Voyageurs National Park - Minnesota

Voyageurs National Park in far northern Minnesota commemorates the historic voyageurs, Canadian fur traders of European descent who frequented the area from the late 17th to early 19th century.  Nearly half the park is a series of lakes and rivers that supported travel by historic trappers and are now used primarily for recreation.  Most visitors access the park by water, traveling by kayaks and canoes, though some rent houseboats or take a guided boat tour.  The park includes a system of more than fifty miles of maintained hiking trails, but most are short and many accessible only by boat.