I paddled some of Namakan in a kayak back in 2000. Ash River to Namakan Island area, a nice and easy 5-day fishing trip. Boat traffic was minimal once we left the landing area, as chandasue said. Definitely an A+ paddle trip, I have plans to return one of these days. Lots of smallmouths, a few walleyes, and one 6-7 lb. northern that took me for quite a ride. I don't recall there being a metal bear box at our camp, but that could just be my memory failing me.

Kabetogama would be okay on a nice day, if you avoid the big water. I didn't paddle it, but some friends and I rented a Lund and island-camped back in 2002. I'd have to look up exactly where we were on the lake, but it would have been a fine place for a kayak or a canoe.

Voyageurs National Park is nice to paddle but the wind can catch you off guard on those big lakes. There is a little boat traffic but pretty minimal once you get away from the landings. Didn't get the chance to explore the interior much. Just did a few day trips on Kabetogama, Black Bay and Rainy Lake. Much like the rest of northern MN but upon closer inspection you can tell that the area is dammed. The water levels seem unnaturally high because they are, even if it has had many years to naturalize... There are no known maps of the area before the dams were put in so who knows how the shorelines looked with 10+ feet less water. Regardless it is still a nice paddling option in that area.

I should add that the bears there can be problematic but the campsites do have metal bear boxes.

I've paddled Rainy River...fishing is ok, a lot of boat traffic though, especially as you get closer to the lake. I don't recommend Lake of the Woods though, unless you are way up on the Canadian side thats full of islands. The US side is pretty much a giant open basin. It can make 21' powerboats think twice, in a canoe or kayak its suicide.  The boats that do run the river are anywhere from john boats with a ten horse on the back up to the big charter boats (think ocean going charter boats) They cruise up and down the river, but usually only at 8:00 am and about 5pm or so. The private boats are usually pretty good about slowing down, but not always. There is a lot to see and explore however. 

If you go, let me know how it went!


I almost forgot!   My profile pic is a Northern I got in the last hour of my trip there last summer. I wasn't paddling, but it was still a good time.  That fish was taken pretty much at the last outfitter/fish camp before the lake.

Has anyone here ever paddled either of these waterways ?  If so, what were your experiences ?

Has anyone here ever paddled on the Winnipeg River ?