Visitor Experience and Park Improvements
Inspiring Stewardship & Support for Park Improvements & Restoration
Each year, the Voyageurs Conservancy works with the Park Service to identify places and projects where private philanthropy, volunteerism, and partnerships will most benefit the park’s critical needs. The Conservancy`helps connect volunteers and financial resources to projects that can’t be accomplished with the park’s limited federal budget. Recent notable projects include:
`Ellsworth Rock Gardens
In 2019, park crews wrapped up a two-year project at Ellsworth which included an accessible trail system, a larger dock, interpretive media, and other improvements. The Conservancy provided funding for educational signs and future restoration of historic features at the site.
Cruiser Lake Trail
The Voyageurs Conservancy provided $20,000 in funding to rehabilitate the Cruiser Lake Trail System in 2016. This unlocked matching federal funds to replace boardwalks, level bridge sections, fix signs, and clear overgrown brush, making the trail safer and more accessible.
Kettle Falls Overlook
Restoration efforts at the Kettle Falls Overlook will begin in Fall 2020. This project will address accessibility issues, archaeology preservation, and visitor safety. The Conservancy has provided $45,000 in matching funds to support the Kettle Falls Overlook restoration. The project employs a Northern Bedrock Preservation Corps young adult crew, engages local volunteers, and connects visitors to the park’s history.
You Can Support Park Projects Like These
Several natural and historic sites in the park are in great need of both restoration and improved visitor experience. Your gifts help support countless projects that keep Voyageurs National Park wild and accessible for all.
Additional Landmark Projects Include:
Ethno-Botanical Garden The National Park Service, the Conservancy and volunteers worked side-by-side to clear what is now the garden of invasive canary grass and replace it with native plants vital to historical Ojibwe culture and erect a traditional waaginogaan structure.
Black Bay Ski Trail In 2015, the Conservancy recruited 28 volunteers who logged 196 service hours clearing .4 miles of the heaviest vegetation found along the Black Bay Ski Trail’s length, opening the Ridge Trail Circuit for winter skiers for the first time in years.