

Make a ring with rocks on the ground or dig a pit for the fire.

Make a teepee shape with the sticks and twigs, the thinner pieces on the inside and the thicker on the outside, leave a space open on one side of the teepee.

Put some starter material such as some dry leaves into the side opening and ignite.

Once the teepee collapses into a random looking heap of fire you can start adding the bigger pieces.

Voyageurs National Park

International Falls, MN

The park lies in the southern part of the Canadian Shield, representing some of the oldest exposed rock formations in the world. This bedrock has been shaped and carved by at least four periods of glaciation. The topography of the park is rugged and varied; rolling hills are interspersed between bogs, beaver ponds, swamps, islands, small lakes and four large lakes. In the years since the last glaciation, a thin layer of soil has been created which supports the boreal forest ecosystem, the "North Woods" of Voyageurs National Park.

This land is rich in human history. Named for the Voyageurs, French-Canadian canoe-men who traveled these waters in their birch-bark canoes from the Great Lakes to the interior of the western United States and Canada. Modern voyageurs continue to ply these waters. The water, accompanying scenery, geology and rich cultural and natural resources that give Voyageurs its national significance, merits its protection for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

On the northern edge of Minnesota's border, 55 miles of the park meander along the Canadian border with Ontario. Voyageurs is about 15 miles east of International Falls, MN and 300 miles north of Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN.

Voyageurs is a water based park. Access to the Kabetogama peninsula, the islands and nearly all of the park's shoreline is by watercraft. Free public boat ramps and parking are available at the park's visitor centers and at the Kabetogama State Forest Campgrounds.

CONTACTS

Email - VOYA_Superintendent@nps.gov

Fax- 218-285-7407

Write to
3131 Highway 53 South
International Falls, MN 56649-8904

Phone
Headquarters - 218-283-9821
Visitor Information (TTY) - 218-286-5261
Visitor Information - 218-286-5258

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Open all year round with boating, fishing, and swimming in the summer and skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling in the winter.

Getting There
PLANE - Air travelers can take advantage of the International Falls, MN or Hibbing, MN airports. Rental cars and hotel shuttles are available at the airports.

CAR - Voyageurs is 5 hours North of Minneapolis-St. Paul on I-35 and Hwy 53, 3 hours North of Duluth on Hwy 53, and 4 hours from Winnipeg.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Greyhound buse line from Duluth, MN.

Weather & Climate
Voyageurs has a cool, continental climate with short, warm summers followed by long winters. Avg summer temps are 60 degrees F to 80 degrees F; winter temps range from 0 degrees F to 20 degrees F.

Accessibility
All Visitor Centers and tour boats are wheelchair accessible. The main floor, trails, docks, and villas at Kettle Falls are all wheelchair accessible. The first half of the Oberholtzer trail at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, the Beaver Pond Trail, and the Kabetogama Lake Overlook Trail near the Ash River Visitor Center are fully accessible. The park also has a fully accessible campsite, with lift, on Namakan Lake. It is available by reservation at the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center.

Getting Around
Voyageurs National Park is over 1/3 water. Most trails and all campsites are accessible by a boat.

CAMPING

Various
Open All Year
On the four large lakes, the park has 215 individual tent camping, houseboat, or day use sites. Overnight sites have been developed for a single party with tent pads, fire ring, picnic table, privy, and bear locker. Day use sites have been developed for two separate parties with picnic tables, fire rings, and privy. All overnight sites and most day use sites are accessible only by boat. Request a Camping Brochure/Map
For More Information on this campground please call 218-283-9821

LODGING

Kettle Falls Hotel
Kettle Falls Hotel has rooms furnished with Kettle Falls antiques, Villas available in units, ketchenettes, and suites. Boats and motors, canoes, and kayaks are available for rent. Fishing licenses, border crossing permit forms, boat portaging, guide service, fishing tackle and cleaning facilities, and many more. Check the Kettle Falls Hotel web site for more information and rates.
For More Information on this lodging please call 1-888-534-6835

FACILITIES

Visitor Centers
ASH RIVER
Phone - 218-374-3221
Location - Head south of International Falls on Highway 53 for 30 miles. Signs will show where to turn onto county road. Follow the road and signs to the Ash River Visitor Center.
Closures - Closed during the winter months.
Special Programs - Blind Ash Bay Trail Hike, Kid's Afternoon Adventure, Beaver Pond Explore, Winter: Wolf Howling.
Exhibits - Ash River Visitor Center is the Historic Meadwood Lodge and an exhibit explaining the construction of this log building.
Available Facilities - Picnic Area and day use docking and boat launch. Three large parking areas for vehicles with trailers. Forest Overlook has picnic area and 1/4 loop trail. Beaver Pond Overlook has a short trail to a wildlife veiwing area. Kabetogama Overlook has a 1/8 mile fully accessible trail to a panoramic view of Kabatogama Narrows. Blind Ash Bay Trail is a trail that can be accessed from the Visitor Center of the Kabatogama Overlook Parking Lot.

KABETOGAMA LAKE
Phone - 218-875-2111
Location - 24 miles south of International Falls on Highway 53. Signs will show the turn onto Hwy 122. Follow the road past Woodenfrog State Campground to the Visitor Center.
Closures - Closed during winter months.
Special Programs - Birds B4 Breakfast Hike, Morning Canoe Trip, Kids Explore Voyageurs, Evening Campfire Programs. Stargazer Cruise, Kettle Falls Cruise, Back Bays Wildlife Adventure, Sunset Wildlife Cruise, Kids Safari Cruise, Walleye Shorelunch Cruise.
Exhibits - Bald Eagle exhibit, Wildlife Veiwing exhibit, and Fresh Water Aquarium.
Available Facilities - Picnic Areas, boat launch, and free parking for vehicles and vehicles with trailers.

RAINY LAKE
Phone - 218-286-5258
Location - Located 10 miles east of International Falls on Highway 11. Signs will show the road to the Visitor Center.
Closures - Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Easter.
Special Programs - Junior Ranger Program, North Canoe Voyage, Morning Canoe Adventure, Evening Canoe Adventure, Patio Talks, Wildlife Walks, Winter Programs
Exhibits - "River of Lakes, Roads of Ice" explores the natural and cultural history of these lakes that were used for transportation over them, Fur Trade Exhibits, Phenology / Touch Table exhibit.
Available Facilities - Orientation Film, Fur Trade Film, Oberholtzer Trail, a 1/2 mile trail, boat launch, canoe launch, free parking lots, and in winter access to the Rainy Lake Ice Road. Picnic Area and day use boat slips.

Some content donated by Hikercentral.com and the National Park Service