Water Taxis and Gateways Without a Boat

Every campsite apart from the primitive ones needs a boat to reach.

Without your own boat, water taxis can get you onto the lakes. Voyageurs Outfitters, Rainy Lake Charters, Border Country Outdoor Adventure, and Gator Charters all serve Rainy Lake. Other water taxis, including Northern Water Excursions, Border Guide Service, and Tilson Bay Company, serve the entire park. The park also keeps an approved list of commercial services, so check it while you plan.

You can enter the park from many points, including Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Ash River, Crane Lake, and Orr/Pelican Lake. Start from whichever one is closest to your route. The newest visitor center sits in the town of Crane Lake. Inside, you'll find displays, benches, a desk for questions, and a room where the park film plays.

For a guided trip, Rainy Lake Boat Tours runs its trips aboard the Voyageur. The Grand Tour and Life on the Lake each last two and a half hours. Life on the Lake takes passengers past old gold mines and fish camps on the shoreline, with a short hike led by a ranger along the way. The Kettle Falls Cruise lasts about six and a half hours and stops at the historic Kettle Falls Hotel, where you can eat a lunch you packed or pick up a boxed one.

If you prefer to plan your own outing, private tour boat services on Rainy Lake include Voyageurs Outfitters, Outdoor Values, JPEP Guiding, and Rainy Lake Fishing Adventures. Anglers can also book commercial fishing guides based at Crane Lake.