HB Deer Point Island East K46 Houseboat Campsite

Introduction / Overview: Houseboating on the Voyageurs Frontier

For Minnesotans who truly want to immerse themselves in the state’s “Land of 10,000 Lakes” identity, the ultimate adventure lies within **Voyageurs National Park (VNP)**. This is a park where 84,000 acres of its expanse is water, and the most authentic way to explore it is by becoming a modern-day voyageur—aboard a houseboat. The **HB Deer Point Island East K46 Houseboat Campsite** is not a traditional campground; it is a **designated mooring location** reserved exclusively for large vessels and houseboats on the park's interconnected waterways, offering a private, reserved piece of shoreline where you can anchor your floating home for the night.

Located strategically on Kabetogama Lake (indicated by the 'K' in K46), this site on Deer Point Island provides a stunning base camp for fishing, swimming, and exploring the wilderness of the international border region. Choosing a houseboat site like K46 means you bring the amenities of home with you—kitchen, beds, and bathroom—while enjoying the unparalleled solitude of a designated National Park island mooring. The reservation system manages use, ensuring that every visitor who secures a permit enjoys the quiet beauty and undisturbed nature that VNP is famous for, making it a highly desirable choice for a unique northern Minnesota summer vacation.

Location and Accessibility: A Reserved Spot on Kabetogama Lake

The HB Deer Point Island East K46 Houseboat Campsite is located within **Voyageurs National Park**, a vast, water-based park near the communities of Orr and International Falls. The approximate address provided—**C2QW+52R, Orr, MN 55771, USA**—places the site in the extensive water body system, likely on **Kabetogama Lake**. Houseboat sites are identified by map coordinates and markers, not street signs.

**Accessibility is exclusively by watercraft.** There is no land access, no parking lot, and no hiking trail leading to this location.

• **Houseboat Required:** Accessing and utilizing this site requires a large registered vessel, houseboat, cabin cruiser, or sailboat with sleeping and cooking facilities, and critically, a no-discharge toilet.
• **Moorings:** The site is reached by navigating your vessel across Kabetogama Lake and mooring at the designated island shoreline. These sites are generally **beach landings** where the front of the houseboat is tied to the shore and the stern is anchored in the water.
• **Launch Points:** Houseboaters typically launch from one of the gateway communities, such as Orr, Crane Lake, Ash River, or International Falls, depending on where their rental is located or where they choose to launch a private vessel.
• **Navigation:** Boaters must be familiar with VNP’s navigation systems, water safety, and the regulations regarding the proximity to the international border with Canada.

The site’s reservation code (K46) signifies its place in the Kabetogama Lake section of the park, a gorgeous area known for its scenic islands and easy access to the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center (a short boat ride away). Securing this permit guarantees your right to moor your vessel overnight at this specific piece of the National Park’s shoreline.

Services Offered (Vessel-Based Primitive Mooring)

The services at HB Deer Point Island East K46 are specific to houseboat mooring and are designed to support the vessel itself, rather than tent camping. The philosophy is that all necessary living amenities—water, waste disposal, cooking, and sleeping—are contained *on* the houseboat. The following are the essential services provided at the designated site:

• **Mooring Aids:** Designated posts, heavy ropes, or tie-up points are provided on the shoreline to assist in securing the houseboat to the island (note: Houseboat sites **do not** typically include a traditional dock).
• **Fire Ring:** One permanent, metal fire ring is available on the shoreline at the mooring area. Fires are strictly confined to this ring.
• **No Waste Facilities:** No pit toilets or vault toilets are provided at the houseboat site. **All human waste must be disposed of using the no-discharge toilet facilities on the houseboat.**
• **No Tent Camping Amenities:** Houseboat sites do not feature tent pads, picnic tables, or bear-proof food lockers. All food and trash must be stored securely aboard the houseboat until it can be packed out of the park.
• **Reservations:** A mandatory overnight permit is required for the houseboat and must be visibly displayed on the rear of the vessel while moored in the park.

**Features / Highlights That Define the Houseboat Experience**

The appeal of the HB Deer Point Island East K46 site is the unique freedom and seclusion that houseboating in a National Park provides. It's a truly exclusive Minnesota outdoor experience, combining comfort with the rugged beauty of the Northwoods.

• **Mooring on a National Park Island:** This is the core highlight—the opportunity to spend the night on a beautiful island shoreline that is part of a federally protected park, reserved just for your vessel.
• **Ultimate Convenience:** With the houseboat providing a kitchen, heat, and bathroom, it allows families and groups to comfortably enjoy the deep wilderness without sacrificing essential amenities.
• **Seamless Lake Access:** The moment you wake up, you are already floating on the lake, ready for a day of fishing, swimming, or exploring the numerous day-use sites and hiking trails scattered across VNP's islands and peninsulas.
• **Stunning Vistas:** The island setting guarantees magnificent 360-degree views, spectacular sunrises over the water, and unparalleled nighttime stargazing far from city light pollution.
• **Fishing Hotspot Base:** Kabetogama Lake is legendary among Minnesota anglers for its walleye and northern pike fishing, and K46 provides a strategic base to access prime fishing grounds immediately.

**Contact Information**

Houseboat permits and general park regulations are managed by the National Park Service (NPS) at Voyageurs National Park Headquarters.

**Park Managing Authority:** Voyageurs National Park (NPS)

**Mailing Address (Park Headquarters):** 360 Hwy 11 East, International Falls, MN 56649

**General Park Phone:** (218) 283-6600

**Reservations:** **Permits are mandatory** for all overnight stays and must be secured in advance through the National Call Center or the official online platform.

**National Call Center (Reservations):** (877) 444-6777

**Reservation Policy:** Permits for the high-use season (May 1 – October 31) become available on **November 15** of the prior year at 9:00 AM CST. Locals are strongly advised to reserve on this date due to high demand for these sites.

**What is Worth Choosing the HB Deer Point Island East K46 Houseboat Campsite?**

Choosing the HB Deer Point Island East K46 Houseboat Campsite is a choice to fully embrace Minnesota's identity as a water-based outdoor haven. It is worth choosing for the discerning vacationer or local angler who demands both **seclusion and convenience** on their trip to the Northwoods.

This site provides the peace of mind of a **reserved spot** during the busy summer season—a critical feature in a park where every island and shoreline feels like a perfect vacation spot. For those renting a houseboat from a local outfitter, or those with their own large boat, K46 is a coveted piece of shoreline that acts as your private oasis, allowing your group to wake up in a different, magnificent location every night if you wish. By adhering to the mandatory National Park rules—especially regarding waste disposal and fire safety—you become a steward of this precious, watery wilderness. Simply put, for the ultimate, comfortable, island-based National Park experience in Minnesota, reserving HB Deer Point Island East K46 is the clear choice.