Learn the basics of snowshoeing, the history of the first snowshoes, and explore a variety of snowshoeing opportunities within Voyageurs National Park.
VNP staff encourage people to gather family and friends to joint a park ranger for guided snowshoe hikes in Voyageurs National Park.Â
- Walk the grounds of historic Rainy Lake City from 1-3 p.m. on the following Saturdays: Feb. 7, Feb. 28, and March 21.
- Trek along the Oberholtzer Trail from 1-3 p.m. on the following Saturdays: Feb. 14, March 7, and March 28.
- Visit the Black Bay Beaver Pond from 1-3 p.m. on the following Saturdays: Feb. 21 and March 14.
Participants may bring their own snowshoes or borrow a pair free-of-charge from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. To join the hikes, meet inside the visitor center prior to the start. No fee or registration is required to attend. Afterwards, park staff invite visitors to warm up with a cup of cocoa, view exhibits, watch the park film, and look through the Jefferson National Parks Association bookstore.
Snowshoes are always available to borrow during visitor center hours, thanks to funding from the Friends of Voyageurs National Park.
Experience VNP in the winter by visiting the Oberholtzer Trail by snowshoe.
A pair of snowshoes will offer a winter experience on the two-mile round-trip Oberholtzer Trail.
Visitors to the park often hike this trail in summer due to its convenient location near the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. In winter, the ice and snow cover creates a completely different trail experience.
The Oberholtzer Trail was named after conservationist Ernest Oberholtzer, who lived not far from the doors of the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Ober. as he was known, built his home on Mallard Island in 1915. Years earlier, Ober met Ojibwe Indian guide Billy Magee and they became fast friends. They traveled by canoe thousands of miles throughout the area and into Ontario.
After years of travel with his Ojibwe companion, Ober realized the area should be set aside for all to enjoy and spearheaded a movement to stop dam development in the region. Oberholtzer’s persistence led to the passage of the Shipstead-Newton-Nolan Act in 1930. This legislation, based largely on Ober’s alternative plan for the region, prohibited the changing of water levels in the Superior National Forest. It was the first legislation ever passed by the U.S. Congress that mandated wilderness values on federal lands.
Ober and the many other conservationists with whom he worked were successful in setting aside nearly three million acres of wilderness known today as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Many of his fellow conservationists would later help establish Voyageurs National Park.
After experiencing the Oberholtzer Trail, a little more adventure can be found by snowshoeing across landscapes that are under water spring, summer, and fall. Trek across frozen wetlands, across lake ice, and around the nearby islands for a unique winter view. On Saturdays, join a ranger to explore these different frozen landscapes, the history the snowshoe, and the wildlife that adapts, survives, and thrives, during northern Minnesota’s winters.
The park has a variety of snowshoes styles and snowshoe sizes for all ages to use free-of-charge. Donations are welcome. They can be checked t at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The most up to date winter trail conditions are available at www.nps.gov/voya.
Pressure ridges, places where lake ice has buckled or heaved due to winds or currents, have developed both on and off designated snowmobile trails within Voyageurs National Park. Pressure ridges have settled down but will continue to be monitored. Slush conditions have gotten better with the lower temperatures but pockets of slush exist off the trails. Trails are rerouted as hazards are found, but visitors are encouraged to check each pressure ridge prior to crossing due to changing conditions.
Snowmobile Trails
- International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open, staked, and groomed
- Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) – Open, staked, and groomed
- Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open, staked, and groomed
- Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Open, staked, and groomed
- Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open, staked, and groomed
- East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Open, staked, and groomed
- Rainy Lake Ice Road – Open to Cranberry Bay and around Dryweed Island
- Kabetogama Lake Ice Road – Open
Ski trails
- Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open, packed, and tracked
- Black Bay Ski Trail – Open, packed, and tracked – Pine Loop rocky in places.
- Tilson Connector Trail – Open, packed, and tracked
- KabAsh Trail – Open
Snowshoe trails
- Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail – Open, not packed
- Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open, not packed
- Oberholtzer Trail – Open, not packed
- Sullivan Bay Trail – Open, not packed
