Voyageurs

https://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyageurs_National_Park Voyageurs National Park is in northern Minnesota near the town of International Falls. The park's name commemorates the voyageurs—French-Canadian fur traders who were the first European settlers to frequently travel through the area. The park is notable for its outstanding water resources and is popular with canoeists, kayakers, other boaters, and fishermen. The Kabetogama Peninsula, which lies entirely within the park and makes up most of its land area, is accessible only by boat. To the east of the National Park lies the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. With 218,055 acres, Voyageurs National Park is an adventure wonderland all year long full of exposed rock ridges, cliffs, wetlands, forests, streams and lakes. This is a place of transition between land and aquatic ecosystems, between southern boreal and northern hardwood forests, and between wild and developed areas. Whether you are exploring by land, water or ice there is something for everyone. Voyageurs National Park is located in Northern Minnesota. The park shares its northern boundary with Canada and lies just west of the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness. The park visitor centers are accessible by car but in order to truly experience the park, one must leave their vehicle behind and access the park by boat. Access to Voyageurs is available from many points lining Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Ash River, Crane Lake, and Orr/Pelican Lake. Ash River Visitor Center The Ash River Visitor Center is open during our summer season from late May to late September. Ash River Visitor Center will be closed annually over the winter season. The Ash River Visitor Center is located in the historic Meadwood Lodge pictured above. Take a moment to explore this historic, rustic building. Watch your head, as some interior doorways were constructed for shorter individuals. Located 28 miles south of International Falls, Minnesota, 11 miles off of Hwy 53. Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center The Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center is open during our summer season from late May to late September. Kabetogama Visitor Center will be closed annually over the winter season. Nestled along the south west shoreline of Kabetogama Lake, within the community of Kabetogama. The Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center is open during the warm, summer months only from late May through late September. Located 25 miles south of International Falls just off of Highway 53. Rainy Lake Visitor Center Located on the shore of Black Bay with views across the water to the Kabetogama Peninsula. The Rainy Lake Visitor Center is open year-round, although hours of operation vary with the season. Call ahead, or stop by for the most current information and for help with trip planning (218) 286-5258. The visitor center offers an exhibit area, displays, a bookstore, a staffed information desk, a children's activity table, and a theater for viewing the park film. Located on the shore of Black Bay with views across the water to the Kabetogama Peninsula. This visitor center serves people in the northern part of the park and is located 11 miles East on Highway 11 from International Falls, Minnesota. Rainy Lake Campsites Campsites located on Rainy Lake. Houseboat moored on Namakan Lake Blue Heron Point, Kabetogama Houseboat on Namakan District View of Rainy Lake Voyageurs sunset Houseboat moored at sunset Houseboat moored at sunset Houseboat under starry skies Houseboat in the mist Houseboat with Grassy Bay Cliffs Houseboat reflection on calm waters View of distant houseboat from overlook Houseboat on a foggy morning Northern Lights Northern Lights over Voyageurs National Park waters Experience the Aurora Borealis at Voyageurs National Park Perry Lake overlooking a lake For peace and quiet explore the backcountry of the Kabetogama Peninsula Sunset in Voyageurs Orange tinted sky with islands scattered throughout the still lake. Enjoy a sunset in Voyageurs National Park. Anderson Bay rock cliffs along the lake Explore the unique geology of Voyageurs National Park and see our story unfold. Fall Colors orange, yellow, and green colors are showing in the fall foliage The mix of hardwood and conifers create inspiring scenic views especially in the fall. Hike a trail A view of a lake peaks through a stand of pine trees. Get outside and hiking on one of our many trails. Park Air Profiles - Voyageurs National Park Air quality profile for Voyageurs National Park. Gives park-specific information about air quality and air pollution impacts for Voyageurs NP as well as the studies and monitoring conducted for Voyageurs NP. Aurora Borealis over the water Bear Skins in the Fur Trade The fur trade shaped American history, largely financing the exploration and settlement of much of the West. Village during the fur trade era The Sounds of Spring When the weather warms, national parks across the country rouse from winter’s sleep. The sounds you hear in parks reflect this seasonal change. They contribute to the unique soundscape of these special places, and are among the resources that the National Park Service protects. Sandhill cranes dance in a courtship ritual in flooded grasslands at Great Sand Dunes NP. Exploring the Fire and Archeology Interface The Midwest Archeological Center (MWAC) worked with Midwest Region Fire Program to design and carry out experiments to collect information about the effects of fire on various classes of archeological materials. The goals of this project were to assess the fire/archeology interface to provide managers of Midwestern parks with information that will aid in decision-making concerning the stewardship of archeological and natural resources. Voyageurs National Park Voyageurs National Park is part of a historically dynamic region. Within the park is a chain of four major lakes, which American Indians have used for 9,000 years. Midwest Archeological Center archeologist Jeffrey Richner has led many projects inventorying archeological sites in the park. During these inventories, he discovered historic sites relating to the Bois Forte occupation dating to the late 19th-century and early-20th century. Bois Forte canoes on Namakan Lake (circa early 20th century). Celebrating soils across the National Park System First in a series of three "In Focus" articles that share insights into the near-universal and far-reaching effects of soils on the ecology, management, and enjoyment of our national parks. Fossil soils at Cabrillo National Monument reveal marine deposits Series: National Park Service Geodiversity Atlas The servicewide Geodiversity Atlas provides information on <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/geoheritage-conservation.htm">geoheritage</a> and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/geodiversity.htm">geodiversity</a> resources and values all across the National Park System to support science-based management and education. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1088/index.htm">NPS Geologic Resources Division</a> and many parks work with National and International <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/park-geology.htm">geoconservation</a> communities to ensure that NPS abiotic resources are managed using the highest standards and best practices available. park scene mountains Series: Park Air Profiles Clean air matters for national parks around the country. Photo of clouds above the Grand Canyon, AZ NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. lake and islands The Precambrian The Precambrian was the "Age of Early Life." During the Precambrian, continents formed and our modern atmosphere developed, while early life evolved and flourished. Soft-bodied creatures like worms and jellyfish lived in the world's oceans, but the land remained barren. Common Precambrian fossils include stromatolites and similar structures, which are traces of mats of algae-like microorganisms, and microfossils of other microorganisms. fossil stromatolites in a cliff face Wildland Fire in Red Pine and White Pine The red pine and white pine forest inhabits the cooler climates of the upper Midwest. They once covered large areas of northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Red and white pine forests owe their presence and persistence in large part to fire. Although both types of trees can live in areas without fire, especially on very sandy soils, frequent fires are necessary for healthy forests. Small flames consume dead pine needles and log under red and white pine trees. Patterns of Pathogen Exposure in Gray Wolves Read the abstract and link to a new published article on wolf pathogens across North America: Brandell, E. E., P. C. Cross, M. E. Craft, D. W. Smith, E. J. Dubovi, ...B. L. Borg, M. Sorum, ... et al. 2021. Patterns and processes of pathogen exposure in gray wolves across North America. Scientific Reports 11: 3722. Aerial view of a wolf pack in the snow. Capturing Cultural Landscapes: GIS and Historical Imagery at Voyageurs National Park Researchers combined historical aerial imagery with early shoreline surveys and modern archeological information, digitizing thousands of cultural features into a geodatabase. Archeologists can use GIS to query and visualize cultural activities over time, revealing spatial patterns and directing future research. Voyageurs National Park Certified as an International Dark Sky Park Voyageurs National Park is now officially certified as a dark sky park by the International Dark Sky Association. A small island sits beneath a night sky full of stars. Walleye Crochet Pattern Voyageurs National Park is known for its walleye fishing opportunities. Now you can crochet your very own walleye from home! Paths through History: Accessible Trails at Voyageurs National Park Debbie Smith speaks with landscape architect, David Driapsa, FASLA, and Jason Christensen, a maintenance worker at Voyageurs National Park about increasing visitor accessibility while preserving the character of the historic landscape. View of raised flower beds and stone sculptures on the granite outcropped hillside Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Things to Do in Minnesota Things to do and trip ideas in Minnesota national parks. Pink cliffs in the background with yellow and green bushes in the foreground. Series: Things to Do in Midwest National Parks There is something for everyone in the Midwest. See what makes the Great Plains great. Dip your toes in the continent's inland seas. Learn about Native American heritage and history. Paddle miles of scenic rivers and waterways. Explore the homes of former presidents. From the Civil War to Civil Rights, discover the stories that shape our journey as a nation. Steep bluff with pink sky above and yellow leaves below. Monitoring a Singing Wilderness at Voyageurs A summary of songbird monitoring data collected at Voyageurs National Park from 2014 through 2018. A person stands amid knee-high grass with a light blue sky above. He is writing on a clipboard. Pillow Basalts Pillow basalts are named for the rounded shapes that form when lava cools rapidly underwater. photo of golden gate bridge Taking the Pulse of U.S. National Parks How do we know if parks are healthy? We measure their vital signs, of course! Across the country, there are 32 inventory and monitoring networks that measure the status and trends of all kinds of park resources. We're learning a lot after years of collecting data. Check out these articles written for kids and reviewed by kids in partnership with the international online journal Frontiers for Young Minds. A cartoon of a ranger taking the pulse of the Earth. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface