Voyageur's National Park

Last week I went to Voyageur's National Park for the first time. Even though I was really there to fish Rainy Lake on the Minnesota side, something I had never done before, I decided to camp in Voyageur's rather than rent a cabin or camp at one of the nearby resorts. Since I knew very little about the park, I decided to begin planning my trip by calling the park. The ranger I spoke with on the phone was extremely helpful She referred me to their website, where I found a very useful map of the park and the location of campsites. The page that contains the links to the campsite and park maps is at http://www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/index.htm. Staying in Voyageur's is a little different from staying in a Minnesota State Park or the Boundary Waters. For one thing, camping is free. You just need to stop at one of the visitor centers and apply for a free camping permit. Camping is also first come, first get. You are allowed to reserve campsites at MN state parks, so this made me a little worried. I didn't want to drive for 4 hours and then boat out to the islands only to find that there were no campsites. This was not a problem, however, as I found several really nice sites in which to stay. There are tons of nice campsites, many of which have docks (nice for boaters), tent platforms, and biffies. All of the sites also come with fire rings, picnic tables and bear lockers. I stayed at three sites on three different islands, and each one offered something unique. The picture on this posting is from my favorite site on Dryweed Island. You are allowed to bring almost anything you want in terms of gear, food, packaging, etc..., to the campsites, which is a little different from the Boundary Waters. They do not allow you to bring in your own firewood, however, because they are trying to prevent the spread of Ash Bores. You can purchase firewood at gas stations and store surrounding the park. Sometimes you'll find a campsite that has wood at it too. If you are looking for a quiet, beautiful, secluded way to take a camping trip, I highly recommend Voyageur's. I'd like to go back there with my wife and take a week-long trip sometime.