Overnight Camping Reservations At Voyageurs National Park Open Next Week

Reservations for camping and houseboating for next summer at Voyageurs National Park will be available next week, according to a release. However, the reservations will cost campers more as fees have gone up.

Apart from an increase in rates, campers will be required to pay a $10-reservation fee.

According to the updated fee schedule, the nightly rates are up between $2 and $8 for the majority of campsites.

According to park officials, there has not been an increase in fees for boating and camping since 2013.

The park receives less than $500,000 annually in fees, and 97 percent of the costs for recreation collected by Voyageurs remain at the park to fund initiatives that directly improve the visitor experience as well as aid in the running and operation of reservations. The revenue from the fees has financed the maintenance and cleaning of the park’s facilities and continuous improvement, rehabilitation, and maintenance of camping structures as well as backcountry trail maintenance.

Recreation fees have also financed picnic tables, fire rings, and bear lockers to replace the deteriorating facilities.

“Throughout the civic engagement period, it was encouraging to read supportive feedback from park users who value the work that is done with recreation fee dollars,” Superintendent Bob DeGross expressed. “We also acknowledge feedback about areas still in need of improvement and will be mindful to ensure that this revenue adequately addresses those concerns.”

Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota has 143 front-country campsites, 97 houseboat sites, 30 day-use sites, and six visitor destination sites throughout Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point lakes. The park also manages 15 backcountry sites connected by roughly 23 miles of trails within the Kabetogama Peninsula.

“An exciting aspect of the new facilities is the establishment of the first mainland, hike-in camping opportunities in Voyageurs National Park,” DeGross noted.

Two campsites with primitive facilities on the Kab-Ash Trail can be reserved through recreation.gov starting on November 15. These campsites have fire rings and cleared camping areas suitable for tents. They can be reached by backpacking from any Kab-Ash Trailheads on Meadwood Road and the Ash River Trail.

Our hope is that by providing these designated camping areas along the way, visitors without a boat but wanting a North Woods camping and hiking experience in the park will have the ability to do so as they explore the 26-mile Kab-Ash Trail,” DeGross added.

All reservations for trips scheduled following the effective date of January 1, 2022 will be charged at the updated rates, whereas reservations for trips made prior to the date will be charged the rates of the previous year.

Park staff advised visitors to book reservations immediately after they have a clear idea of the dates they plan to visit. Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov and finding Voyageurs National Park or by calling the National Call Center at (877) 444-6777.

The following nightly fee structure goes into effect on January 1, 2022, and are in addition to a $10 reservation service fee per transaction:

• Small campsite without dock: $22
• Small campsite with dock: $26
• Large campsite without dock: $28
• Large campsite with dock: $32
• Group campsites: $60
• Primitive campsites: $15
• Backcountry canoe rental: $14
• Houseboat permits: $15
• Low-Use Season camping: $10 (Oct 1 – Apr 30, annually)