BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
September 07 2024
Entry Point 34 - Island River
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1564 feet
Latitude: 47.7912
Longitude: -91.3332
Island River - 34
EP 37 to Malberg
Entry Date:
June 27, 2024
Entry Point:
Kawishiwi Lake
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
2
We drove up from the Twin Cities Thursday morning. Picked up our permit and watched the video, and we confirmed that the roads were intact to get to EP 37 as there had been many washouts with the flooding. Roads were fine, and we made it down the windy Sawbill trail and to the Kawishiwi Lake. We ate an apple, some granola, and put the boat in the water around 11. We made quick work of getting to Kawaschong- no portages were needed other than one jump around an impressive beaver dam that was about a 3 foot drop.
The longer of the portages to Polly was quite wet with the rock walk being underwater- slightly more than ankle deep, but nothing that really slowed us down. Polly had a few open sites as we were passing through, but the majority we could see were taken. We got to Malberg and the rapids running around the rock on Malberg was really flowing. I had seen pictures of people sitting on the big rock, but there was no way I was going out there. The current was strong and I was wary with all of the capsizing I had heard about, but this was manageable. We did see a plane that looked like a rescue plane fly over pretty low, and we hoped whoever had called for it was okay!!
We paddled through Malberg, knowing that just about any site will do with just two of us and one tent. We ended up at the far North Western site (1042) by about 3 o'clock. We set up camp, and went off to fish! We had good luck through the various narrows trolling natural colored shallow and deep diving Rapalas as well as jigging where the water is coming into Malberg from Koma. An eagle was perched up on the rock in the rapids- hoping to catch his own dinner!
Bedtime was a mad dash into the tent as the mosquitos were plentiful and HUNGRY! ~Kawishiwi Lake, Square Lake, Kawasachong Lake, Koma Lake, Malberg Lake
It had rained overnight, and the bugs were so bad, so we were slow to leave the tent this morning. We got up and brought down the food pack from it's hang to make coffee, bacon and pancakes! Yum! Even the mosquitos can't put a damper on a good camp breakfast. Due to the rain, we decided to stick near camp and fish more vs. going to check out the Fishdance Pictos. It was a good call, and we caught just about all the fish species Malberg has to offer. Saw and chatted with a few groups at other sites, and, as usual, everyone was so kind!!
We were lucky enough to spot some big ears swimming down a channel- it was a cow moose and her calf! We kept a good distance, so our pictures aren't great, but we could see she was still shedding some of the colder weather coat! We felt so lucky to see a healthy moose and her calf. We had heard a moose while fishing the day before, and we wondered if it was her. 
We continued fishing and exploring the different arms of Malberg. Happily catching fish, but also enjoying the new area for both of us! We talked about the different rock formations- what is that crumbly rock on Malberg??? We would love to know if a geologist is around :)
The rain continued to sprinkle on and off, but not enough to send us into the tent. Plenty good to fish and explore! Again though, the mosquitos were mean, and we were so grateful for our tent to sleep in! ~Malberg Lake
Today is the day we thought we would go to the pictographs!! However, the wind was gusting, our estimates were about 20 mph, and it was cold and rainy. Paddling the few miles back into the headwind did not sound fun, so we decided to stay put and explore a bit more and fish. By then end of Saturday, we had trolled along most of the shoreline of Malberg! We enjoyed seeing how high the water is, and also that there were in fact high water marks a foot or so higher from even what we were seeing.
Lots of beavers! Lots and lots of beavers and evidence of beaver activity. They are such funny little critters to watch, so we spent a fair amount of time watching them haul sticks and swim. A few quirky sites were seen- like this L shaped chew on this cedar tree! 
We ate dinner, and decided to go out fishing one last time. The lake was so much calmer- we had definitely made the right decision to stay put on Malberg that day. The glass like dusk water made for some fun pictures! 
~Malberg Lake
Crawling out of the tent around 5:30 we both gasped- you couldn't see the lake for the fog! My little thermometer on the back of my whistle/compass combo (so you KNOW it is fully accurate haha!) said it was 42 degrees! The coffee tasted extra good that morning! We cooked up the rest of the eggs and bacon and used some homemade granola to make granola pancakes! YUM! Definitely good fuel for the paddle out. We broke down camp and waited for the fog to lift, while taking pictures and just chatting- in no rush! We left camp by about 8 when the fog had lifted enough to safely navigate and when the mosquitos were again getting unbearable! Paddling in the morning sun felt glorious! 
We got through to Polly before starting to really see the crowds- and man there were people! I think we counted at least 11 groups on our way out! A lot of families with kids coming in. The portage leaving Polly- we were the only ones on the Polly side when we started and coming South, and met 3-4 different groups heading North along the trail. We couldn't get our boat in the water fast enough. We again just pulled over the beaver dams, and we were back at the landing before we knew it around 11:30 am. Got everything loaded up, changed into some nice clean dry clothes and started the trek home!
A great trip with lots of wildlife despite the bugs, cold and rain! I really love this time with my dad! ~Malberg Lake, Koma Lake, Polly, Lake, Kawasachong Lake, Square Lake, Kawishiwi Lake