The City of Ranier
Ranier is a small city on the shores of Rainy Lake, just a few miles east of International Falls on Highway 11. Population is around 570. It sits right where Rainy Lake narrows into the Rainy River, and it’s the gateway to Voyageurs National Park from the Rainy Lake side.
For a town its size, there’s a lot going on.
Getting There
If you’re coming from the Falls, it’s a short drive east on Highway 11. There’s also a paved bike trail that runs from International Falls through Ranier and out toward the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, about 12 miles total. You can boat in too. There’s a public dock where you can tie up and walk to the restaurants and shops.
What’s in Ranier
The town has picked up some energy in recent years. A few spots worth knowing about:
Cantilever Distillery and Hotel is built on the former site of Woody’s Fairly Reliable Guide Service headquarters. They produce a spirit line called “Woody’s Fairly Reliable” as a nod to the history. The distillery leans into Ranier’s Prohibition-era past, when the town’s location on the border made it a busy spot for bootleggers running liquor across Rainy Lake.
-Loony’s Brew is a lakeside brewpub on Main Street.
-The Ranier Municipal Liquor Store has a bar where you can sit down and meet some locals.
-You can also rent bikes at Tara’s Wharf (Rainy Lake Inn and Suites) if you want to ride the trail.
-Ranier has a smaller sandy beach on the lake. There’s no lifeguard, so keep that in mind if you’re bringing kids.
Voyageurs National Park Access
The Rainy Lake Visitor Center is about 11 miles east of the Falls on Highway 11, just past Ranier. It has a boat launch, canoe launch, free parking, restrooms, a picnic area, and a phone. Keep in mind that Voyageurs is a water-based park. You need a boat to access most of it. The visitor center is a good place to start if you’re planning a trip into the park, whether that’s a day trip, a guided boat tour, or island camping (permit required).
Houseboat rentals are available in the area for exploring the park’s 218,000 acres of water and land.
A Little History
Ranier was incorporated in 1908, the same year the railroad bridge went in. That bridge, the Ranier Railroad Bridge, crosses the Rainy River into Fort Frances, Ontario. It’s one of the oldest cantilevered bridges in North America, and it’s still active. As of a few years ago, more than 20 trains a day cross it, most pulling 100 to 200 cars. It’s one of the busiest ports of entry for international rail freight in the country.
The town’s early years were colorful. An 1893 gold rush brought the first wave of people, though the gold didn’t last long. Timber operations and the paper mill took over as the economic drivers. Hotels, grocers, and saloons sprang up.
During Prohibition, Ranier’s spot on the border and direct access to the lake made it a prime location for bootlegging. That history is part of what makes the town interesting today, and Cantilever Distillery plays off it directly.
