Is a campsite reservation system needed at Voyageurs National Park? That's the question park officials are asking, and in light of the fact that you need a boat to reach the park's campsites, it might be a good one.
After all, would you want to build a paddling itinerary around specific campsites, only to find them occupied when you paddled up?
Park officials note that this is the final year of a three-year civic engagement discussion to determine if Voyageurs should move to a reservation system.
"Discussions will include charging for campsite use by night to ensure future maintenance and upkeep of the sites," they note in a release. "Interior campsites and boats on the Kabetogama Peninsula will also be finalized based on comments received over the last few years. Day-use sites will not be included in these discussions."
Voyageurs Superintendent Mike Ward says his staff believes they have arrived at "the best formula to maintain the sites while passing on a low cost to the user. Now it is time to discuss it with park neighbors and users and get their opinion of whether we should implement it or not."
Park officials began discussions when the new 49-passenger tour boat required a new fee structure to operate. The public agreed with the boat tour fees and implementation has occurred for the third year without complaint.
Concerns for the potential day-use of interior boats on the Kabetogama Peninsula caused the park to work with the reservation company to ensure day and overnight use could be reserved for these boats at the same fee currently being charged. The public did not support the idea of an entrance fee, boat, or snowmobile sticker so that option has been dropped.
In discussions with communities surrounding the park, there have been many who feel the park should charge for sites and offer reservations in order to bring new users to the area. Many new users will not consider camping in Voyageurs without a reservation system, especially since it is a 100 percent boat-in park, park officials note. All sites are currently first-come, first-served and will remain so if not reserved by midnight the night before for that individual day.
Park officials will be visiting communities and multiple organizations and agencies over the next 30 days to discuss the proposed actions. There will also be a series of public meetings at park headquarters on the following dates and times.
Monday, September 10, 2012:5:30-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 13, 2012:5:30-6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012:5:30-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 20, 2012:5:30-6:30 p.m.
The public is invited to come to the meetings. Park headquarters is located at 360 Highway 11, International Falls, MN, 56649. Park officials have created a phone number (218-283-6708) for the public to call and be able to express their concerns or support for the reservations and costs for campsites.
Comments
Please -no. It is very simple (and resonable) with the present system. And yes, I have toured campsites to find an open one.
VNP staff,
Please provide evidence that there is a need to attract MORE people to use sites. Please provide evidence that there is a problem now with declining number of users. Please provide details as to how this willwork without adding more costs.Please provide evidence it will fix whatever problem supposedly exists.
VNP is not even close in comparison to the BWCA. ("paddling to a site to find it full...") sorry, anyone can rent a canoe. Not so with a boat.
If anything is done, it should be to add an access fee and use the money to build more campsites. That's what will attract more users, not restrict access to what's already there. After all, if a hotel is full all the time, it doesn't limit customers. It expands. Why is a campground any different?
(first, though, prove that use is so high there is a problem.)
I defintely am not in favor of a campsite reservation system. For many people as wells as us, the weather and the current fishing conditions often are major factors in our deciding to spend time camping in the Voyageur's. When we have been camping in the park, we generally see open sites. If a system were put into place, I can see campers leaving early due to the weather or perhaps not showing up at all. However, I have no objection to charging an entrance fee.
Instead of having a system to reserve boat in camp sites, I believe a better idea would be to contruct a campground close to the lake within the Voyageur's National Park near the Ash River Visitors Center that visitors could reach by car/truck/bike. I realize that there are two state camgrounds, Woodenfrog and the one up the Ash River,but their setting does not seem to portray what one thinks of as the Voyageur's. This site would be more centrally located and definitely would appeal to many campers. Perhaps it may also be a good idea to have ice and gas available there. I am not familiar with Rainy Lake but maybe there would also be a spot there as well for a drive to campground.
What I forgot to mention in my previous post, is that the sites at this drive to campground would be reservable and would attract campers who do not have a boat.
Not in favor of campsite reservations. Keep it simple.
I love the park and the people that keep it so nice.
I like the first come first serve, it works well and is fair to all.
I think being able to make a resevation at the large group site or at the Woodenfrog camp ground is enough of an accomodation.
I agree with statements above. Why change something that isn't broken. The first come first serve basis and no fees are some of the reasons we LOVE VNP so much. My family often makes spontaneous trips to Rainy Lake based on weather, fishing reports, and time available to get up there. We usually try to get to VNP at least 3 times in the summer if not more. If the system changed to a reservation system I don't see us using it as much because it would be more challenging to get a site in those spontaneous trips or we wouldn't be able to go up there as we please. I am all for leaving it the way it is. I agree with previous posts to make a campground closer to the visitor’s center for those who can't boat in but still want to enjoy the Park.