Top 10 Winter Activities at Voyageurs National Park

Are you ready to take an unforgettable journey into the Wild North? Look no further than Minnesota’s national park. With miles of groomed snowshoe and ski trails, an accessible ice road, premiere ice-fishing, and endless opportunity to snowmobile through remote regions of the park, Voyageurs National Park offers unparalleled winter experiences.

Check out the Top Ten Ways to Experience Voyageurs in the Winter. We believe you’ll come back a little wilder too.

1. Enjoy the Dark Skies of Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park presents some of the most striking night skies in the nation. On a visit to the park, one can find themselves under a blanket of stars and discover constellations from the Ojibwe star map. The forests and wildlife of Voyageurs National Park thrive on the rhythmic cycle of day and night.

Voyageurs National Park gained national and international attention for its International Dark Sky Park certification. This certification from the International Dark-Sky Association recognizes Voyageurs for the exceptional quality of its dark skies and the park’s ongoing commitment to dark sky preservation and education. Celebrate this major achievement by visiting the park when its skies are on full display!

Visitors get a big-sky view on pristine stars over the park’s large, frozen lakes. Because of its long nights, winter is a phenomenal time to stargaze and chase the highly sought-after Northern Lights. Due to the park’s northern latitude, visitors travel from across the country in hopes of catching this awe-inspiring sight. The Northern Lights are a rare phenomenon, but visitors can increase their chances of seeing the lights by following aurora borealis forecasts.

Whether you snowshoe, ski, snowmobile, or camp under the blanket of brilliant stars, visitors experience a breathtaking celestial show. Learn more about the park’s dark skies and Dark Sky Park certification here.

2. Cross Country Ski Echo Bay, Black Bay, or Tilson Creek Trails

Immerse yourself in the tranquility of Voyageurs National Park with a day of cross country skiing. The Echo Bay Trail is located three miles from the Kabetogama Visitor Center (closed in winter) off County Road 122. This trail offers a wide path that takes you from aspens to pines as you pass through lowlands and rocky outcrops. Sections of this trail are groomed for skiing in the winter months - perfect for novice skiers - while other parts of the trail are of intermediate difficulty.

The Rainy Lake Visitor Center offers adult and child-sized skis, boots and poles free-of-charge. Call the Rainy Lake Visitor Center at (218) 286-5258 for availability.* From the visitor center, you can access the Tilson Creek Ski Trails (just outside of Voyageurs) via a connector trail. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages this ten mile network of interconnected ski trails. Several routes are possible, ranging from short loops to longer excursions. Traveling 1 miles north from the visitor center, across frozen Rainy Lake, you can access the Black Bay Ski Trails.

You can also launch your cross country skiing exploration from other gateway communities around the park. Try the Kab-Ash Trail or follow these links for trail information near Crane Lake and Ash River.

*Note: Ski rentals at The Rainy Lake Visitor Center are available at limited hours. Please check the park’s website or call park headquarters at (218)-283-6600 for updates.

3. Snowshoe the Blind Ash Bay, Oberholtzer, and Sullivan Bay Trail

Take in the beauty of towering, snowy pines and breathe the crisp winter air while snowshoeing in the Voyageurs National Park! The Blind Ash Bay Trail consists of a 2.5 mile loop of moderate difficulty accessible through the Ash River Visitor Center trailhead. The narrow winding trail will allow you to experience the wonders of the boreal forest and view spectacular scenery.

The Sullivan Bay Trail is an 1.5 mile trail (round trip) accessible from the Ash River Visitor Center. At the end of the trail, visitors are rewarded with a fantastic overlook with a fire ring to roast hot dogs on for a mild winter day picnic.

Rainy Lake Visitor Center has snowshoes in many sizes and shapes available free-of-charge. Call ahead for availability. From there you can access the 1.7-mile Oberholtzer Trail, snowshoeing through forests and wetlands.

There are many other snowshoe trails throughout the park. Find all of your options here! All open trails are available for snowshoeing and cross country skiing during the winter months conditions permitting. It is courteous to not trudge with snowshoes through cross country ski tracks.

*Note: Snowshoe rentals at The Rainy Lake Visitor Center are available at limited hours. Please check the park’s website or call park headquarters at (218)-283-6600 for updates.

4. Go Sledding!

Did you know Voyageurs has an official sledding hill? The Sphunge Island Sledding Hill is open and accessible from the Kabetogama Lake Ice Road complete with picnic tables and a fire ring. The sledding hill consists of a small hill for younger children and a larger hill for older children and adults. To access the sledding hill, take the Kabetogama-Ash River Ice Road from the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center.  The Sphunge Island sledding hill opens annually once there is sufficient snowfall and the ice road gets plowed on Kabetogama Lake.  There's also a skating rink at the site!

5. Snowmobile on frozen lake surfaces

Visitors are awed by the immensity of Voyageurs National Park. For those who want to cover more ground when exploring the park in winter, snowmobiling on frozen lake surfaces and designated safety portages is allowed. The Chain of Lakes and Grassy Bay Cliffs (pictured below) are favorites for snowmobiling enthusiasts.There are 110 miles of staked and groomed trails for snowmobiling throughout the park. Be sure to obey all closure signs, speed limits, and familiarize yourself with the park snowmobile map. Areas are closed for your safety and to protect sensitive resources. For up-to-date local area trail conditions visit the following links: International Falls; Ash River/ Kabetogama; Crane Lake and surrounding area; Arrowhead State Trail

6. Explore Voyageurs by Ice Road 

Witness the park’s remote, winter beauty from the comfort of your car on the park’s ice highways! The Rainy Lake Ice Road departs from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center boat launch. The Kabetogama Lake Ice Road travels between the boat launches of the Ash River and Kabetogama Lake Visitor Centers. The speed limit is a slow and steady 30 mph. Familiarize yourself with safety on the ice roads. Ice road routes change from year to year depending on ice conditions. Contact the Rainy Lake Visitor Center for the latest ice conditions or check the park’s website before planning a trip to see which ice roads are open for the season.

7. Ice Fishing in a National Park

Winter quiet, rugged piney shorelines, and outstanding angling make Voyageurs National Park an ice angler’s dream. If you’re lucky you may catch a prized Walleye, Sauger, Perch, Northern Pike, Tulibee, or Eel Pout! Ice houses must be placed at least 50-feet from the center of snowmobile trails and the ice road. Check ice conditions before going out. Fishing license and ice house registration is required.

8. Dare to Winter Camp 

Spend a night, or two, or three, in the Voyageurs winter wonderland. Camping offers amazing opportunities for night sky and wildlife viewing. Perhaps you'll even catch the Northern Lights. Campsites are accessible via snowmobile, skiing and snowshoeing. Keep in mind all overnight stays at campsites within the park require a reservation in advance. You can access the reservation page by following this link. If you need some convincing, check out this compelling argument about why camping in the cold is the way to go!

9. Warm up at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center 

Stop in the Rainy Lake Visitor Center before you head out to explore the park to chat with park rangers, learn more about the history of Voyageurs National Park, and pick up skis or snowshoes to play in for the day.* Come back through after your day of winter activities to warm up and browse the park bookstore! During the winter season, RLVC is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm.

10.Embrace the Cold at Icebox Days and other Community Events

Embrace the cold with the communities that surround Voyageurs National Park. Icebox Days, held annually in January, is packed full of fun and zany games for all people, including frozen turkey bowling; the locally invented “smoosh” races; moonlight skiing in Voyageurs National Park; the infamous “Gizzard” runs and much more. Find the full schedule of wacky events here.

The Voyageur National Park gateway communities of Kabetogama, Crane Lake, and Ash River also host a variety events and activities throughout the winter months.

Winter in Voyageurs National Park is a magical time, but visiting the park in cold winter conditions requires careful planning and preparation. Be sure to layer up, carry food and water, recreate responsibly, always check conditions before heading out, and bring a friend along for company and safety.

See you out there!