Vermilion Falls

We read about the Vermilion Falls and Vermilion Gorge, two areas near Crane Lake that said it was worth our time to see.  Which meant that we needed to have a ton of bug and tick spray on, we would be in the Superior National Forest near Voyageurs National Park.  The weather report said high probability for thunderstorms late in the day so we headed out by 10am to get to Crane Lake.

We drove to Crane Lake area to visit Vermilion Falls

And the write up was exactly what they said - beautiful!  Powerful falls, breathtaking scenery.  We first went into the town of Crane Lake which is near the Canadian border, a cutesy little community that is so into boating/fishing - and there is boo-koo money there.  The homes/lodges/inns - wow.

And we are off to find the falls

Turned around and came back about 5 miles and found the Forest Service road that goes deep to where the Vermilion River (not the one in Ohio but the Vermilion River in Minnesota - same spelling) crosses and continues on through a narrow gorge/chute and the river connects Vermilion Lake with Crane Lake.  This river was a major thoroughfare for the fur trappers in the 1700's.  A trading post was established in Crane Lake and the voyageurs coming through would stop there.

Once we found the parking area for Vermilion Falls, we walked along the river and could hear the falls ahead.  Stunning.  Dropped down below the falls, took some photos, then headed back to the car and drove back to the bridge where the road crosses over the river, parked the car and then walked the portage trail (probably the same as the voyageurs) to the Chute.  We did not go farther to where the Gorge was, were were really getting bit up.

The start of the High Falls of Vermilion Falls

Continued on to the observation deck

Lovely area to sit and watch the river

Good thing we turned around and then headed back to Kabetogama.  A nasty thunderstorm was coming, we had left the RV closed up with the a/c on - the temp was 85 when we left but the humidity was 92%.  Muggy, sticky, but wow, the storm and the lightening.

At far right, where white water is, where we stood on observation deck 

Looking up river to the Chute area, will hike to that spot next

We are real voyageurs! Just need 90 pound sacks on our back

Could hear the roar from above

Looking back to Chute - we made it

We did not make it to the Gorge, glad we did what we did

Tomorrow we hired a captain to take us on a boat tour of Voyageurs National Park, only to see the park from the water.  We took kayaks out the other evening, paddled around for a bit, saw 2 eagles, and just loved being back on the water.  The freedom, the serenity, hearing the loons call, watching eagles fly overhead, the other night wolves howled, deer, beaver, kingfishers, just a wonderful relaxing area to be in.