Voyageurs National Park guide · 1 min read
Grassy Bay Cliffs and Other Waterside Sights
The Grassy Bay Cliffs are one of the best known sights in the park. Grassy Bay is a large bay on the western side of Sand Point Lake, and it holds rich natural and cultural resources.
Houseboats often drift in front of the cliffs, a common sight for anyone exploring the bay from the water.
Houseboating gives you an extended stay on the water, with a route to the farthest parts of the park. You have a comfortable base on board, so the trip works for visitors of all ages. Rentals come from businesses based just outside the park, and the lodging page covers other places to stay in nearby gateway communities.
Boating is the main way to see the park. Access points are spread along Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Ash River, Crane Lake, and Orr and Pelican Lake. You can drive to the visitor centers and hike many trails, but every campsite except the primitive ones requires a boat. The shorelines and waterways are rugged, and they hold plenty of wildlife and a deep history.
Several historic sites sit along the shore. The Casareto Summer Cabin is one of the park's summer recreational cabins, and it rests on a sand beach. The Mittet cabin at Grassy Bay offers a look at early recreation in the park. The Ingersoll Estate was built by Illinois philanthropist William Ingersoll, and the lake just north of Harrison Narrows gives a view of it. Its lodge later collapsed, and the remains are kept in storage in case it is rebuilt.
Ellsworth Rock Gardens lies on the northern shore of Kabetogama Lake. The gardens were once a sculpture filled with flowers, created by Ellsworth as part of the family's summer home. Boat tours from the Kabetogama Visitor Center stop there.
