Rainy River Webcam – Border Views at Lake of the Woods

The Rainy River Webcam looks out from Border View Lodge at Wheelers Point, Minnesota, where the Rainy River runs into Lake of the Woods. Rows of wooden boat slips with lifts reach out from the shore below the lodge, an American flag flies on the left, and a small metal-roofed shed sits at the water’s edge on the right. Past the docks the river opens wide, a long island of reeds stretches across the middle distance, and the wooded bank on the far side is Ontario, Canada. The view swings hard with the seasons. In summer the slips can fill with fishing boats, by November they stand bare above grey water and tan reeds, and through the winter the river typically lies frozen and white from bank to bank.

About the Rainy River at Wheelers Point

Border View Lodge stands at 3409 State Highway 172 NW, at the end of the 19-kilometer (12-mile) run north from Baudette to Wheelers Point and the mouth of the Rainy River. The same family has run it as a year-round fishing resort for more than 40 years, with cabins, fish houses for the ice season, a bar and a full-service restaurant. Its guided walleye charters go out on 8-meter (27-foot) Sportcraft boats that are inspected by the Coast Guard, and the slips in the frame are the lodge’s own.

The river is the international border here, with the line running down the middle of the channel. Everything on the far bank belongs to Dawson Township in Ontario’s Rainy River District. Upstream, about 68 kilometers (42 miles) of navigable water lead from Wheelers Point past Baudette to Birchdale. Baudette had 966 residents at the 2020 census, sits at 332 meters (1,089 feet), and is joined to the town of Rainy River, Ontario, by the Baudette-Rainy River International Bridge. Logging was the chief industry on both sides of the border, and fishing became another major one. The town was largely destroyed in the Baudette Fire of 1910 and was rebuilt quickly.

The lake the river feeds is enormous. Local tourism figures count 14,552 islands and more than 104,000 kilometers (65,000 miles) of shoreline once the islands are included, and its walleye fishing has earned Lake of the Woods the nickname Walleye Capital of the World.

Weather and Climate at Lake of the Woods

Winters are long and hard. Under the 1991 to 2020 normals for Baudette, January highs average -8°C (17°F) and lows -21°C (-5°F). The river freezes over, the slips sit locked in ice and snow, and the resort switches to ice fishing out of its fish houses. Daylight shrinks to about 8 hours and 15 minutes near the December solstice, so the camera has only a short window of low winter sun. Spring comes slowly: April highs average 12°C (53°F), while nights still dip to -2°C (29°F).

Summer is warm and bright. July highs average 27°C (81°F) with lows near 14°C (57°F), and daylight stretches to just over 16 hours around the June solstice, which leaves long evenings on the water. October cools to highs of 12°C (54°F) and lows of 1°C (34°F). On an overcast November afternoon the scene turns almost monochrome, with pewter water, a flag snapping in the wind, empty docks and the reed island faded to tan.

Things to Do Near Wheelers Point

Walleye fishing is the reason most people make the drive. The lodge runs guided charters, and in summer anglers can also bring their own boats. Local fishing reports name Pine Island, Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point, Long Point and Twin Islands among the places on the lake where walleye gather. Upriver, the stretch to Birchdale has numerous public ramps. In winter the action moves onto the ice, with fish houses for rent at the lodge and snowmobile and ATV trails in the area.

On land, Zippel Bay State Park lies about 12 kilometers (7.7 miles) west of the lodge as the crow flies, with campsites, a beach and a marina giving access to the Zippel River. Baudette is a 19-kilometer (12-mile) drive south, and the international bridge there makes a short crossing into Ontario possible. Lodge packages can add pheasant hunting at a 109-hectare (270-acre) hunt club or a round at one of the local golf courses. Each October the lodge hosts the Chili Bowl Walleye Tournament, which reached its 13th year in 2023.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

These cameras cover more of northern Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.

• International Falls Webcam
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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Rainy River Webcam located?

The camera is at Border View Lodge in Wheelers Point, Lake of the Woods County, in far northern Minnesota. It sits at the mouth of the Rainy River, 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of Baudette along State Highway 172.

What can you see on the Rainy River Webcam?

The lodge’s wooden boat slips and lifts fill the foreground, with an American flag on the left and a small shed on the right. Beyond them are the wide Rainy River, a long reed island and the wooded Ontario shore.

Is that Canada across the river from Border View Lodge?

Yes. The international border follows the middle of the Rainy River, so the far bank in the frame is Dawson Township in the Rainy River District of Ontario.

What is the weather like in Baudette, Minnesota?

Baudette has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. January averages highs of -8°C (17°F) and lows of -21°C (-5°F), while July averages highs of 27°C (81°F) and lows of 14°C (57°F).

Why does the Rainy River Webcam stop playing after a few minutes?

The camera’s player pauses itself after five minutes and shows a play button. The stream keeps running in the background, so pressing play brings the live view straight back.

How far is Wheelers Point from Baudette?

Wheelers Point is 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of Baudette by State Highway 172, which ends at the river mouth.

Can you go ice fishing at Border View Lodge?

Yes. The lodge runs ice fishing trips in winter and rents fish houses on the ice, alongside its cabins, restaurant and bar.

Why is Lake of the Woods called the Walleye Capital of the World?

The name comes from the lake’s walleye fishing, which draws anglers in both open-water and ice season. Fishing also became one of the main industries around Baudette, alongside logging.

Source: Border View Lodge