Voyageurs National Park is a National Park in Minnesota. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 7 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Voyageurs
We matched 7 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Voyageurs. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (2)
Lakes (1)
Fire Lookouts (2)
Dark Sky Places (1)
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Voyageurs the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 52° (NE) at the June solstice and 126° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 234° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 65° in summer but only 18° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:59 AM | 8:50 AM | 3:52 PM | 4:44 PM | 238° | 8h 45m |
| February | 7:20 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:33 PM | 252° | 10h 13m |
| March | 7:26 AM | 8:07 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:17 PM | 268° | 11h 51m |
| April | 6:22 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:20 PM | 8:02 PM | 286° | 13h 40m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:45 PM | 301° | 15h 13m |
| June | 5:10 AM | 5:59 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:16 PM | 308° | 16h 06m |
| July | 5:26 AM | 6:14 AM | 8:22 PM | 9:10 PM | 305° | 15h 44m |
| August | 6:06 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:28 PM | 293° | 14h 22m |
| September | 6:49 AM | 7:30 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:26 PM | 276° | 12h 37m |
| October | 7:32 AM | 8:15 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:24 PM | 258° | 10h 52m |
| November | 7:20 AM | 8:09 AM | 3:45 PM | 4:34 PM | 243° | 9h 14m |
| December | 7:57 AM | 8:52 AM | 3:23 PM | 4:17 PM | 235° | 8h 20m |
Computed for the park's reference point (48.4837, -92.8383); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Voyageurs, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from May through July. May gives the longest window (about 1.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | 3:59 AM – 4:19 AM | 0.3 | 11° |
| May | 1:55 AM – 2:55 AM | 1.0 | 12° |
| June | 12:49 AM – 1:29 AM | 0.7 | 13° |
| July | 12:02 AM – 12:42 AM | 0.7 | 12° |
| August | 10:35 PM – 10:45 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
There are four distinct seasons in Voyageur country. During June, July, and August periods of fine, mild weather prevail. The frost-free season averages 120 days from June to mid-September. The average ice-out date is May 3. The first measurable snowfall occurs in late October and the last in late April or early May.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 55% average cloud cover) and November as the cloudiest (76%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Voyageurs National Park is located in Northern Minnesota near the Canadian border. Access to Voyageurs is available from many points along Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Ash River, Crane Lake, and Orr/Pelican Lake. The park's visitor centers and many trails can be reached by car, but much of Voyageurs is best explored by boat. All campsites in the park, except primitive, require a boat to reach.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Sailing
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Boat Tour
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking