BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
June 30 2025
Entry Point 32 - South Kawishiwi River
South Kawishiwi River entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 21 miles. Access is a 140-rod portage to the river.
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1201 feet
Latitude: 47.8419
Longitude: -91.6632
South Kawishiwi River - 32
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1201 feet
Latitude: 47.8419
Longitude: -91.6632
South Kawishiwi River - 32
South Kawishiwi River
by birdonbats
Trip Report
Entry Date:
June 17, 2025
Entry Point:
South Kawishiwi River
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
3
Trip Introduction:
While my youngest and I have gone into the BWCA a dozen times, this was a first....the opportunity to go in with both my 36 and 27 year old sons.
Report
We drove up from the Twin Cities and arrived in Ely around 1pm. Picked up our rented solo and our permit from Voyager North and made it to the Entry Point #32 South Kawishiwi River by 3pm. Andrew and I were in my Souris River Questico canoe and John was the first to use a solo in our group. He said it was not difficult and he was able to keep up with us fairly easily. We checked out a couple of campsites before we decided on #1132. It had a nice view, a good pad, and plenty of trees for shade and hanging rainflys if needed. Andrew, the vegetarian, treated us to a dehydrated dinner called Huel. I had the mushroom pasta and rice. Pretty good, but I do miss my meat. Andrew stayed in camp and caught up on reading and relaxing while John and I fished most of the 2 full days we were there. Fishing did not go well, but we caught just enough walleye for 2 dinners. It was fun fishing near the waterfall as we pretty much just let the current twirl us in a big circle and we jigged off the bottom. We saw plenty of wildlife: bald eagle, snapping turtle, walleye, northern, rock bass, snowshoe hare, Blandings turtle, loons, kite, trumpeter swans, and plenty more. However, the highlight was seeing a pine martin swim across the river and when it came up on shore a flock of grackles chased it away. First pine martin I'd ever seen in the wild. Though the weather forecast called for rain all of the last day, very little showed up and we had a wonderful evening by the fire. Happy to report very few mosquitos and gnats. Especially compared to last year when they almost had me screaming for mercy! The boys tried to solve the world's problems with little interjection from me and we just enjoyed each others company. We did do a bit of a fishing day trip to the portage near campsite 1132. This is where John broke his second fishing pole of the trip. Geez. We packed up in nice cool weather Friday morning and headed out. Always seems to take longer to exit than to enter for me. A great trip! Thanks BWCAW
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