Anderson Bay cliffs are around a 2 mile boat ride from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Once arriving the area from a boat, the white granite cliffs rise 80 feet from the water. To the left of the cliff is a boat dock that leads to the start of the Anderson Bay loop trail as well as the Cruiser Lake Trail. Past the dock sits a picnic table on a rocky outcropping and a bulletin board with a map and information on the area.

Voyageurs National Park is situated on the southern tip of what is known as the Canadian Shield, a gigantic dome of volcanic bedrock that forms the heart of the North American Continent. This bedrock dates from the birth of North America. Some 2.8 billion years ago, massive volcanoes erupted through this area and deposited layer after layer of ash and lava, building up the island landmasses. These island arc volcanoes collided forming still larger landmasses. Subsequent uplifting, folding, superheating along with tremendous pressure created igneous and metamorphic rock to form the present day granite and schist of the Kabetogama Peninsula. Eons of erosion then wore down these volcanic mountain ranges to the landscape you see today.  <h4>Visiting Anderson Bay </h4>   Anderson Bay exemplifies the outstanding scenery for which Voyageurs was established. The exposed white granite cliffs of Anderson Bay rise 80 feet from the water and provide spectacular views of the bay and Rainy Lake. It is one of the most photographed areas of the park. There are picnic tables, fire ring, and privy at this Visitor Destination and Day Use site. Visitors can also hike the 1.75-mile loop trail to see the bluffs from the top. In addition, this is the northern trailhead for the 9.5 mile, one way, Cruiser Lake Trail system that crosses the Kabetogama Peninsula to connect with Lost Bay on Kabetogama Lake.

A view from a rocky out cropping of a lake with islands scattered throughout.

Anderson Bay

The exposed white granite cliffs of Anderson Bay rise 80 feet from the water and provide spectacular views of the bay and Rainy Lake.

Location

Voyageurs has 26 interior lakes and 15 of those have campsites. Each lake is unique, but all require hiking a moderate trail on the Kabetogama Peninsula to get to. The hiking trail is surround by a dense forest. Each interior lake only has a single campsite with a pit toilet, fire ring, bear pole, and tent pads.

Voyageurs’ 218,054 acres include four major lakes – Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point, and twenty-six smaller inland lakes that together make up more than a third of the total park area. The smaller inland lakes are scattered throughout the park, but primarily on the Kabetogama Peninsula. The peninsula is Voyageurs’ largest landmass and can be reached by water in summer or over the ice in winter.  Backcountry camping details:  <ul role="list"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="6" role="listitem"> Backcountry camping has 2 to 3 steps:  <ul> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="2" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Courier New" data-leveltext="o" data-listid="6" role="listitem"> 1. Travel by boat to a trailhead (visitors must either use their own boat, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/voya/getinvolved/commercial-services.htm">rent a vessel, or use a water taxi</a>).  </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="2" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Courier New" data-leveltext="o" data-listid="6" role="listitem"> 2. Hike a trail into the Backcountry  </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="2" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Courier New" data-leveltext="o" data-listid="6" role="listitem"> 3. Some backcountry sites also require campers to use a canoe (available for rent by the park and staged at the end of the trail) after hiking to reach their campsite.  </li> </ul> </li> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="6" role="listitem"> Voyageurs National Park has 15 backcountry camping sites.  </li> </ul> <ul role="list"> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="6" role="listitem">Reservations required. Reservations can be made <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/249981?q=Voyageurs%20National%20Park%20Camping%20Permits">online</a> or by calling by calling recreation.gov at 877-444-6777.   </li> </ul>

A sunset fades over a lake from deep purple to pink. A silhouette of an island is in the background.

Sunset on Shoepack Lake

Voyageurs National Park has 26 interior or backcountry lakes. 15 of those lakes have backcountry campsites.

Backcountry Lakes of Voyageurs National Park

With 218,055 acres, Voyageurs National Park is an adventure wonderland all year long full of exposed rock ridges, cliffs, wetlands, forests, streams and lakes. This is a place of transition between land and aquatic ecosystems, between southern boreal and northern hardwood forests, and between wild and developed areas. Whether you are exploring by land, water or ice there is something for everyone.