Park Rules

Voyageur National park rangers enforce a spectrum of federal laws and regulations and a variety of state statutes.  Familiarize  yourself with the following park rules.

General Regulations:
Destroying or collecting natural and cultural resources of the park including live trees, harassing wildlife and collecting any natural or cultural resources except berries and nuts is prohibited.

Between May 15 and September 15, tent and houseboat camping is limited to 14 days at a specific site and 30 days in a calendar year within the park.

Operating a boat or snowmobile while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is prohibited.

Hunting is not allowed in the park.  Firearms, fireworks, and archery equipment are prohibited.  Chain saws are prohibited except for cutting ice fishing holes.  Private floatplanes are allowed on the four major lakes - Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point.  They are also allowed on Locator, War Club, Quill, Loiten, Shoepack, Mukooda and Little Trout lakes.

Know Canadian fishing and customs regulations before you go into their waters.

Quiet Time:
10 pm to 6 am parkwide.  Public use closures:  Check at visitor centers and boat ramp bulletin boards for areas closed for protection of visitors and park resources.  Closed areas are posted with signs.

Camping:
All food, garbage, and equipment used to cook and store food must be kept in a vehicle, vessel, bearproof locker or hung 10' high and 4' out from a pole or tree.  This regulation applies throughout the park. 

Camping is permitted at designated campsites on a first come first served basis.  Camping is also permitted at underdeveloped sites under the following conditions:  

• The site is not within 200 yards of a developed tent campsite, houseboat site or day use site

• The site is not on private or leased  lands

• The site is1/4 mile away from any park developed area.

Leaving property in a campsite unattended for 24 or more hours is illegal.

Houseboats:
Houseboats may overnight at houseboat sites provided for their use and anywhere else except at:

• Tent campsites or within 200 yards of a marked tent or houseboat site

• Day use sites

• Public docks

• Private or leased land

• Within a 1/4 mile of any park-developed area.

Pets:
Pets are allowed in developed areas, around visitors centers, boat launch ramps, picnic areas, and campsites on the four main lakes.  They must be retrained on a leash not more than 6' long and under your control.  Pets are not allowed on park trails or in the backcountry.

Fires:
Cutting live trees or dead standing trees is prohibited.  Use dead or downed wood including driftwood for campfires except within developed areas and in areas where posted.  Best to bring your own wood.  Campfires are permitted in metal fire rings or existing rock rings.  Construct no new rock rings.  Campfires must be completely extinguished when you are not at the site.

Fishing & Boating:
Each person in a watercraft must have a USCG wearable life preserver readily available for use.  Use of "personal watercraft" (Jet-Skis, Wave Runner, etc..) is prohibited within Voyageurs National Park.  Overnight docking is permitted at Kettle Falls, but no overnight docking is permitted at visitors centers.

The US Coast Guard boating regulations and State of Minnesota fishing and water-skiing regulations apply within Voyageurs National Park.  They are enforced by park rangers, state conservation officers, deputy sheriffs and US Coast Guard officers.