Voyageurs National Park
I've spent the past couple weeks exploring northern Minnesota, particularly Voyageurs National Park. It's the 48th national park I've been to, and just like all the others, it has its own charm about it. Even though there are some fun hiking trails, the best way to fully experience Voyageurs is by water.
View from Kettle Falls
Established in 1975, it's one of the newer national parks, but is rich in Native American history. The two boat tours I took expounded more on that history, along with the geology of this area that evolved over millions of years.
Though I didn't see much wildlife, the birding was extraordinary. During this time of year, many songbirds and warblers are fattening up in preparation for their long trek south for the winter. I probably saw or heard about 15 types of warblers, including the Blackburian, Cape May, Chestnut-sided, Black and white and many more. I also finally got to see a ruffed grouse. These birds are normally very shy, but I felt fortunate to get some good shots of them.
Another amazing feature of the Voyageurs area is the dark sky. You can see every star at night here, and except for the occasional eagle or loon call, it's eerily quiet. However, there are wolves out here too, and you're quickly reminded about them when you hear them howling away. You might even get lucky enough to see the Northern Lights.
