Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park encompasses 218,055 acres of interconnected waterways, pristine lakes, and boreal forest along Minnesota's border with Canada. The park preserves the route of the French-Canadian voyageurs who paddled birch bark canoes full of trade goods through these waters over 200 years ago. With 84,000 acres of water surface comprising 40% of the park, including four major lakes and 26 smaller lakes, Voyageurs is truly a water-based park. The park protects boreal forest and aquatic ecosystems supporting wolves, moose, black bears, and over 240 bird species. The border lakes create critical habitat for common loons, bald eagles, and numerous fish species including walleye and northern pike. The park's islands and peninsulas provide denning sites for wolves and nesting areas for colonial waterbirds while old-growth forests shelter rare orchids and lichens. Voyageurs implements aquatic ecosystem management and invasive species control while preserving wilderness character. The park manages 240,000 annual visitors primarily through water-based recreation while protecting loon nesting sites and eagle habitat. Research programs monitor water quality, wildlife populations, and climate impacts while restoration efforts focus on native fish populations and forest health.

Water Features

Four large lakes, 26 smaller lakes, Countless islands

Ecosystem

This destination features a temperate forest ecosystem.