27 Minutes

By CV Staff
October 01, 2025 (comments)

Google shows a 27-minute drive from Judge C.R. Magney State Park to Cascade River State Park. It is a short trip. A drive you wouldn’t think about. A drive with sealed windows and air conditioning where the radio murmurs its dull drawl. Quick, neat, efficient. Like driving to work or taking the bus. Instead, our group left the van for the Superior Hiking Trail. Instantly, the world shifted. Every step demanded engagement. Cedar roots grasped at my boots as friendly but firm reminders to look down and pay attention. Rocky inclines sapped my calves, gently challenging me to slow down,...

The Temptress of the Boundary Waters

By CV Staff
August 01, 2025 (comments)

Having travelled across the Atlantic from Australian Eucalypt forests to the boreal, Minnesotan north, I (vainly and foolishly) fancied myself something of a Marlow in Heart of Darkness or a Fowler in The Quiet American; the stoic, intrepid flaneur upon foreign shores. Little did I know that she had other ideas. The “she” of whom I refer is, of course, Pagami Creek. Maybe you haven’t been acquainted. Nestled with innocent treachery between Clearwater and Lake One, the Pagami Creek shortcut holds a dual mystique of nigh-unnavigability, as well as being the bearer of a lightning-struck burn scar, decimating 90,000 acres...

Trip Stories: Canoe Rescue on the Basswood River

By CV Staff
May 01, 2025 (comments)

By: David D. Cass (camper 1953-1959), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada In 1960, three friends and I took a canoe trip on the Basswood River. We started at Camp Voyageur where we spent one night in cabin 3. The next morning, we had breakfast in the Mess Hall. After breakfast, we packed and loaded our canoes and launched in Home Bay. Sam Stegman and I were in one canoe; Ron and Dave Horn were in the other. We paddled north through Garden Lake until we reached the falls between Garden Lake and Fall Lake. We paddled through Fall Lake and turned toward...

A Brief History of the Fur Trade

By CV Staff
April 04, 2024 (comments)

The fur trade in the Great Lakes region of North America represents a pivotal chapter in the continent’s history, occurring over more than a century and profoundly shaping the economic, social, and cultural landscapes of the region. Its origins can be traced back to the early interactions between European explorers and indigenous peoples inhabiting the vast territories surrounding the Great Lakes. European nations, particularly the French and later the British, recognized the immense value of the fur-bearing animals–particularly the beaver–native to the region, sparking a fervent competition to establish trade relations and exploit this lucrative resource. French explorers, missionaries, and...

Trip Stories: Moose Lake to Camp Voyageur

By CV Staff
June 29, 2023 (comments)

5 Nights on the Trail By: Joey Erdmann with Ben K., Finn H., Lleyton A., Chuck H., Demetri S., and Trip Leader Charlie Erdmann. Day 1 We loaded two small vans–later than expected– because our big van had been hijacked for a rescue mission. Alex trekked us up the Fernberg Trail to the Moose Lake landing where he and Kevin O’Kane helped us to the water and snapped a photo to see us off. The wind had picked up by this time, so we paddled across the waves to a protected point and crossed paddles. “May the wind be at...

In-Depth Gear Guide

By CV Staff
May 29, 2018 (comments)

This page no longer exists. Please contact tripdirector@campvoyageur.com for all your gear-related questions! Thanks.