Explore a voyagers' highway
Rainy Lake is 60 miles long and 227,604 acres in size; it has 929 miles of shoreline. Only ⅓ or 36,418 acres of Rainy lake is within the boundaries of Voyagers National Park.
Within the park, Rainy Lake has a maximum width of 12 miles, a maximum depth of 161 feet, an average depth of 35-feet and 200 islands.
Paddle through the calm waters of Voyageurs National Park, hike scenic trails surrounded by towering pines or ride snowmobiles across snowy landscapes in the winter.
- Input group
Members
The DNR advertises available committee seats intermittently when a number have become open. In between these calls, the DNR welcomes applications on a rolling basis.
- Adam McIntyre, Koochiching County
- TBD, St. Louis County
- TBD, Statewide Species Workgroup (Walleye)
- Jason Ellman, Rainy Lake Sportfishing Club
- TBD, Rainy Lake Resort/Business Owner
- TBD, Rainy Lake Resort/Business Owner
- Katrina Heibel, International Falls CVB
- TBD, Local Fishing Guide (APPLICATION)
- TBD, Local Angler (non-guide) (APPLICATION)
- TBD, Local Angler (non-guide) (APPLICATION)
- TBD, Statewide Angler (APPLICATION)
- TBD, Statewide Angler (APPLICATION)
- TBD, Local Business Owner (APPLICATION)
Purpose
The Rainy Lake Fisheries Input Group provides input to the DNR on fisheries management activities for Rainy Lake. The group launched in 2025.
The group advises the DNR on issues that are relevant to the state’s management of Rainy Lake fisheries, including any activities that are authorized, licensed, permitted or otherwise regulated or managed by the state.
The DNR will support the group by supplying information that is used to help manage the fishery, including standard fish population assessments, creel (angler) surveys, status of invasive species or other available information requested by the group.
The group will:
- Represent the breadth of interests around Rainy Lake fisheries.
- Learn about and contribute to a shared understanding of biological, social and economic aspects of the fishery.
- Identify and communicate to DNR staff significant stakeholder issues related to the state’s management of the fishery.
- Facilitate dialogue between the public and the DNR regarding important issues.
- Provide input to advise DNR on potential approaches to respond to issues.
- Provide advice on the most effective and acceptable regulations.
During management plan revisions, it is anticipated that the group will meet three times throughout the summer and once as the plan reaches completion. Between lake management plan revisions, the group will meet annually.
Meetings
Members of the public may observe meetings but these meetings serve primarily as a way for the group to hold group discussions. Fifteen minutes are reserved for public comments and questions.
Contact & questions
- About
Rainy Lake was often called Lac La Pluie by Native Americans and translates to “mist from the falls,” which are called Kettle Falls and boast a historic hotel on the western side of Voyagers National Park.
In 1688, French-Candian voyageur Jacques de Noyon passed through Rainy Lake and noted that it was called “Ouchichiq” by the Cree Indians. Explorer LeVerenrye called it “Tekamamihiouenne” in 1783.
The lake's major inlets are Namakan Lake, Kabetogama Lake and via the Seine River and its outflow is the Rainy River where it is harnessed to make hydroelectricity for both Canada and the United States locations.