Our Orientation to Voyageurs National Park

When we headed north this summer, one of our main destinations was Voyageurs National Park. We are a big fan of national parks, and this is Minnesota's only one. Situated on the very northern border of the United States, it's a less-known and less-visited national park. We hadn't heard of it ourselves until we got a map and started researching all the national parks we could visit as we wander the United States. A two-hour drive from our last campground brought us to Birchwood Resort, where they have two RV spots for short-timers. We signed up for a week's stay. The resort includes a few cabins and few more RV sites with some very friendly neighbors. Shortly after getting the motor home set up, we were down at the dock overlooking our new home lake.

We didn't have to look far for our wildlife picture of the day. The dock is home to a good group of mallards.

This beautiful fellow seems to be in charge, escorting a harem of ladies around the dock.

We hadn't been here long before our guests arrived. Our good friends, Connie and Steven, have joined us on our travels before. When they saw their planned vacation time matched our national park stay, they made the 19-hour drive to meet us for Voyageurs National Park fun.

On their drive here, they stopped to purchase an inflatable kayak. We pumped it up as soon as they arrived, and Mark and Steven took it out for its maiden voyage.

Once the guys proved that it was seaworthy, Connie and Steven tried their hand at rowing together--something that can test even a 35-year marriage.

Having a boat in the water allowed us to take a water-view picture of our new home for the week. Welcome to Birchwood Resort--situated on the watery edge of Voyageur's National Park!

Now that the introductions are over, it's time to learn about this National Park. It's named "Voyageurs" after the men that sailed these waters many years ago. These men rowed long birchwood boats to transport the trading goods to settlers in the rugged north woods. On the return trip, they would transport the furs and pelts that the northerners had trapped all winter. Two rangers were dressed in the usual garb that a hardy voyageur would wear for these long trips on the water. 

We were signed up for a national park program where we were playing the role of new voyageurs. We were outfitted with the signature belt worn by seaworthy sailors.

Now the rangers must teach these new recruits how to paddle and follow rowing commands. We got a quick orientation on the dock before we boarded our 26-foot canoe.

Once loaded and schooled, we were off on our journey to the northland, working those 16-hour days that were necessary to make the long trip across the lakes. The trail to the north includes the four large lakes that make up Voyageur National Park.

Actually, it was more like a 30-minute spin around the bay just outside the visitor center. You might be wondering how we got these great pictures of the four of us in the boat. Well, we met a nice couple from Kansas, who were on a road trip with their three grandsons. When we saw them taking pictures of the boys in the boat, they agreed to email us copies as well. Thanks to the Edwards' for the boat pictures!

Now that we know where the national park got its name, it's time to learn how to pronounce the lake at our front door. There are actually three visitor centers, but we are camped on Lake Kabetogama and closest to the Kabetogama Visitor Center. By the end of our week-long stay, we hope to be able to pronounce our lake's name. If we remember that it starts with "cab" and has a "toga" in the middle, it's easier to get the rest of the syllables pronounced correctly. If that doesn't work, we can always shorten it like the locals to "The Kab."

We also found out that this lake is home to the walleye--one of the best-tasting fresh-water fish in the world. Most of them aren't quite this big, but we had to stop for pictures at this statue just down the road.

We already think we're going to love our new home on Kabetogama Lake here at Voyageurs National Park, and we hope our guests enjoy it as well.