Cabins on Crane
Crane Lake
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Crane Lake is the southernmost entrance to Voyageurs National Park, at the end of the road north of Orr, past Buyck. The town is a row of resorts, marinas and outfitters on the lake's south shore. North through King Williams Narrows is Sand Point Lake, on the Canadian border, and beyond it Namakan.
Most visitors come for walleye, smallmouth bass and pike, and to take a boat or houseboat into the park. Several resorts run water taxis to the park's boat-in campsites.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Stay in town at Crane Lake to drive to the door, or take a water taxi or houseboat to a boat-in site on Sand Point.
18 places to stay
Crane Lake & Buyck
Resorts, motels, marinas and RV parks in the town of Crane Lake, plus Trail's End and Gold Mine Camp on the road in at Buyck. Voyagaire rents houseboats from here.
Crane Lake Voyageur RV Campground
Crane Lake
From $60 / night · year not stated
Crane Lake Wilderness Lodge
Crane Lake
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Echo Lake Campground (Superior National Forest)
Buyck
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Gold Mine Camp
Buyck
From $150 (nightly and weekly rates) · year not stated
Handberg's Marina
Crane Lake
From $50–$60 / night (includes electricity); seasonal site $4,200 plus electricity and garbage, May 1-Oct 15 · year not stated
Headquarters RV Park
Crane Lake
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Nelson's Resort
Crane Lake
From $185–$775 / night (cabin, 2-6 guests by cabin) · 2026
Norway Lodge Resort and RV Park
Crane Lake
From $875 (nightly and weekly rates) · year not stated
Pine Point Lodge, Resort & Motel
Crane Lake
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Pine Ridge Motel
Crane Lake
From $90–$330 / night (motel $90; cabin $220 for 1-4, $275 for 5, $330 for 6); weekly motel $630, cabin $1,540-$1,980 · year not stated
Scott's Peaceful Valley Resort
Crane Lake
From $140–$300 / night (starting at, 2-person occupancy, 3-night minimum); weekly $830-$1,950 · 2026
Scott's Resort & Seaplane Base
Crane Lake
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Sherrick's Wilderness Resort
Crane Lake
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Trail's End Resort & Campground
Buyck
From $150–$275 / night (lodge room $150; cabins $175-$275; camping $50 full hookup, $40-$45 partial); 2 people; extra person $15 · 2026
Voyagaire Lodge & Houseboats
Crane Lake
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Voyagaire Lodge & Houseboats (houseboat rentals)
Crane Lake
From $391–$489 / night · 2026 (site footer shows 2026; page does not state the rental year)
Voyageurs Guide Service and Outpost
Crane Lake
From $279–$990 / night (starting at) · year not stated
2 places to stay
Sand Point & the park
Boat-in places past King Williams Narrows: the Park Service's campsites on Sand Point and Crane, and Sand Point Lodge on the Ontario shore.
Sand Point Lodge
Sand Point Lake (Ontario shore)
From $200–$325 / night (weekly $1,250-$2,200) · 2024
Voyageurs National Park boat-in campsites (Crane Lake / Sand Point Lake)
Crane Lake
From $10–$60 / night per permit; plus $10 reservation fee per transaction · 2025
II. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, up to 3–4 anglers | $800 | $800 | – | – | 1 |
"Typical" is the median of published rates. Most operators don't put a year on their rates.
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson's Canoe OutfittersCrane Lake | Call | – | ||
| Aurora Waters, LLC | Call | – | ||
| Butch Eggen Guide ServiceCrane Lake | Call | – | ||
| Jerry Pohlman Guide ServiceCrane Lake | Call | – | ||
| Lac DuNord | Call | – | ||
| Ostberg GuidingCrane Lake | Call | – | ||
| R&S Guide Service | Call | – | ||
| Troy Chittum | Call | – |
III. Hard water
Ice fishing: day houses and sleepers
Winter here is quieter than on the bigger walleye lakes. Voyagaire runs guided ice days in portable shelters and trips to Mukooda Lake.
| Outfitter | Day house | Sleeper | How you get out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voyagaire Lodge & HouseboatsCrane Lake | Guided full day in a portable heated shelter for 4, $200; Mukooda Lake trip $350; spear house $150 (undated) | – | Guide handles travel and setup; UTV shuttle to lodge for food and restroom |
IV. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 9, 2026Walleye and pike seasons open on Crane and the border waters.
- May 15 – October 15High season at the park's boat-in campsites.
- June 6 – November 30Muskie season on Crane Lake.
- February 28, 2027Walleye season closes on Crane Lake.
- March 15, 2027Fish houses off Crane Lake by midnight.
- April 14, 2027Walleye season closes on Sand Point and Namakan.
Fishing dates are from the DNR's 2026 regulations; campsite season from the National Park Service.
V. Field notes
Into the park
- Sand Point Lake is 8 miles long, up to 184 feet deep, and has 115 islands, according to the Park Service.
- The park's boat-in campsites on Sand Point and Crane are booked through recreation.gov. The 2025 high-season fees were $22–$32 a night for small and large sites, plus a $10 reservation fee.
- The Park Service lists Pine Point Lodge, Voyagaire and Voyageurs Guide Service among the water taxis serving Crane and Sand Point.
VI. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (Crane: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027; Sand Point: May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027)
- Crane Lake (with Vermilion Gorge and the Echo River to the County 424 bridge): walleye season May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027.
- Sand Point, Namakan and Little Vermilion are border waters: walleye season May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027.
- Walleye on all of them: release every walleye from 18 through 26 inches; one over 26 inches allowed. 6 walleye and sauger combined, no more than 4 of them walleye.
- Northern pike on Crane (Northeast Zone): 2 in possession; release every pike from 30 through 40 inches; one over 40 allowed. On the border waters: 3 in possession, only one over 30 inches.
- Muskie on Crane: June 6 – November 30, 1 fish, 54-inch minimum.
- The Canadian half of Sand Point Lake needs an Ontario fishing licence. Anglers on the border waters may use one line in open water and two through the ice.
- Fish houses must be off Crane Lake by midnight on March 15, 2027, and off the Canadian border waters by March 31.
- Voyageurs National Park's live-bait and private-boat limits apply to its interior lakes only, not to Crane, Sand Point or Namakan.
From the DNR's 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations: the Crane Lake special regulation and Northeast pike zone for Crane, and the Canada-Minnesota border water tables for Sand Point and Namakan. Rules change each March; check before you fish.
VII. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
How much does a fishing guide cost on Crane Lake & Sand Point?
A guide boat for up to 3–4 anglers runs $800–$800 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person, and usually include bait and gas.
What's the walleye slot at Crane Lake?
Release every walleye from 18 through 26 inches, with one over 26 allowed, and keep no more than 4 walleye within 6 walleye and sauger combined. The same slot covers Sand Point and Namakan (2026–27 DNR rules).
Can you rent a houseboat at Crane Lake?
Yes. Voyagaire rents houseboats from Crane Lake. Its Suncruiser lists $391.20 a night off-season and $489 in peak season, though the page doesn't state the year.
What does a fishing guide cost at Crane Lake?
Voyagaire charges $800 for a full day and $600 for a three-quarter day, for up to three anglers in the guide's boat. Nelson's Resort includes guides in its fishing packages.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: Crane Lake, Boat Dock, Minnesota (37419306836), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0; Gfp-minnesota-voyaguers-national-park-crane-lake-shore, Yinan Chen, Public Domain; Gfp-minnesota-voyaguers-national-park-crane-lake, Yinan Chen, Public Domain.
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