In a couple of weeks, the National Forest Service will open wilderness reservations for the 2023 summer season. In addition to our most popular wilderness routes, CV will offer an array of options for traveling outside of our region. Each permit we reserve requires the names of four registered campers. Select your son’s trip preference from the options listed below; he can pick one trip per four-week session. Please contact me to sign up or if you have any questions!
Great trip options for veteran Voyageur campers age 12 and older
Six-day hike on the Superior Hiking Trail
Hike along the world’s largest lake. Watch the colorful sunrise on Pincushion Mountain. Swim in frigid Lake Superior. To be eligible for this hike, campers must:
- Have attended Camp Voyageur previously and proven proficient in wilderness tripping skills.
- Be age 12 or older.
- Be capable of carrying a backpack of at least 30 pounds for 8 miles a day over rugged terrain.
Six-Day Quetico Fishing Trip on the Man Chain
Head a day’s paddle into the Quetico Provincial Park for the ultimate fishing experience. Camp four nights on Other Man Lake in the southern Canadian Wilderness, filling your daily limit and belly with trophy smallmouth, pike, and walleye. Additional fee of $400. To be eligible for this Quetico trip, campers must:
- Know how to cast, tie a fisherman’s knot, remove a hook from a fish, and maintain a rod and reel.
- Have attended Camp Voyageur previously and proven proficient in paddling, portaging, and fishing.
- Be age 13 or older.
- Bring to Camp a Canadian Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit and a Letter of Authorization, allowing them to cross the Canadian border remotely. Click here to learn more.
- Bring a spin casting rod and reel and a small tackle box with multiple barbless hook spinners (spoons) and crank baits (Rapalas). Break hook barbs off with a pair of pliers before arriving at Camp.
Eight-Day Hike on the Superior Hiking Trail
Hike along the world’s largest lake. Watch the colorful sunrise on Pincushion Mountain. Swim in frigid Lake Superior. Witness the mysterious Devil’s Kettle. To be eligible for this hike, campers must:
- Have attended Camp Voyageur previously and proven proficient in hiking skills.
- Be age 13 or older.
- Be capable of carrying a backpack of at least 30 pounds for 8 miles a day over rugged terrain.
10-day Advanced Trips for veteran campers over age 14
For campers who have previously attended Camp and proven proficient in wilderness tripping. Advanced Trips explore unique wilderness destinations and challenge our experienced campers’ abilities to develop more perseverance. This year’s Advanced Trips:
Experience the Grand Portage
Paddle east from Camp along the iconic inland water route preferred by French Voyageurs to Lake Superior. Witness the crystal-clear Knife Lake, along with the beautiful Granite River. Rose and Mountain Lakes lead east to the Height of Land and down the rapid Pigeon River. Then comes your ultimate challenge; the 8.5-mile portage topped with a plunge into the frigid Lake Superior waters. The promise of a new toque and some pizza at Sven and Ole’s make the 10-day paddle worth the effort.
Canoe in the Quetico Provincial Park from the Agnes Lake Entry
The Quetico Provincial Park of Ontario is the preferred destination for many wilderness canoeists and fishermen. Thousands of emerald lakes and rivers flow through the Quetico bound for Hudson Bay of the Arctic Ocean. The Quetico is more remote than the popular BWCAW, so she’s teaming with game fish. Whether you move daily or sit at a favorite campsite, you’ll see few other visitors here. Portages and campsites are primitive, adding to the allure of this wilderness. Your son must have completed the Grand Portage trip to qualify for this trip. Campers need a RABC permit and a Letter of Authorization from a parent or guardian to enter Canada. This trip carries an additional fee of $400. Quetico entry reservations dry up by the spring, so sign up now for the trip of a lifetime.
Hike across Isle Royale National Park
Hike the varied forests and rocky ridges of the Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior. This trek begins with a ferry ride from Grand Portage to Wendigo. Then hike for days through pine, cedar, and birch forests, along beaches and rocky coves. Isle Royale is home to wolves, moose, and spectacular vistas. Hiking on the chilly north shore of Lake Superior requires a stocking cap, wool socks and liners, broken-in hiking boots, and quality rain gear. Come to Camp with a quality rain jacket and pants and be prepared to backpack up to one-third of your body weight for 10 to 15 miles a day. Additional fee of $400.
Venture along the Voyageur’s Highway from International Falls to Camp
Experience the revival of CV’s most popular route in the 60s and 70s. Begin near International Falls and paddle the big waters along the “other” side of the Voyageur’s Highway 120+ miles all the way to Camp. Witness the vastness of Rainy Lake as you paddle through Voyageur’s National Park, stopping to explore its famed islands along the way. Skirt Crane Lake, up the Loon River into historic Lac La Croix. Then paddle through fishing hot spot Crooked Lake, up the Basswood River back to Camp.
