NATIONAL PARK TRAVELLERS

One of Minnesota's six national parks, founded in 1975. The name "Voyageurs" comes from the French explorers who were the first Europeans to travel frequently to the region for the fur trade. The various tourist offices are accessible by car, but you'll need to leave your vehicle behind if you wish to visit the park. It encompasses four lakes: Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Namakan Lake and Sand Point Lake. In summer, visitors can access the park by boat from various departure points, or by renting their own canoe. The summer months are ideal for hiking, fishing, boating and camping. In winter, when the surface of the lakes is completely frozen, four snowmobile trails connect the park, the largest of which is the 28-mile Rainy Lake Trail. This period, when the park is transformed into a veritable winter wonderland with its endless expanses of white, is ideal for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice fishing. True to the idea of the Great North, however, the park has an extremely harsh climate in winter, with temperatures plunging to -20°C. So be sure to check the weather conditions before exploring the park. You should also be aware of the danger signs sometimes posted on lakes when the ice is thin.