BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
January 05 2025
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
Number of Permits per Day: 7
Elevation: 1653 feet
Latitude: 47.8390
Longitude: -91.1036
Kawishiwi Lake - 37
Kawishiwi Lake to Beaver loop
by EPFD217
Trip Report
Entry Date:
July 08, 2006
Entry Point:
Kawishiwi Lake
Exit Point:
Kawishiwi Lake (37)
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
For me, I was following the route of my very first BWCA trip 12 years ago. This was a new destination for everyone else. My wife Becky and I (Andy) and Dan and Cortney and their dog Kida.
Day 2 of 10
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Saturday started much earlier for my wife and I then the other couple in our group. We had to drop our children off for the week before heading over to our friends house and departing for the northwoods. We left the cities at 8am with everything packed in the rear of the Trailblazer. We were 2 couples and 1 small dog, Kida. We reached Ely by noon and drove to Red Rock so that our friends could buy their first canoe, a SR Quetico 17. After lots of testing and research this was the canoe of choice for them and soon to be for us. We loaded the boat and headed back to Ely for lunch, a few small purchases, bait, licenses and our permit.
Then we hopped on Hwy 1 and headed towards our entry point of Kawishiwi Lake. After getting directions from several people on some backroads to take to shorten our drive to Kawishiwi we forged ahead from blacktop to gravel to narrow logging roads. Our goal was to get one of the five free sites at the entry point and still have time to pick up our canoe at Sawbill Outfitters before they closed.
We arrived at the EP by 6pm and snagged the last of the free sites. We unloaded the gear, the new canoe and left the girls to set up camp while we went to pick up the rental. Another hour of driving and we had everything we would need for a week in the BWCA.....or so we thought. After returning with our SR Q17 rental we were informed that we had left behind a few pieces of our food and would have to shuffle some meals around and ration a few things. No big deal. It wasn't worth driving another hour back to the outfitters to buy some food. We went to bed to a beautiful sunset. We were awoken during the night to a very fierce t-storm, but all was well in the morning.
Saturday started much earlier for my wife and I then the other couple in our group. We had to drop our children off for the week before heading over to our friends house and departing for the northwoods. We left the cities at 8am with everything packed in the rear of the Trailblazer. We were 2 couples and 1 small dog, Kida. We reached Ely by noon and drove to Red Rock so that our friends could buy their first canoe, a SR Quetico 17. After lots of testing and research this was the canoe of choice for them and soon to be for us. We loaded the boat and headed back to Ely for lunch, a few small purchases, bait, licenses and our permit.
Then we hopped on Hwy 1 and headed towards our entry point of Kawishiwi Lake. After getting directions from several people on some backroads to take to shorten our drive to Kawishiwi we forged ahead from blacktop to gravel to narrow logging roads. Our goal was to get one of the five free sites at the entry point and still have time to pick up our canoe at Sawbill Outfitters before they closed.
We arrived at the EP by 6pm and snagged the last of the free sites. We unloaded the gear, the new canoe and left the girls to set up camp while we went to pick up the rental. Another hour of driving and we had everything we would need for a week in the BWCA.....or so we thought. After returning with our SR Q17 rental we were informed that we had left behind a few pieces of our food and would have to shuffle some meals around and ration a few things. No big deal. It wasn't worth driving another hour back to the outfitters to buy some food. We went to bed to a beautiful sunset. We were awoken during the night to a very fierce t-storm, but all was well in the morning.
Day 2 of 10
Sunday, July 09, 2006
We awoke early to get a jump on the days paddling. While at the outfitters the night before we discovered that a group of 9 boy scouts would be following us on our trip. I had been here once before with my own boy scout troop, but we were hoping for solitude and were ready to make strides to find it.
We put in at 7:30am and started our trip. Becky and I in our boat and Dan and Cortney with Kida in their boat. Kawishiwi was easy. The river was kinda tough and buggy since the water level was down. There were a few lift-overs on beaver dams, but otherwise no problems. A push pole for marshes would've been more helpful than our bent-shaft paddles. The short portages were easy since were single tripping for the first time. What a relief! Square and Kawasachong were paddled through in no time and we took a break for food before tackling the combo of a 185rod portage and a 95 rodder split by a short 10 minute paddle on Townline. We crossed Polly without incident. I had originally planned to stop here for the night, but we decided to forge on as far as we could. After another 3 portages totaling close to 200 rods and more mud river paddling we reached Koma. By now its was after noon and the wind had switched around and was coming strong outta the NW. This made for a difficult northward paddle across Koma. Rather than try to forge ahead to Malberg (also oriented north-south) we took the western most campsite on the north shore. Very nice campsite with a sand landing and lots of flat rocks along the shoreline. After dinner I did some fishing. We caught lots of smallies including a dandy 19"'r and I caught 2 walleyes. I kept one and released the other. I shoulda kept them both, but oh well. They tasted fantastic roasted over the fire in tinfoil.
Kawishiwi Lake, Square Lake, Kawasachong Lake, Townline Lake, Polly, Lake, Koma Lake
We awoke early to get a jump on the days paddling. While at the outfitters the night before we discovered that a group of 9 boy scouts would be following us on our trip. I had been here once before with my own boy scout troop, but we were hoping for solitude and were ready to make strides to find it.
We put in at 7:30am and started our trip. Becky and I in our boat and Dan and Cortney with Kida in their boat. Kawishiwi was easy. The river was kinda tough and buggy since the water level was down. There were a few lift-overs on beaver dams, but otherwise no problems. A push pole for marshes would've been more helpful than our bent-shaft paddles. The short portages were easy since were single tripping for the first time. What a relief! Square and Kawasachong were paddled through in no time and we took a break for food before tackling the combo of a 185rod portage and a 95 rodder split by a short 10 minute paddle on Townline. We crossed Polly without incident. I had originally planned to stop here for the night, but we decided to forge on as far as we could. After another 3 portages totaling close to 200 rods and more mud river paddling we reached Koma. By now its was after noon and the wind had switched around and was coming strong outta the NW. This made for a difficult northward paddle across Koma. Rather than try to forge ahead to Malberg (also oriented north-south) we took the western most campsite on the north shore. Very nice campsite with a sand landing and lots of flat rocks along the shoreline. After dinner I did some fishing. We caught lots of smallies including a dandy 19"'r and I caught 2 walleyes. I kept one and released the other. I shoulda kept them both, but oh well. They tasted fantastic roasted over the fire in tinfoil.
Kawishiwi Lake, Square Lake, Kawasachong Lake, Townline Lake, Polly, Lake, Koma Lake
Day 5 of 10
Monday, July 10, 2006
Even with several hours of napping yesterday afternoon, we all slept till almost 9am because of the shade on our site. While we were eating breakfast we spotted the boy scout troop in the distance and realized we needed to hustle if we were gonna beat them to the short portage into Malberg. We loaded the canoes in a hurry and paddled as fast as we could. We only beat them to the portage by a few minutes but that was all we needed. They were loud and rowdy, yelling at each other and came crashing into the portage when we were still unloading our boats. Fortunately we single tripped and were in the water before they even crossed.
Today we paddled from Malberg to the west into the Kawishiwi River and north to Beaver Lake. I had stopped here before on my first trip. We had planned to continue on to Adams Lake but after eating lunch on the amazing campsite, we decided to stay on Beaver instead. The bugs were pretty bad, but a fire and some bug spray was all that was needed.
We stayed on the eastern campsite. It has a smooth rock landing that slopes to the lake. Great spot to relax and sit in the sun. It also proved to be the best fishing spot on the lake. The site was very shaded by evergreens. It rose to rocky outcroppings 15 feet above the water. We jumped off into the water to keep cool and it was great for picture taking. There was plenty of firewood and most of all quiet. We saw 1 group of 2 canoes around noon and they were heading back out. They were the last people we saw for 2.5 days. In the evening we paddled all over this lake in search of walleyes, but no luck. We caught more smallies than you could shake a stick at. Mostly on leeches, but some on crawlers too. This lake is very deep. Just off shore of our campsite it was 25+ feet deep.
We had a poor sunset for pictures, but the moonrise was amazing. The bugs were not too bad so we stayed up taking pictures.
Malberg Lake, Beaver Lake
Even with several hours of napping yesterday afternoon, we all slept till almost 9am because of the shade on our site. While we were eating breakfast we spotted the boy scout troop in the distance and realized we needed to hustle if we were gonna beat them to the short portage into Malberg. We loaded the canoes in a hurry and paddled as fast as we could. We only beat them to the portage by a few minutes but that was all we needed. They were loud and rowdy, yelling at each other and came crashing into the portage when we were still unloading our boats. Fortunately we single tripped and were in the water before they even crossed.
Today we paddled from Malberg to the west into the Kawishiwi River and north to Beaver Lake. I had stopped here before on my first trip. We had planned to continue on to Adams Lake but after eating lunch on the amazing campsite, we decided to stay on Beaver instead. The bugs were pretty bad, but a fire and some bug spray was all that was needed.
We stayed on the eastern campsite. It has a smooth rock landing that slopes to the lake. Great spot to relax and sit in the sun. It also proved to be the best fishing spot on the lake. The site was very shaded by evergreens. It rose to rocky outcroppings 15 feet above the water. We jumped off into the water to keep cool and it was great for picture taking. There was plenty of firewood and most of all quiet. We saw 1 group of 2 canoes around noon and they were heading back out. They were the last people we saw for 2.5 days. In the evening we paddled all over this lake in search of walleyes, but no luck. We caught more smallies than you could shake a stick at. Mostly on leeches, but some on crawlers too. This lake is very deep. Just off shore of our campsite it was 25+ feet deep.
We had a poor sunset for pictures, but the moonrise was amazing. The bugs were not too bad so we stayed up taking pictures.
Malberg Lake, Beaver Lake
Day 7 of 10
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
We decided to make this a layover day on Beaver and we thought we would day trip to Adams Lake since we heard the fishing was pretty good there. I fished on Beaver early in the morning, but nothing but smallies. At this point it was getting annoying. After eating our usual oatmeal and cocoa we packed for a jaunt to Adams. As we headed down the western arm of Beaver I was trolling a daredevil in deep water when I got the hit of a lifetime. Even with the rod holder turning, it still pulled the boat back. After several minutes of fighting I finally saw a monstrous northern. I couldn't lift the fish over the side of the boat so we headed to shore to I could land the fish. This northern measured 42"!! The biggest of my life. It would weigh appx. 21 lbs. After a few pics I let her. What a fish!
The portage into Adams was very neat. It begins at the base of a cliff over 100' high. You climb uphill then drop backdown and enter Adams. We decided to choose a bay in the SE corner for lunch and fishing. It was very warm this day and gradually got windier. We never got anything going fish wise and most of the leeches died today. We headed back to Beaver late in the afternoon and swam some more from our jumping rock. Took a few more pictures and prepared to move again tomorrow.
Adams Lake, Beaver Lake
We decided to make this a layover day on Beaver and we thought we would day trip to Adams Lake since we heard the fishing was pretty good there. I fished on Beaver early in the morning, but nothing but smallies. At this point it was getting annoying. After eating our usual oatmeal and cocoa we packed for a jaunt to Adams. As we headed down the western arm of Beaver I was trolling a daredevil in deep water when I got the hit of a lifetime. Even with the rod holder turning, it still pulled the boat back. After several minutes of fighting I finally saw a monstrous northern. I couldn't lift the fish over the side of the boat so we headed to shore to I could land the fish. This northern measured 42"!! The biggest of my life. It would weigh appx. 21 lbs. After a few pics I let her. What a fish!
The portage into Adams was very neat. It begins at the base of a cliff over 100' high. You climb uphill then drop backdown and enter Adams. We decided to choose a bay in the SE corner for lunch and fishing. It was very warm this day and gradually got windier. We never got anything going fish wise and most of the leeches died today. We headed back to Beaver late in the afternoon and swam some more from our jumping rock. Took a few more pictures and prepared to move again tomorrow.
Adams Lake, Beaver Lake
Day 9 of 10
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Today we packed up slowly and prepared to go to Malberg. It was a short easy trip and we were there before lunchtime. After passing on a nice campsite on the far west end, we decided to camp on the center section fo the lake right next to the 16rod portage on the eastern shore. I was a little worried about camping next to the portage, but it was very lightly used and only a couple canoes passed through over the 2 days. We setup camp to stay for two days. The site has a nice flat rock shoreline and it goes down and wraps around the point. Plenty of shade here and great views of the western sky. We napped and did some fishing. I caught a couple more walleyes and Becky lost a dandy northern. He dove under the boat right as I reached for it. Oh well. We fished right up till sunset. I kept 2 walleyes and 2 large bluegills. They were fantastic.
Malberg Lake
Today we packed up slowly and prepared to go to Malberg. It was a short easy trip and we were there before lunchtime. After passing on a nice campsite on the far west end, we decided to camp on the center section fo the lake right next to the 16rod portage on the eastern shore. I was a little worried about camping next to the portage, but it was very lightly used and only a couple canoes passed through over the 2 days. We setup camp to stay for two days. The site has a nice flat rock shoreline and it goes down and wraps around the point. Plenty of shade here and great views of the western sky. We napped and did some fishing. I caught a couple more walleyes and Becky lost a dandy northern. He dove under the boat right as I reached for it. Oh well. We fished right up till sunset. I kept 2 walleyes and 2 large bluegills. They were fantastic.
Malberg Lake
Day 11 of 10
Thursday, July 13, 2006
We went swimming and washed clothes this morning. It was very warm and muggy. My GPS showed it was 80* at 11am. We packed lots of water and some snacks and we set off for a fishing daytrip into the east end of Malberg. Lots off smallmouth and northerns, but no walleyes here. It was difficult since the bait was gone and trolling wasn't working. I had several hits on the buzzbaits I brought, but no hook-ups. The wind really started to pick up and we moved out of one bay into the next. Now it was nearly impossible to troll. The wind was blowing up much faster than I would paddle for trolling. We decided to stop for a snack and some swimming in the NE bay of Malberg. Dan saw some droppings on the latrine trail and wondered "what would make golf all sized droppings like a rabbits?" A suggested a moose maybe.....After swimming we decided to head back into the wind. No sooner had we left the bay when I spotted a small cow moose on the shoreline behind the campsite we were just at. She let us take a few pictures then disappeared into the spruce and fir trees.
Paddling into the wind was very tough but we made great time thanks the SR boats. We flowed right through the waves hardly slowing. Whitecaps and rollers were the order of the day but we did well.
I tried to go out solo to pump water, but that was an act in futility. However hard the wind was blowing (20+ mph or more), thats how fast I drifted away. I paddled as hard as I could but it took everything I had to turn the boat into the wind. I tried 3 times before I was able to beat the wind.
Because of the wind we didn't do any more fishing this night. I tried a bit from shore but had no luck. We played some 4-player cribbage before taking naps. After a early dinner, Dan and Cortney revealed their secret of the trip, they brought a special dessert for today because it was Becky's birthday. We had Mountain House Raspberry Sauce with crunchy chocolate topping. Talk about delicious!! It was so rich and tasty. Happy 28th Becky! I have no idea when we went to bed, but we stayed up for hours watching distant thunderstorms light up the sky with lightning.
We went swimming and washed clothes this morning. It was very warm and muggy. My GPS showed it was 80* at 11am. We packed lots of water and some snacks and we set off for a fishing daytrip into the east end of Malberg. Lots off smallmouth and northerns, but no walleyes here. It was difficult since the bait was gone and trolling wasn't working. I had several hits on the buzzbaits I brought, but no hook-ups. The wind really started to pick up and we moved out of one bay into the next. Now it was nearly impossible to troll. The wind was blowing up much faster than I would paddle for trolling. We decided to stop for a snack and some swimming in the NE bay of Malberg. Dan saw some droppings on the latrine trail and wondered "what would make golf all sized droppings like a rabbits?" A suggested a moose maybe.....After swimming we decided to head back into the wind. No sooner had we left the bay when I spotted a small cow moose on the shoreline behind the campsite we were just at. She let us take a few pictures then disappeared into the spruce and fir trees.
Paddling into the wind was very tough but we made great time thanks the SR boats. We flowed right through the waves hardly slowing. Whitecaps and rollers were the order of the day but we did well.
I tried to go out solo to pump water, but that was an act in futility. However hard the wind was blowing (20+ mph or more), thats how fast I drifted away. I paddled as hard as I could but it took everything I had to turn the boat into the wind. I tried 3 times before I was able to beat the wind.
Because of the wind we didn't do any more fishing this night. I tried a bit from shore but had no luck. We played some 4-player cribbage before taking naps. After a early dinner, Dan and Cortney revealed their secret of the trip, they brought a special dessert for today because it was Becky's birthday. We had Mountain House Raspberry Sauce with crunchy chocolate topping. Talk about delicious!! It was so rich and tasty. Happy 28th Becky! I have no idea when we went to bed, but we stayed up for hours watching distant thunderstorms light up the sky with lightning.
Day 12 of 10
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Clear, still morning. Galli dog trundles down to the water and drinks her fill. We have oatmeal with blueberries and talk about logging... wondering if this area was logged and when (might be in Bud Heinselman's book). [paragraph break] After breaking camp, we paddle up to the northwest bay and start portaging towards My Lake (removing all of yeserday's flagging off the first stretch). Up in the meadow we carry along the south edge and it is pretty good going, except for some soft ground at the end... 
[paragraph break]We alternate carries along drier parts with paddling whatever stretches we can, and a bit of thicket crashing, to get to My Lake. At My Lake, it is nice to paddle again, and we take a late lunch along the south shore of this small, pretty lake. Salami, cheese,mustard, homemade bagel sticks... lunch can be a pretty good deal, and a welcome break! The bagel sticks and great dried tomatoes and herbs were the work of Tom's sister, who helped grubstake us.[paragraph break] Fed and rested, we paddled to the west end of My Lake and worked our way south over a saddle to Van. This involved taking packs and flagging a route by compass bearings up through brush and some ledges. We put down the packs part way up and went back for the canoe and 3rd pack. Had to 2-man the canoe up and through some of the brush, but Tom managed to 1-man it in other parts, farther along. (we pulled the flagging on this second trip). Tom picked the route up; although necessarily circuitous on the ground (to get around ledges, down trees, etc), it turned out to add up to a good straight bearing, overall. We did the scouting thing twice more (one more up, and then one down) and were really glad to come out to the bluewater of the middle north bay on Van. The last part picked up a game trail (? didn't see any blazes) that came down to the lake near a big white pine. 
After paddling about for a bit, we choose a rocky point near the south end for a campsite (there is another open rock slope on the peninsula just west of the bay pointing south towards Bewon). This one is cozy for the tent but works out just fine, with the blessing of a pair of loons out front. Still no luck at the fishing... I think it is about here that Tom starts muttering, and it ain't contentedly. At one point, he remarks that PMA must mean the fish are Pretty Much Absent. Hope he keeps his spirits up, as he carries most of the stuff and does most of the work. I allow that the solitude is the gift of the thing, and maybe get a grunt back (did I mention, Tom has a pretty good BS meter?).Galli dog don't care; she finds her spot near the tent and sacks out til dinnertime.[paragraph break] Tom whips up some eggs and couscous, and we are blessed with a beautiful sunset. 
[paragraph break]We alternate carries along drier parts with paddling whatever stretches we can, and a bit of thicket crashing, to get to My Lake. At My Lake, it is nice to paddle again, and we take a late lunch along the south shore of this small, pretty lake. Salami, cheese,mustard, homemade bagel sticks... lunch can be a pretty good deal, and a welcome break! The bagel sticks and great dried tomatoes and herbs were the work of Tom's sister, who helped grubstake us.[paragraph break] Fed and rested, we paddled to the west end of My Lake and worked our way south over a saddle to Van. This involved taking packs and flagging a route by compass bearings up through brush and some ledges. We put down the packs part way up and went back for the canoe and 3rd pack. Had to 2-man the canoe up and through some of the brush, but Tom managed to 1-man it in other parts, farther along. (we pulled the flagging on this second trip). Tom picked the route up; although necessarily circuitous on the ground (to get around ledges, down trees, etc), it turned out to add up to a good straight bearing, overall. We did the scouting thing twice more (one more up, and then one down) and were really glad to come out to the bluewater of the middle north bay on Van. The last part picked up a game trail (? didn't see any blazes) that came down to the lake near a big white pine. After paddling about for a bit, we choose a rocky point near the south end for a campsite (there is another open rock slope on the peninsula just west of the bay pointing south towards Bewon). This one is cozy for the tent but works out just fine, with the blessing of a pair of loons out front. Still no luck at the fishing... I think it is about here that Tom starts muttering, and it ain't contentedly. At one point, he remarks that PMA must mean the fish are Pretty Much Absent. Hope he keeps his spirits up, as he carries most of the stuff and does most of the work. I allow that the solitude is the gift of the thing, and maybe get a grunt back (did I mention, Tom has a pretty good BS meter?).Galli dog don't care; she finds her spot near the tent and sacks out til dinnertime.[paragraph break] Tom whips up some eggs and couscous, and we are blessed with a beautiful sunset.
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