Voyageurs National Park · Minnesota

Cruiser Lake Trail

16 mi of trail, end to end · Hike Anderson Bay Loop: 2.5 mi loop in the Service's write-up · about 1,400 ft of climbing · 1,113 ft–1,366 ft

1,189 ft 1,222 ft · 3.1 mi high 1,318 ft

Hike Anderson Bay Loop 2.5 mi loop · the Park Service's write-up

90-150 Minutes · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall

Start Anderson Bay on the Kabetogama Peninsula

Someone stands on top of the granite outcrop at Anderson Bay looking at the bay and trees below.
Visitor looking over Anderson Bay from the top of the cliffs

All back country trail heads are only accessible by boat. The trailhead for this trail is a 19 mile boat ride from Rainy Lake Visitor Center.

This trail takes you through the forest past rocky clearings and beaver ponds to spectacular views of Rainy Lake form the shoreline and Anderson Bay from the top of the cliffs.

Difficulty: Strenuous

Hiking Distance: 2.5 miles (4.0 km) loop including hiking to the trail start from the Anderson Bay Dock

Restroom: A vault toilet is available near the start of the trail

Pets Pets are not allowed on trails at Voyageurs national Park to prevent the possible transmission of diseases to the wolf population.

Accessibility This steep trail consists of a narrow dirt path over rocks and roots and sections of uneven rock. Rocky areas can be very slick after a rain.

This hike on nps.gov

Hike the Cruiser Lake Trail 8 mi one way · the Park Service's write-up

4-8 Hours · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall

Start On the Kabetogama peninsula

A view of a lake through the trees
A view of Cruiser Lake through the trees from Cruiser Lake Trail

All backcountry trailheads are only accessible by boat.

This rugged trail crosses over the peninsula, up rocky cliffs and down into remote wetland areas. See parts of the park many people do not visit. Start your hike either at Anderson Bay on the Rainy Lake side or Lost Bay on the Kabetogama side. Reserve a backcountry campsite to turn this into a multi-day trip. Hiking this trail increases your chances of spotting a moose or hearing the howl of a wolf.

Difficulty: Strenuous

Hiking Distance: 8.0 mile (12.9 km) one way trip. Other nearby trails can be added on.

Restrooms: Vault toilets are available at both trailheads

Pets Pets are not allowed on trails at Voyageurs national Park to prevent the possible transmission of diseases to the wolf population.

Accessibility This strenuous dirt trail has many steep climbs and descents. Rocks and roots are common on this narrow trail. Occasional downed trees may be encountered. Include travel time to and from the trailhead when planning to hike this trail.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 14 trails in Voyageurs National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.