Little Cedar Island is a boat-in day-use picnic site on Rainy Lake in Voyageurs National Park, no reservation required.
Little Cedar Island is a boat-in day-use site on Rainy Lake in Voyageurs National Park, an easy island stop for a picnic. An orange-and-white Park Service marker with a picnic-table symbol reads ‘Little Cedar Island,’ and gravel paths and a short boardwalk lead among the pines to picnic tables, a fire ring, a vault-toilet building, and a floating dock where boats tie up.
The park’s day-use sites — there are 33 of them in the frontcountry — have dock or beach access, picnic areas, and outdoor privies, and unlike the campsites they need no reservation or permit. It is one... Read more
The Harry Oveson Fish Camp is a preserved 1959 commercial fishing camp on Rainy Lake in Voyageurs National Park, open as a boat-in day-use site.
The Harry Oveson Fish Camp is a preserved commercial fishing camp on Rainy Lake in Voyageurs National Park, kept by the Park Service as a boat-in day-use site. Two weathered green frame buildings and an ice house stand along the shore, connected to a dock, and visitors can walk the grounds and step inside the ice house. A picnic table, fire ring, benches, and a seasonal restroom make it a good place to stop, and interpretive signs tell the camp’s story.
Harry Oveson was born in Roseau in 1906, moved to International Falls in 1921, served in Alaska during World... Read more
A routed wooden marker off Black River Road commemorates the Fairland School (1903-1935), which served an early settlement community in northwestern Koochiching County.
A brown routed-letter marker at the forest edge off the Black River Road reads simply: FAIRLAND SCHOOL 1903–1935. It commemorates the rural school that served Fairland, a remote settlement in what is now the Northwest Koochiching unorganized territory — and it marks a school older than the county itself, which was created in 1906 when residents voted to separate from Itasca County.
Fairland took root in the great homestead influx that began around 1902, when settlers reached this country by steamboat up the Rainy River. By 1913 the community supported a Woodman Lodge of 40 to 50 members, and its... Read more
A carved wooden statue honoring Uncle Dan Campbell, the 1877 first settler of Big Falls, with antique logging equipment at the Highway 71 and MN 6 junction.
A carved wooden statue and interpretive marker honoring Uncle Dan Campbell, the Scottish railroad construction worker who in 1877 became the first white settler of Ripple — incorporated as Big Falls in 1904. Antique logging equipment is displayed alongside at the Highway 71 and MN 6 junction.
Basshenge is a roadside sculpture along Highway 11 east of Birchdale: a Stonehenge-style ring of steel double basses built by two retired musicians.
Basshenge is a one-of-a-kind roadside sculpture along Highway 11 east of Birchdale: a Stonehenge-style ring of steel double basses and musical shapes built by retired Chicago Symphony principal bassist Joseph Guastafeste and Yvette Journeaux, rising out of a clearing above the Rainy River corridor.
Crane Lake is the eastern gateway to Voyageurs National Park, linked by the 65-mile Voyageur waterway to Namakan, Sand Point, and Lake Kabetogama.
Crane Lake sits at the eastern edge of the region this guide covers, serving as a gateway to Voyageurs National Park. Although the lake lies in St. Louis County, just outside Koochiching County, it has long functioned as a key access point to the waters of Voyageurs and the... Read more
Willie Walleye is the 40-foot fiberglass walleye overlooking Willie Walleye Park in downtown Baudette, billed as the largest walleye sculpture in the world.
Willie Walleye is the 40-foot fiberglass walleye standing watch over Willie Walleye Park along Highway 11 in downtown Baudette, on a small green at the corner of Main Street and 1st Avenue NE overlooking Baudette Bay and the Rainy River. Baudette markets itself as the Walleye Capital of the World, a claim disputed by Garrison and Mille Lacs, but the statue is unambiguous: it is the largest walleye sculpture in the world.
The original was dedicated June 19 and 20, 1959, during the inaugural Walleye Days festival. It was a community build led by Arnold Lund, who proposed the idea... Read more
A tall carved voyageur stands at the entrance to Crane Lake, with stone markers commemorating the area's history as a fur-trade voyageur route.
A tall carved voyageur stands at the entrance to Crane Lake, flanked by the United States and Canadian flags and a covered information kiosk. Stone markers at the base commemorate the history of the Crane Lake area as a voyageur route between the Great Lakes and the fur country to the northwest. It is a quick roadside stop with a small gravel pullout and takes only a few minutes to walk around.
Icebox Days is a sprawling ten-day winter festival that turns the coldest time of year into a reason to get outside!
Every January, International Falls leans into its title as the “Icebox of the Nation” with Icebox Days, a sprawling ten-day winter festival that turns the coldest time of year into a reason to get outside. Coordinated by the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, it is one of the most distinctive winter celebrations in the region.
Icebox Days got its start in 1980, when a group of community members decided that the deep freeze of a northern Minnesota winter was better celebrated than endured.... Read more
The Lost 40, located in Minnesota’s Chippewa National Forest, is a rare remnant of old-growth forest that was spared from logging due to a surveying error in 1882. Today, this 114-acre area stands as a critical habitat for diverse wildlife and a living testament to the region’s ecological history.
The Lost 40, located in the Chippewa National Forest, is a pristine example of Minnesota’s old-growth pine forest. This area remained untouched by logging operations, which decimated much of the region’s original forests, due to a surveying error in 1882. The surveyor, Josiah A. King, mistakenly plotted Coddington Lake about half a mile further northwest than its actual location. As a result, the 114-acre area known today as the Lost 40 was never logged, preserving a rare stand of virgin red and white pine trees.
A Snapshot of the Past
The Lost 40 is home to some of the... Read more
Willy the Walleye, as the locals refer to it, is the first thing you see on the way to Lake Kabetogama!
As visitors enter Kabetogama Township, they’re greeted by a walleye statue that proudly celebrates the area’s rich fishing heritage. This statue stands as a tribute to Lake Kabetogama’s reputation as one of Minnesota’s top destinations for walleye fishing. The stairs make it easy to snap a picture of a family member riding it!
The Blue Ox Trail spans 74 miles, tracing the path of an unused railway line and offering a smooth, straightforward ride!
The Blue Ox Trail spans 74 miles, tracing the path of an unused railway line and offering a smooth, straightforward ride. The landscapes of black spruce, swamps, and aspen uplands offer a beautiful experience in every season, and the trail is a haven for wildlife watchers, with chances to spot beavers, eagles, moose, wolves, and bobcats along the way. The trail is a gift from Koochiching County and is cared for by the Northome Ridge Riders.
From International Falls, the trail follows the old rail grade south along the Highway 71 corridor, passing through Littlefork, Big Falls, and Funkley before... Read more
The story of Big Vic is that of protest and self-advocacy in Minnesota!
The story of Big Vic is that of protest and self-advocacy in Minnesota, particularly in Koochiching County, ignited by the creation of Voyageurs National Park (VNP) in 1975. The National Park Service’s (NPS) use of eminent domain to acquire private land sparked outrage among landowners. Vic Davis, a significant figure in the protest, alongside others, resisted the NPS’s “unscrupulous” land-grabbing policies. Davis, Carl Brown, and John Butch McHarg even purchased Little Cranberry Island and confronted the NPS legally.
Vic Davis intensified the protest by commissioning the Big Vic statue, a symbol... Read more
The International Falls Snowmobile Club, also known as the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club, is a vibrant community of snowmobile enthusiasts based in the International Falls/Rainy Lake area of Northern Minnesota!
The International Falls Snowmobile Club, also known as the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club, is a community of snowmobile enthusiasts based in the International Falls/Rainy Lake area. The club maintains an extensive network of 158 miles of groomed trails which they take great pride in, considering them to be among the best maintained and most scenic trails in Minnesota.
The club is not only about riding but also about community and giving back. They host a variety of events, the notable among them being the Annual Falls International Speed Run Against Cancer. This event, which marked its 14th occurrence in 2024,... Read more
The IFBC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting bass fishing, community engagement, and economic growth in International Falls!
The International Falls Bass Championship is a nonprofit organization that promotes bass fishing, community engagement, and economic growth. They host an annual two-day bass fishing tournament on Rainy Lake and Rainy River, attracting local enthusiasts and professional fishermen. The event is typically held in late summer and offers opportunities to win over $30,000 in cash prizes. The Bass Championship also emphasizes catch-and-release to ensure sustainability.
The tournament significantly boosts the local economy by attracting visitors who support local businesses. Besides the fishing competition, the Bass Championship organizes various community... Read more
The KCHS collects, preserves, and exhibits the natural history, material culture, and social heritage of Koochiching County!
The Koochiching County Historical Society (KCHS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Koochiching County and the surrounding region. Established in 1967, the society operates two museums: the Koochiching County Historical Museum and the Bronko Nagurski Museum. These museums highlight the area’s rich heritage, including Indigenous history, early settler life, and the achievements of local sports legend Bronko Nagurski.
The society’s collections span over 10,000 years of history, covering topics from Indigenous peoples of the region to more modern community developments. The archives include an... Read more
The International Falls Public Library is more than just a building filled with books—it's a hub of community activities, resources, and learning programs!
The International Falls Public Library is more than just a place to borrow books, it’s a vibrant community center, filled with activities, resources, and learning programs that cater to all ages and interests.
In our increasingly digital world, the library provides a wealth of online resources for both traditional and digital learners. Key offerings include Ask MN, a 24/7 online information and research help service, and Brainfuse HelpNow, which provides live tutoring in various subjects to... Read more
Voyageurs National Park is renowned for its pristine lakes, ancient forests, and abundant wildlife!
Voyagers National Park (VNP) is a stunning natural reserve located in northern Minnesota. This park is renowned for its pristine lakes, ancient forests, and abundant wildlife, and offers visitors a unique and immersive experience in the great outdoors. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a recreational adventurer, or simply seeking to enjoy the scenery, VNP is a destination worth exploring.
Established in 1975, Voyagers National Park spans over 218,000 acres and encompasses four major lakes: Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Namakan Lake, and Sand Point Lake. These interconnected lakes form a vast water-based wilderness area that attracts boating, fishing, and kayaking enthusiasts... Read more
International Falls City Beach has campsites, a large picnic pavilion, a beach volleyball court, and more!
Beach/campground rules/regulations:
