#LoveYourPark While Camping
As the sound of bird songs and pesky mosquitos fill our ears, the excitement for summer camping grows. Although a season like none other, National Park Service maintenance teams have been preparing docks and campsites for you to get out and enjoy the park’s wonderful camping opportunities this summer. These dedicated staff will spend hours surveying and repairing campsites to ensure an unparalleled escape.
Campsite crews check and maintain pertinent services such as tent pads, fire rings, bearboxes, and privies. Many campers do their part to be responsible stewards of the park. Voyageurs National Park highly encourages visitors to abide by the Center for Outdoor Ethics’ “Leave No Trace” principles. However, there are a few lesser-known ways you can #LoveYourPark when camping.
Photo by John Young
1) Small Trash Creates Big Problems
Corners of wrappers, twist-ties, fruit labels, and plastic bottle caps are few of the many examples of micro-trash. Seemingly small bits of trash can add up to create big problems for wildlife, water quality, and the enjoyment of other guests.
Tip: Play a “Micro-trash Scavenger Hunt” with your family before you leave the campsite. Split people into teams and see who can gather the most micro-trash. This will leave the campsite cleaner than when you found it and teach children about stewardship.
2) Only Cut Dead AND Down
There’s a common misconception that visitors can cut down dead vegetation for firewood. However, vegetation must be dead AND down on the ground before it can be harvested. It’s illegal to cut dead, standing wood; this vegetation serves as a vital habitat for wildlife.
Tip: Neighboring gas stations and convenience stores sell DNR approved firewood; skip the hassle of harvesting your own and use this environmentally-friendly substitute.
3) Never Burn Waste
It’s important you remove all waste from your campsite. However, burning your trash creates immense environmental and health hazards. Burning plastic, metal, treated wood, and other garbage releases harmful pollutants in the air. These pollutants land and attach themselves to vegetation and water. Burned garbage also leaves thick sludge in fire rings, making campsite cleaners’ jobs difficult.
Tip: There are trash and recycling receptacles at all landings and visitor centers. You do not have to take your trash home with you, but you must bring it back to shore.
Beginning May 18, 2020, Voyageurs National Park will reopen access for overnight tent camping and houseboat mooring sites. Visitor centers will remain closed until further notice, so make sure to plan ahead for a safe trip. Park staff will be available for visitor inquiries near boat launches, outside visitor centers, and on trails on specified dates. Visit voyageurs.org/visitorinfo for a full list of operation changes.
Please ensure your camping permits are printed at home before arriving to the park. There will be no facility at the park to assist in printing a permit.
In light of the current pandemic, campers are expected to follow local health orders, Leave No Trace principles, avoid high-risk activities, and maintain proper social distance. Being responsible for our own personal health protects the health of future campers as well. Thank you for doing your part to help keep Voyageurs National Park visitors and staff safe!