HB State Point Bay K32 Houseboat (Rock Landing) Campsite

- 86W9C5VP+JW, Orr, MN 55771

For many Minnesota locals, the quintessential northern experience involves water—and lots of it. The HB State Point Bay K32 Houseboat Campsite offers a uniquely immersive way to experience the vast, interconnected waterways of Voyageurs National Park. Unlike traditional tent camping, a houseboat site is a designated mooring area along the pristine shoreline, reserved for self-contained vessels that meet the National Park Service’s definition of a houseboat (a registered vessel with sleeping, cooking, and no-discharge toilet facilities).

The K32 site is specifically located in the scenic State Point Bay area on Kabetogama Lake, one of the four major lakes that define the park. This location serves as your flexible, movable base camp, allowing you to anchor your floating home right at the edge of the wilderness. It delivers the perfect blend of luxury and rugged exploration, providing all the comforts of home—a real bed, kitchen, and bathroom—while placing you directly in the heart of Minnesota's only National Park where 40% of the area is water.

Houseboating in Voyageurs is a beloved tradition, offering the mobility to explore different areas of the park each day, from hiking trails on the Kabetogama Peninsula to historic sites like the nearby Kettle Falls. The K32 site is known for its "Rock Landing," which indicates a solid, natural shoreline for mooring, characteristic of the beautiful, glacially carved landscape of the Canadian Shield.

The HB State Point Bay K32 Houseboat Campsite is geographically situated on the shores of Kabetogama Lake, one of the primary bodies of water in Voyageurs National Park. The nearest gateway community is Orr, MN 55771, which, along with nearby Ash River and Kabetogama, serves as a common launch point and rental hub for houseboat adventures. The official park reference for the site places it near the coordinates 86W9C5VP+JW, which is a helpful navigational marker on the lake.

Accessibility to this site is exclusively by water. The K32 Houseboat Campsite is not reachable by road or on foot. Visitors typically embark from one of the area's marinas or the National Park Service boat ramps at the Kabetogama Lake or Ash River Visitor Centers. From the mainland, the trip involves navigating the lake, following the channel buoys and nautical maps provided by the park or local rental companies.

Key Access Information:

• Water-Access Only: The site is 100% water-accessible. There are no roads or driveways leading to the mooring area.
• Navigational Skill Required: Operators must be comfortable piloting their houseboat (or other permitted vessel) and navigating the lake's buoy system to reach State Point Bay.
• Mooring: As a rock landing, boaters must be proficient in safely mooring their vessel using the natural shoreline and the park-provided mooring aids, which ensures the boat is securely fastened against the shore, especially in changing weather conditions.
• No Site-Specific Reservations: Unlike tent sites, houseboat permits in Voyageurs are generally not site-specific. Houseboaters reserve a permit for the date of their stay, and the choice of any designated houseboat site—including K32—is on a first-come, first-served basis. This emphasizes the need for early arrival or having a flexible itinerary.

The services provided at the HB State Point Bay K32 site are focused on safe mooring and environmental protection, acknowledging that the houseboat itself provides all major living amenities.

• Designated Mooring Area: The primary service is providing a marked, designated location along the shoreline specifically for houseboats, which helps distribute visitor use and minimize shoreline impact.
• Mooring Aids: The K32 site, like all developed houseboat sites, is equipped with mooring posts, rings, or other aids. These structures are essential for securely tying a large vessel to the rocky shoreline.
• Metal Fire Ring: A permanent metal fire ring is provided on the shoreline at the site. This is a critical safety measure, as fires are only permitted in park-provided fire rings to prevent wildfires.
• Two-Vessel Capacity: The site is designated to accommodate a maximum of two houseboats (or other permitted overnight vessels) at one time, fostering a sense of community while still maintaining reasonable space.
• Park Rules Adherence: The site is located under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Services include enforcement of rules such as the requirement for proper food storage (inside the houseboat) and the use of the vessel's built-in marine sanitation device (no-discharge toilet).

State Point Bay K32 is celebrated for its distinctive features that make it a coveted stop on any Voyageurs itinerary, especially for locals accustomed to the beauty of the North Shore and border lakes.

• Rock Landing Aesthetics: The "Rock Landing" characteristic offers a beautiful, rugged backdrop. These rocky shores are ideal for sunbathing, fishing from the shore, and experiencing the classic, exposed granite scenery of the Canadian Shield.
• Prime Kabetogama Lake Location: Being on Kabetogama Lake places you in excellent proximity to popular destinations, including the historic Ellsworth Rock Gardens and several hiking trails on the Kabetogama Peninsula.
• Flexible Exploration: The nature of houseboat camping means you can easily use K32 as a base for a few nights, then pull up stakes and move to another designated site on Namakan or Sand Point Lake, offering unmatched flexibility for exploring the park’s many islands and bays.
• Stargazing Excellence: Far from the light pollution of cities, the State Point Bay area provides an incredible canvas for night sky viewing. Many locals visit the park specifically to witness the Milky Way or search for the faint glow of the Northern Lights.
• Direct Water Access: From your moored boat, you have immediate access to all water-based recreation, including swimming, fishing for Walleye and Northern Pike, and launching smaller craft (like dinghies or kayaks) for independent exploration.

Since the HB State Point Bay K32 Houseboat Campsite is an asset of Voyageurs National Park, all official inquiries are handled through the park's main administration, which manages the permit system and overall operations. For local logistics, the nearby Visitor Centers are key resources.

General Park Mailing Address: Voyageurs National Park Headquarters, 360 Highway 11 East, International Falls, MN 56649, USA

Voyageurs National Park Phone Number (General Info): (218) 283-6600

Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center (Nearest Operations Hub): (218) 875-2111

Reservations and Permits: Houseboat permits are required for all overnight stays between May 1st and October 31st and must be reserved through the National Recreation Reservation Service at Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. Permits are non-site-specific and become available for the following season on November 15th each year.

The HB State Point Bay K32 Houseboat Campsite is an ideal fit for Minnesotans because it celebrates the state's deep cultural connection to its 10,000+ lakes and offers the definitive "Up North" water experience with comfort. For residents who value their family traditions and seek hassle-free, yet remote, recreation, houseboating eliminates the need to pack and unpack gear every day, transforming a lake trip into a floating resort vacation.

This style of camping on Kabetogama Lake allows locals to fully leverage their familiarity with the region’s boating culture and embrace the vastness of the Minnesota-Canadian border waters. It provides freedom and flexibility not found in traditional camping, enabling a multi-day journey of discovery into the heart of Voyageurs National Park. K32 offers a cherished, flexible base from which to fish, hike, and relax, making it the perfect choice for a unique and memorable Minnesota wilderness escape.

HB State Point Bay K32 Houseboat (Rock Landing) Campsite

86W9C5VP+JW, Orr, MN 55771, USA