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Print Friendly MapThe Rainy Lake Trail offers a scenic route of nearly 13 miles through Northern Minnesota woodlands, marshlands, and lakefront neighborhoods from International Falls to the stunning Voyageurs National Park.
Beginning in downtown International Falls, the paved off-road trail travels eastward, paralleling Highway 11 along the southern shoreline of the Rainy River. (Canada is on the north side of the river.) As the trail curves northward towards Rainy Lake and the city of Ranier, it becomes a designated on-road shoulder route. At Jackfish Bay, the route again becomes off-road trail before becoming on-road again at Tilson Bay.
The remaining few miles to the eastern terminus, much of which parallels Highway 96, are back on paved trail. Construction of the 1.7-mile segment within the national park was completed in 2015 and is known as the Rainy Lake Recreation Trail; the trail ends at the park's Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Once within Voyageurs National Park, there are many hiking trails, historic sites, and points of interest to explore.
Parking at the west end of the trail is available at Greater International Falls Chamber of Commerce (301 2nd Ave.) in downtown International Falls; the trail begins a quarter mile east of the lot. At the other (east) end of the trail, parking is available at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center of Voyageurs National Park.
Nice trail. Portions are on road. Improved signage is needed, especially when trail is on driving roads.
Great trail, smooth and clean, gorgeous scenery and inviting areas to explore. What it is lacking are signposts to alert riders of trail changes.
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