Although most of Voyageurs National Park trails are maintained throughout the year, becoming snowshoe and cross-country ski attractions during the winter months, Spring is perhaps the best time for a hike through the forest. Delicate, lime-colored leaves are just beginning to appear, pairs of mating geese can be seen – and heard – over nearby lakes, and cool breezes keep temperatures mild.
All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes, drinking water and a map in order to immerse yourself in nature and witness the emergence of a new season. And, with a variety of trails to choose from, hikers can easily find one that suits their individual skill levels, from 20-minute jaunts to hours-long adventures.
Drive-to Trails
Voyageurs is known for its acres of water (84,000) and miles (more than 600) of undeveloped shoreline. But that doesn’t mean you need a boat to explore and enjoy the park, which features close to a dozen land-accessible trails.
- Echo Bay Trail is an easy hike, located three miles from the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center off Country Road 122. The 2.5-mile loop passes through lowlands and rocky outcrops and includes a great blue heron rookery.
- Blind Ash Bay Trail is a moderately difficult narrow, winding trail accessible at the Kabetogama Lake Overlook near the Ash River Visitor Center. The 2.5-mile loop boasts spectacular scenery and is open for snowshoeing in the winter.
- Kab-Ash Trail is the longest and most strenuous, this 28-mile system of trails connects the Kabetogama and Ash River communities. Four trailheads make it possible to hike sections of this trail or the whole trail for an in depth view of the park.
ADA Accessible
In addition to providing varying degrees of difficulty and lengths, park trails also provide the opportunity for people with disabilities to experience Voyageurs’ singular scenery.
- The Ethno-botanical Garden Trail features an Ojibwe Indian camp and native plant garden that invite visitors to consider what life was like for the area’s native people.
- The first ¼ mile of the Oberholtzer Trail is wheelchair accessible and, located just outside the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, is a showcase for the park’s diversity of forest and wetlands found in the park.
- The Rainy Lake Recreation Trail is a wide, paved path that welcomes runners, walkers and bicyclists. Leading from highway 71 to the entrance of Rainy Lake Visitor Center the 1.75-miles include benches for taking a breather while taking in the views of Rainy Lake.
Trails with Views
Make time in your trip to the Ask River Visitor Center to enjoy theses little-known gems:
- The Beaver Pond Overlook is the second trailhead on the left, where a short uphill hike is rewarded with an overhead view of an abandoned beaver pond. Lucky – and quiet – hikers may also see large wildlife like bear and moose here.
- Take the third pullout on the left to access the Kabetogama Lake Overlook, an easy .2-mile hike that leads to a west-facing view of the lake.
Before you begin a journey on any of the park’s trails, be sure to pick up a map at one of the visitor centers.