Welcome to Ranier
Turn North when you see "Big Vic" to visit us! Ranier is a unique little village located on the shores of Rainy Lake where Rainy River begins its way west to Lake of the Woods. Since the turn of the 20th century Ranier's history has been closely connected to Rainy Lake and Voyageur Country; it has been an interesting journey through the years. This community has participated in a genuine gold rush, outfitted trappers and timber cruisers, supervised a large scale commercial fishing industry, served as a trade center for the Native American/First Nation population throughout the watershed and played host to lumberjacks and roustabouts. Ranier has done it all during its colorful history that still continues to evolve. Ranier is a place to come to enjoy a great meal, tour its new distillery, hire Ranier's renowned fishing guide Fairly Reliable Woody, visit the lakeside brewpub, meet the locals over a cold one at its Ranier Municipal Liquor Store and bar, or stay in one of its resorts, seasonal cabins or RV park. The fun part is that you can boat in, park at a public dock and enjoy the hospitality! A bike trail leading from International Falls to the Voyageurs National Park Visitor's Center winds through Ranier. In addition, its quaint streets lend themselves to leisurely strolls. Take a stroll on the Rainy River Dock to feed the seagulls and watch the trains cross the international border on the Ranier Lift Bridge. Watch the beautiful sunsets on the Spruce Street Dock looking toward our Canadian neighbors. Take a dip in Rainy Lake at our natural sand beach. Bring your lunch and have a picnic at Ranier Park. The city hosts its annual summer festival, Ranier Days, on the second weekend in August. A lively parade kicks off the festivities which always includes a dog parade where locals dress up their dogs and let them strut their stuff. Live music, vendors, an arts festival, sailboat rides, activities for kids and adults make it a fun day for everyone to enjoy. Winter months also have much to offer the adventurous. Ride your snowmobile into town. Take the kids ice skating at Ranier's rink or sledding down the hill. Shake off the chill in the rink's warming house or by the stone firepit. We invite those who explore Voyageurs National Park country to visit us for a day of browsing and soaking up the mysterious Ranier mood. You might decide to stay for a lifetime. Visit the area's Convention and Visitor's Bureau http://www.rainylake.org/ for additional local lodging and tourism information. See also Voyageur's National Park website @ Voyageurs National Park https://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm Voyageurs National Park Association is the nonprofit partner of Voyageurs National Park. See the link @ http://voyageurs.org/ See also the Heart of the Continent Partnership celebrating the communities on the Minnesota/Ontario Border whose partnership with National Geographic, the Geotourism Initiative brings awareness to our beautiful region. http://www.traveltheheart.org/
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