News
Mission:
To protect and promote the natural, recreational and historical resources of Voyageurs National Park.
Funding Received for 49-Passenger Tour Boat
Voyageurs National Park recently received funding to build a new tour boat for Rainy Lake that should be cruising by 2010. Funding of $1.4 million to build the boat was provided by the Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Land Program (ATPPL) as a result of six years of cooperative efforts by Park partners, local government, and the Park. The tour boat has long been a high priority for the Midwest section of the National Parks system. Currently, Voyageurs provides many summer tours on pontoon boats, though they cannot accomodate nearly as many visitors as the new 49-passenger boat.
A tour boat of this size will restore consistent tour and charter services on Rainy Lake. Since the privately-owned and operated tour boat company,The Pride of Rainy Lake, left ten years ago, high capacity interpretive tours have been inconsistent. With enough seating space for class-sized school field trips or special group requests for community events, the tour boat will be able to show the grandeur of Voyageurs to a much greater crowd. Rain or shine, passengers will be able to view the Park’s wildlife and breath-taking scenery from either the enclosed lower deck or the open air upper deck. The 50-foot long, alternative-fuel shuttle/tour boat will operate on advanced bio-diesel engine technology to be more fuel-efficient. A ‘greener’ boat will help the Park protect its natural resources by reducing fuel emissions.
Because Voyageurs National Park is 40% water, the tour boat is essential for the average Park visitor to see all of the natural and cultural resources that Voyageurs has to offer. Even if you have a private boat, navigating the 84,000 acres of waterways can be daunting. And who would want to miss the great line-up of interpreter-led naturalist programs? Visitors can choose among several tour boat programs, including a cruise about the Rainy Lake gold rush, with a stop at a historic gold mine site; a cruise into the back bays and protected areas of Rainy Lake that are abundant with wildlife; a sunset cruise that highlights bald eagles and the park’s significant scenery; and a 35-mile boat trip to the Kettle Falls Historic District. But don’t wait until 2010 - Voyageurs offers many similar programs right now on smaller scale boats. Check out the Park newspaper, Rendezvous, for schedules and reservation information, or call (888) 381-2873.
For more information about the tour boat, see the Timberjay.