Paddle the path of the 18th century French-Canadian fur traders in 24-foot cedar strip canoes. Explore waterfalls, hidden coves, and scenic waterways. Listen for the cry of the loon and the howl of the timber wolf, as you glide through the crystal clear waters of Kabetogama Lake. View ancient rock exposures, spectacular lake country scenery, and abundant wildlife as the Voyageurs once did!
Sample Itinerary
Please note: While the itinerary presented is an accurate depiction of what your trip will be like, it is only an example. Our trips are real adventures in the outdoors--not pre-packaged tours that happen on a schedule.
DAY 1: Your trip starts in the late afternoon at Ash River Visitor Center. Unload canoes and gear, put canoes in the water and paddle east towards your first campsite near Peterson's Point. Discuss expectations for the trip around the campfire after dinner.
DAY 2: Get up early for breakfast, participate in a canoe orientation, and learn about other details necessary for a safe and fun trip. Break camp and get underway! Paddle east through Old Dutch Bay and Blind Indian Narrows. Camp on Namakan Island or push on to sites located in the Wolf Pack Islands.
DAY 3: Take a layover day in this area where there are many things to do. Sit back and soak in the wilderness, take a day trip to Junction Bay and fish at a small waterfall, or paddle near Kubel Island with a breathtaking view of Canada.
DAY 4: Paddle to Williams Island and set up camp. Explore the hidden coves of Moose or Hoist Bay. Spend the last night in the wilderness telling tales around the fire.
DAY 5: Rise at dawn and paddle with the sun at your back to the take-out point near the visitor center. The trip officially ends after lunch in the early afternoon. Those who use WI's van transportation can expect to return to Minneapolis in the evening.
Travel, Terrain, Etc...
TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: This trip area lies on the Canadian Shield, with terrain characterized by exposed granite carved by the water and ice action of the big lake. Many islands provide protection from the wind. Voyageurs National Park offers a wide range of route options from very easy to very difficult.
TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel in 24-foot cedar strip canoes, which hold 6-8 paddlers plus all necessary gear. They are fast and stable boats, designed specifically for trips on big water. The average day's travel consists of 3-6 hours of paddling, depending on weather conditions. Travel distances vary from 4-10 miles per day with the exception of scheduled layover days. To protect the environment, WI uses Leave No Trace camping techniques.
WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer months range from 40 F to 95 F. Rainfall can vary and you should expect at least one day of rain.
LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: This is a camping trip. At night you will sleep in a comfortable Eureka Timberline tent. Typically, there are 3 people per 4 person tent (although other arrangements can be made). We recommend that you bring your own personal sleeping bag and "camprest" foam core inflatable mattress (a limited number of sleeping bags and mattresses are available as loaners for individuals who need them). Bathroom facilities consist of an outhouse or a foldable commode chair set up in a privacy tent. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.
GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 10 to 13 participants, plus 2 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.
CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary canoeing and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is needed to complete this trip.
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Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.
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[ Dates & Fees ]
Named after the French-Canadian fur traders of the late 17th to early 19th century, Voyageurs National Park beckons to present day explorers. Its numerous lakes compose 218,054 acres and hundreds of miles of shoreline. The Voyageurs traveled extensively throughout the region trading with natives and establishing water routes which are traced by adventurous people today.
Located at the southern part of the Canadian shield, Voyageurs National Park contains some of the oldest exposed rock formations in the World. Dated at nearly 3 billion years old, this rock forms the foundation for the regions topography. Glaciers also had a significant impact on the region as they carved depressions which filled with water, creating the lakes, ponds and streams that the voyageurs navigated.
American Indians inhabited this region for hundreds of years prior to the arrival of the Voyageurs. Evidence of both Dakotas and Sioux, who had established campsites near wild-rice beds, has been discovered within the boundaries of the Park. These nations were eventually driven off by the Ojibwa who, in time, established a partnership with the fur traders. The Voyagers traded alcohol and firearms for valuable beaver pelts and native knowledge of canoe building and navigation routes. This partnership finally ended in the mid 19th century when the beaver population was hunted to near extinction and fur hats were no longer as fashionable.
As the fur trade era was on the decline, the lumber industry was taking hold. From the 1880's to the 1920's the area was subject to extensive deforestation. In 1913, the Kettle Falls Hotel was built to house the region's lumberjacks and was vacated in the early 1920's as the logging industry moved west. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Kettle Falls Hotel is the only remaining evidence of this earlier era and one of a few developed sites within this vast wilderness.
Visitors to the North Country will leave with fond memories. The serenity and beauty of the landscape is enough to satisfy most, but add the brilliance of the aurora borealis and satisfaction becomes admiration. Early risers will not forget the loon's call penetrating the morning silence. The howl from a distant wolf will thrill a late 20th century explorer just as it did the Voyageurs of the 18th century.
For more information, visit these links:
National Park Service - Official Voyageurs National Park Website
Voyageurs National Park - Private site
Voyageurs National Park Association
Check out the Explore Minnesota website for Wilderness Inquiry
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