The Best Fishing in Northern Minnesota
Rainy Lake Houseboats is your go-to for angling and summer fun, including for bachelor parties and friends and family getaways. We are also proud to be an LGBTQ safe destination accepting everyone for a great time.
Why Rainy Lake Houseboats for Your Vacation
Rainy Lake Fishing
Rainy Lake Houseboats is located on the Minnesota/Ontario border on magnificent Rainy Lake. It’s where the highways end and the ancient waterways begin. We offer amazing Minnesota houseboat vacation rentals on Rainy Lake in Voyageurs National Park — the only inland water-based park in the National Park System. You’ll even have access to first-rate freshwater fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, crappie, and musky.
Surrounding Attractions
Revel in all Rainy Lake has to offer: undeveloped wilderness, a multitude of wildlife, superior birding prospects, secluded beaches, hidden bays, and world-class freshwater fishing. Renting with Rainy Lake Houseboat enables you to explore Rainy Lake’s 220,000 acres of sky blue waters and majestic forests. We invite you to come and experience this timeless land — to wander, rest, and renew your spirit.
Rainy Lake Houseboats is your go-to for angling and summer fun, including for bachelor parties and friends and family getaways. We are also proud to be an LGBTQ safe destination accepting everyone for a great time.
Join Our Top Rated Tours
Explore Rainy Lake Without Planning the Route
Voyageurs National Park Tours are available exclusively to Rainy Lake Houseboats guests and can be added to your stay when you reserve or closer to your arrival, based on availability.
To learn more, choose the tour that fits your group and contact our office. We will
Confirm your houseboat reservation
Talk through timing and difficulty level
Help you decide what to bring
Answer any questions before you depart
From the back of your houseboat to the heart of Voyageurs National Park, we are excited to share these new experiences with you.
This stop is a longtime favorite and a meaningful part of our story.
At the historic Kettle Falls Hotel, you’ll step back in time, hear local history, and explore the area that has welcomed travelers for generations. Enjoy a meal, visit the unique bar, and walk to the dam for scenic views and hidden gems along the way. The best way to experience Kettle Falls is simply to be there.
This guided hike takes you across the Kabetogama Peninsula on the Cruiser Lake Trail for a full day of exploring Voyageurs on foot. You’ll pack a lunch, bring water, and enjoy a steady walk through quiet forest and lakeside scenery. Your guide will highlight points of interest, help set the pace, and ensure everyone knows what to expect. It’s a rewarding way to see a side of the park most visitors miss.
Step into the story of commercial fishing on Rainy Lake at the preserved Harry Oveson Fish Camp, where exhibits share how the industry shaped the region and the people who lived on the water. From there, visit the Cranberry Bay Erratic, a massive boulder carried across the landscape by ancient ice. It’s a striking reminder of the power of time and a memorable stop for guests who love geology and history.
This tour visits the island retreat of Jun Fujita, the famed photographer who immigrated from Japan and later worked for the Chicago Tribune. You’ll walk through the quiet spaces he once used as an escape from city life and learn about his legacy, his artistry, and why this island holds such meaning in Voyageurs National Park. Your guide will share stories that bring his life and the island’s history into focus.
This excursion begins with a scenic portage from Rainy Lake into Mamakans at Kettle Falls, followed by a boat ride to the Ellsworth Rock Gardens. Along the way, you’ll travel through peaceful shorelines before reaching the outdoor gallery of stone creations built by Jack Ellsworth. The gardens are a unique blend of art and landscape, offering guests a quiet walk, rich history, and one of the park’s most remarkable viewpoints.
This historic route follows the original channel navigation path past the Review Islands and the former home of conservationist Ernest Oberholzer. You’ll see structures built in the early 1900s, pass the setting where Sinclair Lewis wrote his novel Elmery Gantry, and visit sites tied to Indigenous pictographs and striking Precambrian granite. It’s a journey through the history and character of Rainy Lake.
Minnesota Houseboat Vacation Rentals So Good You Will Return
“Hi, want to thank you all for the great experience we had on #32!! You have quite an operation going there, and I would be glad to recommend your business to anyone interested in a houseboat experience!”
-The Osterman party
“I received your thank-you note today. It should be me thanking you. We had a wonderful trip. I could not believe how complex your business is. You are true professionals, and put customer service to a higher standard.”
-Bob Cairns
We had an amazing experience with Rainy Lake Houseboats! The boat was spotless, well-stocked, and easy to operate, making our trip around Rainy Lake and Voyageurs National Park a breeze. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and always ready to help. Exploring the park from the water was absolutely unforgettable – Kettle Falls Hotel also worth checking out for a day trip and drink. Highly recommend!
-M.T