Flooding Impacts at Voyageurs National Park
Updated July 13, 2022
Though Voyageurs National Park is experiences high waters, the park is still open for people to enjoy. We encourage visitors to be mindful of conditions and explore as much as they can within their skill levels, and their personal consideration of safe travel. Whether that be by hiking, biking, paddling, or boating. There are many people accessing the park and enjoying the resources available.
Namakan, Kabetogama, Sand Point Lakes: Lakes have returned to normal levels. The ‘No Wake Zone’ restriction has ended as of July 5. Please continue to use caution and avoid waking docks or other infrastructure regardless of restrictions throughout the park.
Rainy Lake: All waters that are within 300 feet of any dock or structure are limited to vessel travel at idle speed and shall be considered “No Wake Zones" on Rainy Lake. Rainy Lake will continue to slowly fall with a decrease of 14 - 16 inches between July 11 and July 18.
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
Due to severe high water, the following precautions are being taken at Voyageurs National Park:
Any frontcountry sites which have been inundated by water that has reached the tent pads, core pads, campfire rings, or vault toilets are closed (see below)
All day use and houseboat sites remain open, but many access points are underwater, impairing the ability to secure boats
The Locator Lake Trail on the Kabetogama Peninsula is closed
All Chain of Lakes campsites and canoe rentals are closed (includes campsites and canoes on Locator, War Club, Quill, and Loiten Lakes)
Water within 300 feet of any shoreline on Rainy Lake is to be considered a No- Wake Zone with vessel travel only allowed at idle speed until lake elevations reach 1108 feet as recorded by monitors at Fort Frances
Closed campsites through July 22nd (closures may be reopened early, extended, or have additional sites added as conditions are assessed):
Kabetogama Lake
Echo Island K41 - Reopening July 16th
Maple Point K21 - Reopening July 16th
Grassy Island South K9 - Reopening July 16th
Pine Point K45 - Reopening July 16th
Namakan Lake
Hammer Bay Point N69 - Reopening July 16th
Birch Cove Island N1 - Reopening July 16th
Voyageur Narrows N41 - Reopening July 16th
My Island N25
Catamaran N15
Sandpoint Lake
Granite Cliff S. S7
Houseboat Island W S9 - Reopening July 16th
Rainy Lake
Whites Point R47
Lost Bay R20
Fish Camp Island R13
Shelland Island R106
Finlander Island R59
Logging Camp R19
Anderson Bay West R90
Windmill Rock View R56
Saginaw Bay West R104
Blueberry Island R92
Alder Creek R1
Krantz Point R62
Mio Beach R64 - Reopening 16th
Nuthatch R21
Rainy Lake Group Site R74 - Reopening July 16th
Sunrise Point R26 - Reopening July 16th
Little Finlander Island R18
Channel View R100
Nelson Island R102
Dryweed Island R11
Dove Bay West R111 - Reopening July 16th
Soboleski Bay South R49
Makinen Point R53 - Reopening July 16th
Reuter Creek R65 - Reopening July 16th
Three Sisters Islands R77
Kempton Entrance East R91
Lyle Mine Island R93
Cranberry Creek R95
Harrison Bay R61
Backcountry sites
Locator Lake B9
War Club Lake B17
Quill Lake B15
Loiten Lake B11
These closures may be extended, and more sites may be added, as conditions continue to be assessed. Reservations cancelled due to closures are automatically refunded in recreation.gov.
The National Park Service is asking for visitors to use caution, be patient, and to check for the most up to date park information that may impact your travel plans. As you explore the park, you may find trails not maintained, floating docks not in place, or fallen vegetation in areas. The park’s team is working on getting the park open (these preparations were delayed due to the late ice out), while assisting gateway communities with flood preparations.
Thank you Voyageurs National Park staff and local community members for all your efforts. The Conservancy will keep this page updated with new information as it becomes available.
