Kettle Falls

About Kettle Falls – Voyageurs National Park

Kettle Falls is located in the heart of the park and is, of course, accessible only by water. Here you’ll find a quirky red-roofed historic hotel with an old slanted dance floor and plenty of northwoods charm.

The Kettle Falls Hotel has been welcoming visitors from lumbermen to fishermen to tourists since 1913 and is sort of an unofficial symbol of the park. Stop in as you’re touring the lakes and islands of the park for some refreshments and relaxation or book a stay at the only hotel inside the park, it’ll definitely be an experience you won’t forget!

RELATED: Complete Voyageurs National Park Guide

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Best Time to Visit Kettle Falls

The best time to visit Kettle Falls is depends on where you’re staying the night as the falls are located quite far from civilization. Sunrise and sunset are the best times of day anywhere in the park as the colorful sky is reflected on the vast waters surrounding you creating a spectacular show.

The best time of year to visit Voyageurs is September and October. Autumn brings cooler temperatures, less bugs, and spectacular displays of fall foliage throughout the park. Summer is also a great time with beautiful weather if you don’t mind contending with bugs.

About Voyageurs National Park

In the far reaches of Northern Minnesota, straddling the Canadian border, you’ll find this watery wonderland almost exclusively accessible by boat.

Here, in the pristine waters of vast lakes and the mosaic of islands and boreal forest that comprise the park, you can truly get away from it all and listen to nothing but the sound of your canoe gliding in the tranquil water and the distant calls of loons.

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Things to Know Before You Visit Kettle Falls

Entrance Fees: There are no entrance fees to Voyageurs National Park.

Bugs: The Gold Portage trail can tend to be a bit overgrown so be sure to apply insect repellent with DEET as ticks can be an issue during the spring and summer months.

Cell Service: Cell service is hit or miss throughout the park. The visitors centers  have service and most places with roads do. Rainy Lake has some coverage, but as you go east on the other lakes coverage is rare.

Guide Book: We like this one.

Map: The best map for Voyageurs is this one which is kind of a must if you want to navigate the park.

Sunscreen: For many of us visiting national parks in the summer means lots of sun. Seriously, some of these parks can zap you if you don’t wear sunscreen. We happen to like this one because it works AND it’s not full of a bunch of chemicals.

Leave No Trace: We’re big fans of Leave No Trace, here at MTJP. Want to learn more? Read about the seven principals of Leave No Trace here.

Dry Bags: Dry bags are an essential Voyageurs item keeping wallets, phones, cameras, etc., nice and dry in a very wet park. We like this dry bag.

The entire park is accessible only by boat! Rentals are easy and our Voyageurs National Park Guide provides a comprehensive guide to renting boats of every type in the park.

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Voyageurs Film

This film is the culmination of several weeks spent in  Voyageurs National Park. Encompassing more than 340 square miles, Voyageurs is a watery wonderland almost exclusively accessible by boat. Journey with us as we explore a land blanketed in pristine lakes, erupting with kaleidoscopic fall colors, and home to the most spectacular displays of the northern lights on the planet. This is Voyageurs. Filmed primarily in stunning 8K.

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Helpful Related Articles

Voyageurs National Park Guide: Voyageurs National Park: Epic Guide to Minnesota’s Watery Wonderland

Voyageurs National Park Things To Do: 10 (INCREDIBLE) Things to Do in Voyageurs National Park 2022

Voyageurs National Park Camping: Everything You Need To Know About Camping in Voyageurs National Park

Gold Portage: How To Visit Gold Portage – Voyageurs National Park

Grassy Bay Cliffs: Visiting Grassy Bay Cliffs Voyageurs National Park