Voyageurs National Park encompasses 200,000 acres (81,000 ha), most of which is occupied by 4 huge border lakes, each big enough for several days’ worth of paddling and filled with islands for camping. Just west of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness along the Minnesota-Canada border, Voyageurs has a similar landscape, but more services, like visitors’ centers and campgrounds. Motorboats are allowed in the park, but the interior lakes are reserved only for canoes. If you don’t have a canoe of your own, you can rent one on-site, after crossing the portage to these lakes. Overnight camping permits are free, but visitors should register at one of the four visitor centers—Rainy Lake in the west, Kabetogama or Ash River in the center, and Crane Lake in the east.
