BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
August 28 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 to Polly and back again
by Nbayuk
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 07, 2025
Entry Point:
Kawishiwi Lake
Number of Days:
3
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
My first BWCA trip at 43 years old
Report
I have always heard stories and saw pictures of the BWCA. I have wanted to get out there for a very long time but never committed. I chickened out going with a church group about 10 years ago and regretted it ever since. This past January (2025) I reached out to a friend and asked if he wanted to plan a trip and take our teenage daughters on a camping trip. He was very enthusiastic and agreed. [paragraph break] My daughter and I were first timers, he was a seasoned veteran (and a firefighter and first responder!) so the scenario couldn't have been any better. We had hoped to enter at Sawbill and camp on Alton but it sounds like those permits are difficult to get. I logged in the first day permits are available and had to scramble a bit. I did a quick Google search for a good beginner EP and found Kawishiwi (37). [paragraph break] We planned throughout the winter, I stocked up on gear, and the day arrived. I was very nervous because this was going to be a very new experience for me. I was fortunate my trip mate sourced an additional Kevlar canoe and I was able to borrow a Duluth Pack and my father in law's old metal framed military pack. We hit the road at 7:00AM from Duluth and arrived at Kawishiwi about 10:30 after circling back for a few items. [paragraph break] The EP was an easy put-in (at least I thought so) and after letting a bigger group get on the water, off we went. Kawishiwi was beautiful. The pine trees are a very different shade of green and I got distracted a few times trying to take it all in. I initially wanted to snag a campsite on Kawishiwi that looked to be flat and had its own jumping rock but the weather was clear so we pressed forward. [paragraph break] Now, I am a good kayak paddler but this was my first time in a canoe. We hit the first narrow river leaving Kawishiwi to Square Lake. I self taught myself C and J stroke on YouTube but that doesn't much help if you have not actually done it. My daughter and I were kind of a bumper car on this first river but got our bearings after while. The lilly pads were in full flower mode and the trees were still holding on to summer and all the leaves were still on. [paragraph break] Square Lake isn't much to see but remnants of the Pagami Creek fire still remain with stripped trees and much shorter trees. We hit a couple of beaver dams and it was an adventure pulling the canoes and packs over those on the way to Kawasachong. [paragraph break] We heard Kawasachong was a, if I may, low-key good fishing lake so we hoped to camp there on the last night to fish the lake and have a fish fry on the last night. We arrived at our first portage at a little after noon and we had full sun. The girls (16 and 17 years old) actually turtled 2 bags across the 160 rod portage. I was not a fan of this because this meant my daughter couldn't see her feet and what she was stepping on. This portage was no joke. It was not hilly, but not flat either, and we were complete novices. I enjoyed carrying the canoe for no other reason that I was able to do it. I am 43 and have no camping muscles so I was happy making it to the other end. [paragraph break] The portage let us into Townline Lake which is basically a pond that takes about 4 minutes to paddle, so not much recovery time. The next portage was 73 rods but was very hilly and overgrown. I carried the Duluth Pack and the canoe this time and was absolutely gassed once we got to Polly. [paragraph break] We took a water break and added some Mio liquid for some electrolytes and caffeine for a quick boost. Polly was absolutely beautiful. The pine trees were taller than anything I see in Duluth and the rock facades were just amazing. We passed the first couple of campsites that were empty (but we at least had options because I don't think we would have made it to Malberg.) The wind was moderate but welcome because we were hot at this point. We found campsite 1076 and decided to claim it because several sites were taken. [paragraph break] The site smelled of cedar which was great. The breeze kept the bugs at bay as we set up camp. The issue we had was the site was not the most level and neither tent pad was better than the other. There was a neat little gathering of trees where the girls hung hammocks and had their own little area. After everything was settled, we drank some more water/mio and munched on some trail mix and then hopped in the water. [paragraph break] This was my favorite part. Being neck deep in water that was that clear and cold, with those huge trees looking down on you is humbling for sure. We swam for about an hour until we were sufficiently cooled down and dried off and cooked some steaks, mashed potatoes, and Kirkland boxed wine (there is nothing Kirkland can't do well.) I was not planning on alcohol on this trip but my arm was twisted. We had a campfire for a while but the wind settled and the bushes started buzzing with mosquitos so we doused the fire and went to bed. [paragraph break] The next morning was overcast and low 60s and we made some pancakes and pulled some dried fruit out of the trail mix which was delicious. We did some picking up and re-organizing and headed out fishing. 5 hours in the canoe and we had precious nothing to show. There were a lot of bugs on the water and the fish were not hungry at all. We parked the canoes and decided on some downtime. All 4 of us resurfaced about 3 hours later and all had the best nap we ever had. The wind was such that it would rock your hammock just enough to lull you to sleep. [paragraph break] Dinner that night was pizza made in a frying pan with some Knorr alfredo. I am guessing the BWCA makes you hungry because that was one of the tastiest pizzas I have ever eaten. We sat and chatted by the fire until about 10 and went to bed. I decided to sleep in my hammock with a tarp over it and let my daughter double up on sleeping pads. [paragraph break] We were awakened about 4AM with some light rain and far off thunder and lightning. By 5, the storm was right over us with lots of lightning, strong winds and pouring rain. The ground got so soft and the wind so strong that one of my tarp stakes came out of the ground and was flying all around on the guy line. I didn't really want to get stabbed with a tent stake so I waited for a lull in the wind and booked it into the tent and pulled both packs inside as they were just in the vestibules. [paragraph break] All told, we got 3 inches of rain in 2 hours and the wind made a mess of our camp (and sufficiently freaked out both girls.) There were no downed trees or damage to gear though. The sun was out by 8 and some paddlers came by to see if everyone was OK. We had some oatmeal and decided to call it a trip. Tents, hammocks, and anything that was hanging on the lines was completely soaked and none of us were in the mood to try and pack it up and reset on Kawasachong. [paragraph break] We pretty much bee-lined it back to the EP and were happy to see the truck. There were downed trees on the road away from the campground so the wind must have been fairly formidable. We stopped at McDonalds in Two Harbors and headed home to unpack, clean, and dry all our gear. I don't know if you will get my daughter back up, but I am wanting to go on several more trips. City kid convert for sure! [paragraph break] This was probably a moderate route for novice campers and paddlers. My initial plan was for just my daughter and I to go but I am very glad I went with a friend who knew what he was doing. That would have been a lot to manage on my own having never done that before. 
discuss this trip report (2 comments) - last post on August 28, 2025