Tilson Bay is a hot spot for nature lovers and fishermen. The area includes hiking trails, cross country ski trails, snowshoe trails, a bogwalk, a fishing pier, and a public boat landing!
Tilson Bay’s bogwalk is a half-mile long walkway takes you through a fascinating bog ecosystem that supports a variety of plants and animals. You will see the distinctive tamarack trees, which shed their needles every fall, and the carnivorous plants that trap insects with their sticky leaves. You will also experience the sensation of walking on a floating sidewalk, as the walkway is made from boards that rest on the peat moss below.
Rules for this place
Rainy Lake is named in the border waters section of the Minnesota fishing regulations, which decides which license lets an angler fish which side of the line. Minnesota’s invasive species law rides home with the trailer: pull the drain plug, drain the water, and leave plants and prohibited species at the access. Rainy Lake is on the DNR’s infested waters list for spiny waterflea and zebra mussel, which adds bait and water-transport rules for anyone leaving it. Part of Rainy Lake lies inside Voyageurs National Park, and park rules apply on the water there regardless of who owns the land beneath it.
Verified 2026-09-07. Rules change; check the official page before you go.
