HB Feedem Island K39 Houseboat Campsite, Orr, MN

Minnesota's identity is intrinsically tied to its wilderness and waters, and for those who call the North Star State home, there is no more iconic water-based adventure than navigating the interconnected lakes of Voyageurs National Park. This pristine northern gem is a water lover’s paradise, offering an unparalleled opportunity to explore the Boreal Forest landscape from the unique vantage point of a houseboat. The HB Feedem Island K39 Houseboat Campsite provides the perfect designated mooring point for this exceptional experience, serving as a secure, amenity-equipped base for your floating vacation.

Feedem Island K39 is not a traditional land-based campground. Instead, it is a National Park Service designated mooring site reserved exclusively for self-contained vessels—houseboats, cabin cruisers, or sailboats—that meet specific requirements, including having sleeping, cooking, and no-discharge toilet facilities. This is houseboat central, the designated spot where you can securely beach your floating home against the wild northern shore for the night. The site on Feedem Island offers an extraordinary degree of seclusion and natural beauty, allowing you to anchor in a spot where the mainland is too far away for car traffic or fixed structures to intrude. It embodies the essence of a true wilderness vacation while allowing you to retain the comfortable amenities of home, a crucial balance highly valued by local Minnesotans. The site is a key component of a multi-day itinerary, giving you the freedom to cruise the expansive waters of Lake Kabetogama, fish, explore, and then claim a recognized, permitted, and equipped spot to tie up under the legendary northern stars.

HB Feedem Island K39 is strategically located within the stunning, island-dotted waters of Lake Kabetogama, which forms a major component of the four great lakes of Voyageurs National Park. The site is physically situated on Feedem Island, a prominent landmass within the lake.

The geographical reference, C3XR+9PF, Orr, MN 55771, USA, places the site generally in the southeastern section of the park, accessible from either the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center or the Ash River Visitor Center boat ramps. Crucially, like all Voyageurs National Park campgrounds and houseboat sites, HB Feedem Island K39 is accessible only by watercraft. There are no roads leading to the site. Houseboaters will use navigational charts and park buoys to safely travel to the island.

The landing type for K39 is identified as either a Sand or Soft landing (based on general area mapping data, as specific site information can vary), which is often preferred by houseboaters. A soft landing typically involves nosing the houseboat right up to the shore for easy, stable access. Boaters are expected to use provided mooring aids and follow proper beaching and anchoring techniques to secure their vessel, ensuring the houseboat remains stable throughout the overnight stay. Its island location ensures a genuine sense of solitude, protected from the traffic and noise of the mainland, making it a truly remote and private Northwoods getaway.

As a designated houseboat mooring location operated by the National Park Service, Feedem Island K39 is equipped with necessary facilities to support a safe and comfortable stay while adhering to "Leave No Trace" principles in this sensitive ecosystem. All amenities are located on the shoreline adjacent to the mooring area.

The essential services and infrastructure provided at the HB Feedem Island K39 Houseboat Campsite include:

Fire Ring: A single, established metal fire ring with a cooking grate is provided on the shoreline. This is the only location where campfires are permitted. Visitors should plan to bring their own approved, non-invasive firewood or dead/downed wood collected from the ground, as cutting standing trees (live or dead) is strictly prohibited.
Mooring Aids: Necessary posts, rings, or other aids are available to assist the mooring process, allowing the maximum limit of two houseboats to securely tie up to the island shore overnight.
Waste Management & Sanitation: There are no vault toilets or privies provided on the island shoreline. All human waste and wastewater must be managed using the approved marine sanitation device (no-discharge toilet) aboard the self-contained houseboat vessel, as per park regulation. All garbage and trash must be stored on the vessel and packed out entirely from the park.
Food Storage: No bear-proof food lockers or cabinets are installed on the shoreline. All food, garbage, and scented items must be secured within the confines of the houseboat (cabin) to comply with park-wide bear safety regulations.
Quiet Hours: The National Park enforces quiet hours between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This includes restricting the use of generators, which must be turned off to preserve the wilderness solitude for all visitors.

The appeal of Feedem Island K39 lies in its harmonious blend of convenience and immersion in the Northwoods environment. For Minnesotans who cherish lake life, this location offers a memorable, high-quality outdoor experience.

Highlights that make this houseboat site a premier destination include:

Island Solitude: Located on an island, the site inherently offers a higher degree of privacy and a more remote feel than mainland-accessible areas. This seclusion is often sought after by locals looking to truly unplug and escape the city or suburban environment.
Optimal for Houseboating: Since it is designated exclusively for houseboats (and not tent campers), the area is perfectly managed for the needs of larger vessels, focusing on safe mooring and compliance with marine-based regulations.
Northern Lights and Stargazing: Its remote location on Lake Kabetogama, far from the light pollution of any major population center, makes Feedem Island an excellent spot for experiencing the stunning dark skies of Voyageurs National Park—a prime location for viewing the Aurora Borealis and meteor showers.
Access to Lake Kabetogama Activities: The site serves as a wonderful home base for fishing for the legendary walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass that thrive in Lake Kabetogama, as well as accessing nearby day-use areas and the broader water trails of the park.
Easy Landing (Soft/Sand): If the site indeed features a soft or sand landing, this is a significant highlight, as it provides a gentler and often more appealing shoreline for beaching the houseboat and for enjoying the water directly from the shore.

For booking, inquiries, and general information regarding the HB Feedem Island K39 Houseboat Campsite, all contact should be directed through the official National Park Service channels, as the site itself is unstaffed and requires a mandatory overnight permit.

Physical Location (The site is located on Lake Kabetogama within Voyageurs National Park):

General Area: Feedem Island, Orr, MN 55771, USA
Site Identifier: Houseboat Site K39 (HB Feedem Island)
GPS Code (for reference): C3XR+9PF

For Official Park Contact and Permits (The centralized points of contact for planning the trip):

Reservations: An overnight permit is required for this Houseboat Site. Reservations for houseboat permits (which are generally not site-specific) must be made in advance through the National Park Service's official platform, Recreation.gov.
Voyageurs National Park Headquarters Phone: (218) 283-6600
Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center (Best local contact for area-specific conditions): (218) 875-2111

It is important to secure your permit well in advance, as the summer season (May 1 to October 31) is highly competitive.

For Minnesota residents, HB Feedem Island K39 represents the perfect convergence of local culture and protected wilderness. Houseboating is a beloved tradition in the state, offering a highly convenient, family-friendly way to vacation without giving up the comforts of home. This particular site on Feedem Island allows locals to fully leverage their knowledge of lake travel and embrace a uniquely Minnesotan summer on the water.

The required permit system ensures the site remains well-regulated and never overcrowded, preserving the quiet solitude that Minnesotans seek when heading Up North. It serves as a beautiful launchpad for experiencing the best of Voyageurs National Park—fishing, wildlife viewing, and endless exploration—all from a secure, beautiful, and permitted island location. For those who own a qualifying vessel or choose to rent one from a nearby Minnesota outfitter, Feedem Island K39 is a destination that truly encapsulates the spirit of the Northwoods, offering a memorable and deeply satisfying return to the state's natural, watery roots.