How to get to Voyageurs National Park

Beaver Pond Overlook Trail

The remote national park in northern Minnesota can be reached via U.S. Hwy. 53, which runs north from Duluth and east from International Falls.

From the Twin Cities, take Interstate 35 north and then, once in the Duluth area, Hwy. 53 northwest.

From Thunder Bay, Canada, take Canada Hwy. 11 west to Fort Frances and cross into the United States. In International Falls, the road becomes Hwy. 53 or Second Avenue.

Hwy 53 offers access points to each of the park's visitor centers:
• County Road 129 heads to the Ash River Visitor Center and resort area. An excellent trail there is the 0.4-miles round trip Beaver Pond Overlook Trail, where you can spot iconic Northwoods wildlife...or at least signs of it during the day.
• County Road 122 runs north to the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center. In this area, you can hike atop rock almost half the age of the Earth on the 2.2-mile Echo Bay Hiking Trail.
• Minn. Hwy 11 runs east from International Falls to Rainy Lake Visitor Center. A great day hike there is the Little American Island Trail, which loops 0.25 miles around the only authentic gold mine discovered in Minnesota.

Learn more about the park’s day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at Voyageurs National Park guidebook.