Voyageurs Outfitters helps guests experience the wild beauty of Voyageurs National Park with guided boat tours, water taxis, and thoughtfully equipped rentals for paddling, fishing, and relaxing on the lake. Known for local knowle...
Voyageurs Outfitters helps guests experience the wild beauty of Voyageurs National Park with guided boat tours, water taxis, and thoughtfully equipped rentals for paddling, fishing, and relaxing on the lake. Known for local knowle...
Visitors consistently praise the exceptional boat tours led by knowledgeable captains like Tim, Donn, and Merritt, who bring Voyageurs National Park to life through their deep understanding of local history and passion for the area. These aren't just scenic rides—guides take guests to hidden spots only accessible by water, often incorporating island stops for hiking and stretching legs. The flexibility really stands out, with the team accommodating last-minute requests and going above and beyond with dining recommendations and follow-up check-ins. Tours range from two-hour excursions to full-day adventures that include lunch at Kettle Falls Hotel, and families with kids as well as couples find them equally engaging. The boats themselves are comfortable and well-maintained, handling everything from sunny days to rainy fall weather. Beyond guided tours, they also provide equipment rentals with delivery service for those wanting to explore independently. The personal touch really shines through—many guests mention feeling like they made friends rather than just hiring a guide.
My family had a great time! It was a last minute decision for us to go to Voyageurs National Park. I had reached out to another tour company, and they never returned my call. I was disappointed and was going to skip it altogether. On a whim, I did a quick search again and Voyageurs Outfitters came up. I sent an email and got a response almost immediately. After a few email exchanges, I called and talked with Merrit on the phone, and he was awesome explaining the entire process. Despite this being a last minute adventure, he had space available! Plus the price was better than the other place. The night before our private two hour tour, our captain (Brent) called me. He wanted to get a feel for what we were looking for, who would be riding with him, and gave great advice to check out the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. We talked for about 25 minutes, and it felt like he was one of our relatives. The day of the tour he messaged confirming the good weather we were having and that he'd see us later. Knowing we were departing from Thunderbird Lodge, we decided to grab lunch there. The food was coming out slow, and we were getting stressed about being late. Brent had already let us know he was at the dock and ready when we were, so I went out there and told him we were still waiting on lunch but we'd be out ASAP. I am positive he could tell I was worrying about this, and he was very reassuring that it was not a problem at and not to rush lunch 😅 As soon as we were done, we headed out to the dock where he greeted all four of us by name, which felt very personable. Then, we boarded the boat (which was very clean). He explained where we would be heading and off we went. There were drinks in the cooler and snacks on board. He was EXTREMELY patient with my son, who had just purchased an $8 pink plastic compass from the visitor center and very excited about it. 🤣 Captain Brent referred to him as his co-captain and that was that, my son had the best boat ride of his life. My daughter loves wolves (this is why we're in Minnesota. We are going to the International Wolf Center for a second year in a row), so Brent shared his real life experiences with wolves which was cool to hear. Throughout the journey he shared history and personal stories. He would slow down in certain locations to hopefully see some wildlife. I'm very grateful to have had this experience, and we truly appreciate Captain Brent's kindness, patience, and understanding. It is obvious he enjoys what he is doing and is very passionate. I STRONGLY recommend using this tour company.
Louise S.
July 8, 2026
My family had a great time! It was a last minute decision for us to go to Voyageurs National Park. I had reached out to another tour company, and they never returned my call. I was disappointed and was going to skip it altogether. On a whim, I did a quick search again and Voyageurs Outfitters came up. I sent an email and got a response almost immediately. After a few email exchanges, I called and talked with Merrit on the phone, and he was awesome explaining the entire process. Despite this being a last minute adventure, he had space available! Plus the price was better than the other place. The night before our private two hour tour, our captain (Brent) called me. He wanted to get a feel for what we were looking for, who would be riding with him, and gave great advice to check out the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. We talked for about 25 minutes, and it felt like he was one of our relatives. The day of the tour he messaged confirming the good weather we were having and that he'd see us later. Knowing we were departing from Thunderbird Lodge, we decided to grab lunch there. The food was coming out slow, and we were getting stressed about being late. Brent had already let us know he was at the dock and ready when we were, so I went out there and told him we were still waiting on lunch but we'd be out ASAP. I am positive he could tell I was worrying about this, and he was very reassuring that it was not a problem at and not to rush lunch 😅 As soon as we were done, we headed out to the dock where he greeted all four of us by name, which felt very personable. Then, we boarded the boat (which was very clean). He explained where we would be heading and off we went. There were drinks in the cooler and snacks on board. He was EXTREMELY patient with my son, who had just purchased an $8 pink plastic compass from the visitor center and very excited about it. 🤣 Captain Brent referred to him as his co-captain and that was that, my son had the best boat ride of his life. My daughter loves wolves (this is why we're in Minnesota. We are going to the International Wolf Center for a second year in a row), so Brent shared his real life experiences with wolves which was cool to hear. Throughout the journey he shared history and personal stories. He would slow down in certain locations to hopefully see some wildlife. I'm very grateful to have had this experience, and we truly appreciate Captain Brent's kindness, patience, and understanding. It is obvious he enjoys what he is doing and is very passionate. I STRONGLY recommend using this tour company.
Louise S.
July 8, 2026