HB Round Bear Island K28 Houseboat Campsite, Orr, MN

Introduction / Overview

For the Minnesota adventurer, Voyageurs National Park offers a truly distinctive "North Woods" experience, and the HB Round Bear Island K28 Houseboat Campsite is a perfect example of this unique wilderness access. Unlike traditional campgrounds accessible by car, this site is exclusively a boat-in destination, designed specifically for houseboats, cabin cruisers, or large sailing vessels. Located on the picturesque Kabetogama Lake, K28 provides a spectacular base for exploring the park’s water-based wilderness. It offers a rare blend of remote island solitude with the comfort of having your lodging floating right at the shore. This particular site has gained a reputation among seasoned park visitors for its exceptional qualities, including a generously sized beach area—a significant benefit for families and groups. Customer reviews frequently highlight the site's relative freedom from bugs, the vast opportunities for wildlife viewing, and the sheer pleasure of having a large, clear space for swimming and shore activities right off the houseboat. It is a prized spot that encourages days spent swimming, kayaking, fishing, and simply soaking in the unhurried pace of the border lakes region.

Location and Accessibility

The HB Round Bear Island K28 Houseboat Campsite is located within the vast, interconnected water system of Voyageurs National Park in Northern Minnesota. Specifically, it is situated on Round Bear Island on Kabetogama Lake, one of the park’s four main recreational lakes. The nearest mainland access point and gateway community is typically the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center or the Ash River Visitor Center near Orr, MN. The provided GPS coordinates (86W9C4VJ+95) place it precisely in a location that is only reachable via watercraft. Accessibility requires visitors to either own a suitable boat (houseboat, cabin cruiser, or sailboat) or rent one from the various commercial outfitters located in the surrounding gateway communities. There are no roads or trails leading to the site; your boat is your key to entry. Once the appropriate houseboat permit has been secured in advance through the national reservation system, travelers can launch from one of the mainland ramps and navigate across the lake to Round Bear Island. As with all of Voyageurs National Park, a printed permit must be displayed on the rear of the houseboat to legally occupy the designated site.

Services Offered

As a designated houseboat mooring location within a national park, HB Round Bear Island K28 offers minimal, yet essential, amenities to support boat-based camping while maintaining a wilderness setting. It is important to note that this is not a front-country tent camping site; tent camping is strictly prohibited at houseboat sites. The services provided are focused entirely on supporting safe mooring and shore activities for houseboaters:

Mooring Access: The site is a designated houseboat mooring location, allowing houseboats (including cabin cruisers and sailboats) to tie up directly at the shore. Houseboat sites typically feature sand or beach landings.
Fire Ring: One metal fire ring with a cooking grate is provided at the shore for building contained campfires. Firewood must be dead and downed wood collected from the ground nearby, or brought in.
Max Capacity: Designated houseboat sites in Voyageurs National Park allow for a maximum of two houseboats to moor overnight at the location.
No Bear Lockers/Privy: Unlike front-country tent campsites, houseboat sites generally do not include amenities such as vault toilets (privies) or bear-proof food lockers. Campers are expected to utilize the marine sanitation device and food storage facilities of their houseboat.
Shoreline Beach: The primary 'service' is the cleared beach or rock access area on the shore that allows safe access and recreational activity outside of the boat.
No Tent Camping: It is crucial to remember that pitching tents is not allowed at this designated houseboat site. Anyone in the party wishing to tent camp must reserve a separate, designated tent campsite at least 200 yards away, and the houseboat must also be moored 200 yards away from the tent site.

Features / Highlights

Round Bear Island K28 stands out even among the many houseboat sites in the park due to its desirable natural attributes and documented tranquility:

Exceptional Beach Landing: Cited by customers as having one of the largest and most accommodating beach areas compared to other houseboat sites, making it perfect for swimming, sunbathing, or launching small watercraft like kayaks and canoes.
Reduced Insect Presence: Due to its position, the site often benefits from lake breezes that help to minimize the presence of mosquitoes and other insects, a notable advantage in the summer months.
Spectacular Wildlife Viewing: The location on Kabetogama Lake’s open waters and island shoreline provides excellent opportunities to observe native wildlife, including various waterfowl, fish-eating birds like seagulls, and possibly loons, ducks, and eagles.
Excellent Water Recreation: The sand landing and clear water encourage swimming, and the area is ideal for paddling, including kayaking or canoeing around the sheltered harbor area mentioned in traveler reviews.
Sunset Views: The orientation of the site frequently provides travelers with breathtaking sunset views over the water, a classic North Woods spectacle.
Proximity to Key Waterways: Located on Kabetogama Lake, the site offers easy access to the main chain of lakes, allowing houseboaters to cruise toward Namakan Lake, Ash River, or the historic Kettle Falls Hotel.

Contact Information

HB Round Bear Island K28 is a designated mooring area within Voyageurs National Park. All reservations and permits are handled through the National Park Service reservation system.

Address:

Voyageurs National Park (General Area)

86W9C4VJ+95, Orr, MN 55771, USA (Approximate GPS location)

The nearest official park information centers are:

Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center

9995 Woodenfrog Rd, Kabetogama, MN 56669

Ash River Visitor Center

9513 Ash River Rd, Ash River, MN 56669

Phone:

Voyageurs National Park Headquarters: (218) 283-6600

For Reservation Assistance: Overnight houseboat permits must be reserved in advance through the national booking system:

Recreation.gov Call Center: 1-877-444-6777

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For Minnesotans, whose identity is intrinsically linked to the 10,000 lakes, the HB Round Bear Island K28 Houseboat Campsite offers a crowning jewel water-based vacation. It represents the ultimate expression of the local "lake life," allowing groups to bring their home-away-from-home directly to a remote, scenic national park island. This is an unparalleled opportunity to escape the crowded docks and resorts and anchor in a beautiful, secluded bay. The site's renowned large beach is perfect for families, allowing children and adults to safely swim and play directly on the shore of a pristine northern lake. Furthermore, the houseboat experience itself is deeply local—many residents are already familiar with boating and the necessary navigation skills, making this an accessible yet aspirational trip. Choosing K28 means selecting a known favorite for tranquility, spectacular sunsets, and exceptional opportunities for wildlife observation. It's an unforgettable way for Minnesota residents to truly immerse themselves in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" from the comfort of their own floating lodge.