The big lakes disperse the boat traffic, it doesn’t seem really busy. The Beautiful lakes are worth the boat hassle, they are big though, big enough to be dangerous in a canoe. The stretch from sand point lake to crane lake is very busy, many of the boaters appeared to have no idea of boat etiquette. I’d avoid that stretch. Burntside lake north of ely would be a much better choice.

I have done just one trip to there, 1998 give or take a few years. I traveled east behind a houseboat leaving from the Lake K Visotor Center, there was a procession of one after the other spaced out along the main route, all camping spots I passed were taken by Houseboats (whether they were for them or not, so I guess the new change is a good thing) finally I decided if I were to find a place to camp I'd have to go off the main route and sure enough I found a great camp site on an island that likely once had a cabin. I believe it was on Big Sky Island although I could be wrong about that. No traffic came by and I was rewarded with a beautiful sun set in the west while there was a rainbow to the east.
The next day I continued on and snagged another campsite on an island before Fox and Jug, likely on the Wolf Pack Islands. Lots of disappointed houseboats came by wanting my campsite. I was hoping to paddle to Namakan Narrows and continue on but the wind was kicking up so I headed back, utilizing Moose Bay and a portage into Sullivan Bay (Ash River). While paddling towards the narrows to get into Lake K a boat came screaming by with 10 yards that sent a wave broadside into my canoe (a Jensen 18 I was paddling solo) that lifted it up and set it back down a good 3 feet, those of you familar with a Jensen 18 probably aren't surprised it took it in stride, it a very sea worthy boat lightly loaded (especially solo).
That is the main downside IMO, ignorant boaters and canoe haters will be a problem unless you avoid the main routes. Oh, and also nearly every houseboat ignore the directive to not run their gas generators at night, so if you are hoping for a quiet night up north, forget it.

Thanks for the great tale...

kickapooviking: "Howdy Pete~
The last couple years I've been doing just that, camping/paddling at Fall, Birch, Kawishiwa, McDougal, etc. lakes. Never been to Voyageurs so I thought I'd explore it a little..."

There's something to be said for the little lakes on the edge of the BWCA, but the scenery in Voyageurs is going to blow away those smaller lakes. Just my opinion. Big water, cool rock formations, mazes of islands, etc. Big drawback is the motorboats.

This is where I fell in love with the BWCA, before I knew anything about it.

My family took a pontoon houseboat trip in 2013 through Voigaire, and the following summer my dad passed away unexpectedly. My dad took all of us aside up on those waters (in 2013) and told us what we meant to him... as if maybe he knew ... and from then on those border waters have held a special place. Knowing I couldn't afford a pontoon houseboat I looked into the BWCA and a canoe and have been hooked ever since...

Okay, enough about me... I didn't notice an outstanding number of boat traffic on our trip in Mid-August in 2013. We did take my brother's speed boat, and went waterskiing, and tubing however on Namakan, and Sand Point. Definitely saw some canoe's and we brought the kayak with w/no problems.

Saw some canoe only campers as well. Personally, I wouldn't go there for canoeing as there are so many better options, but I still think its a GORGEOUS place. There is a great sandy beach campsite on Sand Point, although it might be a designated houseboat site.



And King Williams Narrows is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life. How my dad ever navigated a houseboat through there is beyond me. Its a site for sure.



Have an amazing time!!!

Trying to fix the posting.

Thanks for the great story!
This morning I'm thinking more and more of avoiding the float planes, pontoon boats, fishing boats, waterskiers (all the motorized nonsense that have ruined 99% of America's waterways) and sticking with designated wilderness areas like BWCA.
Thanks everybody~

I've gone to Voyageurs in May the last three years. I would recommend Namakan because it has the fewest cabins on it. There's a site back in Hammer Bay that will give you some seclusion, but it's not a great site. Rainbow Island Site is really nice too. The Birch Cove site is tucked back in and probably shields you the most from any boat traffic. It's a really nice ride from Crane Lake up into Namakan. Couple sets of narrows with Pictographs to see etc. Beautiful.

Thanks!

I actually just got back from a 5 day trip to Voyageurs. Although I am an avid canoeist I decided to do this trip in a sea kayak. Day 1 I travelled from Crane Lake to the Stone Burner Campsite on Sand Point Lake. The scenery here was beautiful but the boat traffic is a little nuts.

One thing I learned at Voyageurs is that one must understand the "shipping lanes" there are marked buoy routes that the majority of motor boats follow. Areas where a paddler cannot avoid the primary shipping lane should be treated with caution. In particular narrows between the big lakes can be hazardous as there is no way to get out of the way of motorboats. In this stretch I was often blasted by wakes of fast travelling close passing motorboats that had no sense for what a wake can do to a small vessell. These wakes were typically in the 2ft range but I had wakes of up to 4ft at times. In a sea kayak no big deal. In a canoe I would at least turn into the largest ones and try for a 45degree crossing of the wake. Expect boats to not slow down or make any attempt to go around you. On Sand Point Lake the granite outcroppings, especially at the grassy bay cliffs,were spectacular so definitely a reason to go.

Days 2-5 were spent circumnavigating the Kabetogama Peninsula. I launched and ended at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center and travelled across Rainy, Namakan, and Kabetogama. These lakes are big and beautiful. Lots of beautiful rock, tons of islands, tons of room for exploration. Motorboats here were still everpresent but much less of an issue. One way to avoid them is to paddle the narrow shallow channels between islands or to stay close to shore. My other strategy was to paddle further out than the main shipping channel. This brought great exposure to waves and wind but for a competetent paddler this can be a unique option to avoid boat traffic. Again the narrows between Rainy and Kabetogama expect nasty boat wakes/traffic. This is especially true around Kettle Falls as many go there to check out the hotel. The Kettle Falls Portage is extremely easy and if you're lazy you can pay for a truck to bring your boat across (15$). Food/booze and lodging is available at the hotel for a very nonwilderness experience. If portaging without a truck make sure to continue past the motorboat landing to the beach/canoe landing right before the falls as that cuts the portage in half.

The Gold Portage between Kabetogama and Rainy was more like a BWCA Portage. Much more narrow and overgrown in places this past August weekend. Nothing to difficult but definitely different than the truck road at Kettle Falls.

Campsites in Voyageurs have way more amenities than the BWCA. They include bear lockers, raised sandy tent pads, picnic tables, latrines (sometimes with a privacy screen) often a dock, and signs indicating which campsite it is. Portages are also signed. The campsites are often in really beautiful spots and would be 4 to 5 star campsites in the BWCA. They feel less wild of course being so manicured and amenity laden but they are quite nice.

Overall I would say two things:

1. Go to this park early or late in the season to avoid the onslaught of motorboats. Otherwise midweek during the summer should be slightly less busy.

2. Bring a sea kayak or be a skilled canoeist that can handle big wind driven waves and boat wakes and have the time for a few windbound days.

This is a very nice park but definitely not the same as the BWCA.

For me it goes:

Bwca for canoeing
Lake Superior for Kayaking (apostle islands, rossport area, pukwaska)
Voyageurs a distinct third behind these two for either vessell.

I would love to go back to bring beginners on a low key kayaking trip. Plus you can do some glamping of sorts with the Kettle Falls Hotel.

Just my .02cents sorry if a bit rambly!

Thanks! I think I may camp at one of the drive in sites, have a look see, and, if too many motors for my temperment (the older I get the less patience I have for noisy motors and the jerks driving them) head east for the quiet of the wilderness...