The Crane Lake Region: A Houseboater’s Paradise
There’s something quite special about the Northwoods of Minnesota, especially the Crane Lake region. Countless acres of land and water full of recreational opportunity. Whether you want to fish, boat, hike, camp, ride or more, this neck of the woods has options for everyone.
Without a doubt, one of the most important aspects of an ideal vacation is finding the right place to stay. Cabins, camping, and hotels are all great options, but there’s something unique about renting a houseboat, especially if you love the water. If water-based recreation is the objective of your visit, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better option than a houseboat. There’s no other choice that gives you the flexibility of travel, while maintaining the comforts of home.
We sat down with Mike and Linette Arndt, managers of Voyagaire Lodge & Houseboats to get the scoop on renting a houseboat in the Crane Lake region. Voyagaire has been in the business of renting houseboats since 1959. With the largest fleet of houseboats in the state of Minnesota, they have options for groups of many sizes. “We have 35 houseboats in our fleet,” says the Arndt’s. “We are constantly building more, as well as remodeling our existing lineup. They can house anywhere from two to twelve guests at any given time. Twelve is the maximum allowed per Coast Guard regulations.”
With so much water throughout the Namakan Reservoir, a houseboat is a fantastic way to explore. You can stay close to the home base on Crane Lake, or venture throughout Voyageurs National Park into Sand Point, Namakan, and Kabetogama.
Voyageurs National Park is truly a houseboater’s dream. The Park is well set up for users and includes a number of sites specifically designated for houseboat use. The sites are categorized into Designated Sites and Undesignated Sites, both of which are a first come, first-serve basis. Each site is only allowed two houseboats. Designated sites are exactly what they sound like. The sites are signed as such and include mooring options for securing houseboats and a designated access. Undesignated sites, on the other hand, are simply shoreline areas that are at least 200 yards from a designated site or structure.
According to Mike and Linette, time on a houseboat is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. “It’s like having a floating cabin. You have all the luxuries you need, but you still get to be in the Park and enjoy all it has to offer.”
What amenities do the houseboats offer?
With so much water throughout the Namakan Reservoir, a houseboat is a fantastic way to explore. You can stay close to the home base on Crane Lake, or venture throughout Voyageurs National Park into Sand Point, Namakan, and Kabetogama.
Voyageurs National Park is truly a houseboater’s dream. The Park is well set up for users and includes a number of sites specifically designated for houseboat use. The sites are categorized into Designated Sites and Undesignated Sites, both of which are a first come, first-serve basis. Each site is only allowed two houseboats. Designated sites are exactly what they sound like. The sites are signed as such and include mooring options for securing houseboats and a designated access. Undesignated sites, on the other hand, are simply shoreline areas that are at least 200 yards from a designated site or structure.
Voyagaire also offers a hospitality service that is on the lake every day. Whether you need a bag of ice, some ice cream, or maybe even a pack of gum we can deliver right to your boat. It’s kind of like ordering room service right on the water.
What should guests bring with them?
The main items that our guests need to bring along are their food and beverages. In terms of food, the best bet is to plan like you’re going camping or going to a cabin. With all the amenities, you certainly could make whatever you want. We’ve had guests go as far as making cheesecakes and pies out on the water. That being said, when you’re up here you’ll likely want to spend as much time enjoying the natural beauty rather than cooking.
We do offer linen packages that include bedding, towels, pillow, and so forth or folks can bring their own.
Other things guests might want to bring along relate to recreation while they’re up here – like gear for fishing or hiking.
What’s it like to drive a houseboat? Do guests need prior experience before renting from Voyagaire?
Driving a houseboat is somewhat similar to driving a console boat, just on a bigger scale. To be honest, most of our guests have zero experience driving a boat this size before renting with us. Before you head on the water, our knowledgeable staff with walkthrough everything with you. Their job is to help you understand how to drive and navigate the boat and they won’t leave you until you’re comfortable. We will help you get the boat away from the dock when you depart, as well as moor the boat for you when you get back.
Always remember when you’re on the water, we are just a radio call away.
What advice do you have for a first time houseboater?
The best piece of advice is simply ‘don’t overthink it.’ If you’re apprehensive, just know we won’t let you venture out until you’re entirely comfortable. From the time you walk in to the time you walk out, our goal is help you achieve some of the best memories of your life.
How are emergencies handled?
If you ever need to get a hold of us, the radio is the best way. Throughout most of the Park, cell coverage is pretty limited. We do have someone that stays on Namakan Lake throughout the houseboat season, so they are much closer if something does go awry.
In the event that a medical emergency did occur, we are fortunate to have a number of EMTs available within just minutes of the resort.
What licenses or permits are required to use a houseboat in the area? What if guests want to venture into Canada?
If you plan to visit Voyageurs National Park with a houseboat, a permit is required. They are very easy to obtain, and reservations can made via phone at 1-877-444-6777 or via www.recreation.gov.
For guests that want to head into Canadian waters, it’s not a problem. You’re allowed to cross the water boundary as long as you don’t anchor or stop on Canadian land. If guests actually want to go to Canada, there is a customs office on Government Island on Sand Point Lake that’ll accommodate a houseboat.
What kinds of activities are there to do while on the water?
For a lot of visitors, the goal of their trip revolves around relaxing, rewinding, and resetting. Since there isn’t much for cell coverage, it’s a great way to disconnect from hustle and bustle of life. We see a lot of families, honeymoons, bachelor parties, church groups and more.
For the kid visitors, swimming is definitely a fan favorite. Other visitors like to simply kick back and sunbathe. We also see a fair number of adventurer/outdoorsy types – the hiking trails and the fishing are pretty popular with those crowds.
How much water is accessible from Crane Lake with a houseboat?
The water up here feels pretty endless. You could spend a week up here and still feel like you have a lot more to explore. With a houseboat, you can go from Crane Lake to Sand Point Lake, Namakan Lake, or Lake Kabetogama. The only big lake that you can’t get to with a houseboat is Rainy, but you can get there with a towable boat.
Anything else houseboaters should know?
Any houseboat user will need to have a towable boat attached to the houseboat. Per Coast Guard regulations, the boats must be equipped with at least a 9.9 hp motor. Our guests can either bring their own or we do have rentals available through the Lodge.
The other thing for guests to keep in mind is the gas usage. Most folks will use roughly 5 to 15 gallons of gas per day. You’ll want to plan appropriately on your daily use. There are a few spots on the water where you can fill up, or we can do fill ups via our hospitality service.
In your opinion, what’s the best part about the Crane Lake region?
For us, the best part of the Crane Lake region is the people. The residents in this area are unlike any other. Visitors are always amazed at how friendly, helpful, and welcoming the people are up here.
This area is really hard to beat. It’s really a fantastic place to disconnect from all that’s happening in the world. There’s just so much natural beauty and so much land that is undisturbed. We are fortunate that we have been able to settle down in this area. We vacationed here for years before making our dreams come true and calling the area home.
Anything else visitors should know about Voyagaire?
Voyagaire Lodge & Houseboats has a lot to offer for really anyone. Even if you don’t want to rent a houseboat, we have options to stay right at the Lodge. We have boat rentals for the boaters and fishermen, UTV rentals for the trail riders, and some top-notch dining.
The newest addition to our operation is our full-service guide service. We have experienced, full-time fishing guides that’ll work with you to teach you all about fishing on Crane Lake and other lakes in Voyageurs National Park.
To find out more about renting a houseboat in the Crane Lake region, visit the website at voyagaire.com.
