Boundary Waters Trip Reports, Blog, BWCA, BWCAW, Quetico Park

BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog

March 18 2024

Entry Point 37 - Kawishiwi Lake

Kawishiwi Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Tofte Ranger Station near the city of Isabella; Tofte, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 33 miles. Access is a boat landing at Kawishiwi Lake.

Number of Permits per Day: 7
Elevation: 1653 feet
Latitude: 47.8390
Longitude: -91.1036
Kawishiwi Lake - 37

EP 37 to Koma/Malberg

by RoJoYo
Trip Report

Entry Date: May 11, 2009
Entry Point: Kawishiwi Lake
Number of Days: 7
Group Size: 5

Trip Introduction:
Earliest venture into the Bdub for me and I expected almost anything and wasn't disappointed.

Part 1 of 9


Flew into Rochester, MN with my buddy Adam to hook up with my son and two of his co-workers for our venture into the BWCA. Although it's my third trip into the Bdub it is by far my earliest entry...May 11 through May 17. My son John has hiked the SHT and had one excursion into the Bdub. His two buddies, John and Lourens both have Bdub and north woods experience. For Adam it's his first venture. [paragraph break] After the 370 miles trek from Rochester we arrive at EP 37 and set out for Polly Lake. The paddle and portage in is pretty much uneventful and we take up residence on the north end of Polly Lake.

 



Part 2 of 9


Our campsite on Polly is located on a bluff overlooking the lake. It accomodated all three tents but wasn't the most comfortable campsite I've ever used. On Tuesday we got up to steady showers...nothing hard or windy...just showers. John and John went fishing and had some considerable luck with some nice smallies, one walleye and some small northerns.[paragraph break]It was sure enjoyable to be waking up in the Bdub once again....the air was so clean and our breafast of steak and eggs and starbucks was extra tasty.

 



Part 3 of 9


Wednesday started out pretty much like Tuesday....well, maybe a bit worse. But the good news is that the fishing was very enjoyable. About mid-afternoon, since the weather cleared nicely, we decided to head north into Koma. It was a great day to pack up and travel.[paragraph break]John and Lourens were paddling John's aluminum canoe...one that he got for his high school graduation. The ol girl has served him well. On one of the portages they decided to run the rapids and that canoe really served them well. Having Kevlar rentals, the rest of us portaged ours.[paragraph break]The campsite on Koma was excellent and although one fella had told me that Koma wasn't a very pretty lake...in my humble opinion it was an outstanding lake.

 



Part 4 of 9


On Thursday morning we were greeted with snow. The snow started around five in the morning and continued off and on throughout the morning. We all enjoyed a hearty breakfast and we hunkered down around the fire to wait out the snow...all except my son John who just had to get out and fish.[paragraph break]The day cleared in the afternoon and the contrast from the morning snow was a real treat.

 

 



Part 5 of 9


Friday morning the wind really kicked up and Koma had some considerable whitecaps...but still, all in all, it was a beautiful morning in the Bdub. We ventured through the high winds on Koma and made our way to Malberg to fish the rapids at the end of the portage from Koma into Malberg.....it is a spectacular setting. We caught quite a few northerns and even more smallies...but no walleyes.

 

 

 



Part 6 of 9


The forest around our campsite on Koma was very thick. I saw alot of woodpeckers...one pileated. Warblers were all over the place eating alot of newly hatching bugs. There was also an abundant supply of firewood.[paragraph break]On Saturday morning we again woke to snow on what was going to be our last full day in the BWCA.

 



Part 7 of 9


Breakfast on Saturday morning was cooked and eaten with snow falling once again. Snow accumulated in a number of different places but it wasn't an aggravation at all...as a matter of fact it was the first time that this Kentucky boy ever made and threw a snow ball on May 16th.[paragraph break]Adam and my son John paddled over once again to Malberg fish and John was rewarded with a four and a half pound smallie....it would be the second time we had fish for dinner. I was amazed at how much meat we got off that one smallie...it was really good size.

 



Part 8 of 9


Sunday morning we awoke to an absolutely stunning morning. Beautiful sunrise...dead calm...water as smooth as glass and the birds were singing their hearts out.[paragraph break] We ate our last morning in the Bdub...country ham and biscuits...packed up our camp site and we were off for the paddle and portage from Koma back to Kawishiwi at EP 37.

  

 



Part 9 of 9


Sunday turned out to be a perfect travel day. Thankfully we didn't have some of the bad weather that we had had earlier in the week. I did something on the push out that I had never done in the Bdub before. Having run out of water in my Nalgene and not want to stop and filter more, I dipped down deep in the middle of Kawaschong Lake and filled my Nalgene. I drank the whole thing and thankfully there were no ill effects. I know it sure tasted great.[paragraph break]It took us just about six hours to the EP and I have to admit...I was worn out. We took our rentals back to Tofte and made our way to a local eatery and then headed back to Rochester.[paragraph break]Suffice it to say we all had a great time...esp. with no bugs!!!

 


Routes
Trip Reports
a
.
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
.
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
x
Routes
Trip Reports
fd
hgc
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports