Looking at this option for my solo trip this fall. I've never been to this area and while I generally like discovering things for myself if there is anything between the EP and Malberg that would add significant time to travel time I'd like to know. Specifically, I'm thinking about the water route between Kawishiwi and Kawasachong.

I'd likely drive up early from the cities and be pushing off around 11am with the goal of getting to Polly on day one. I'm a hammock camper and likely will need to get through the area effected by the Pagami Creek fire. After that I'm not sure and would depend on now things go, wind, etc but looking at getting to River Lake or Beaver Lake and set up for 2 nights with a day trip exploring up to Boulder and some other lakes in that area on day 3. Day 4 I'd either push and exit or move south back to Polly or Kawishiwi depending on weather or just how I'm feeling.

Our group has frequented this area on several trips, we are hammock campers as well. Nothing notably challenging about the trip in as it is pretty well traveled. The portages past Malberg become a little more challenging. Polly has been uncomfortably full of people when we've gone through but at the end of the season I imagine its better. We really enjoyed base camping on River Lake, great day trip options, and had good fishing to boot. We have camped at the peninsula site on Koma as well which is very nice and open.

Don't forget to hit Fishdance to see pictos

Thanks for the feedback colecudd. I have heard how busy Polly can get, but hopeful that late in the season and being solo I'll be able to find a site that will work for me.

Cowdoc, I was able to check out the pictographs while with my scout group a couple of weeks ago. Pretty cool thing to see and as a bonus we were able to catch some nice fish as we trolled through including a 29" Pike and a 24" Walleye. If my exploration into Boulder goes well and the weather cooperates I may head down there for another visit.

From Kawishiwi to Kawasachong is a pretty straight forward paddle. There are a couple of beaver dams to pull over. At the portage out of Square Lake back to the river you may be able to pull over a beaver dam rather than unload and walk. Just before Kawasachong you will encounter a large beaver dam. No pull over here. You will have to unload and make a very short portage. The entrance into Kawasachong Lake is likely choked with weeds. Water depth is an issue here. Try staying left for the deepest water.

Before you get to Square Lake you will encounter the Pagami Creek Fire area. This will last all the way to the south shore of Lake Polly. Since it has been a few years, recovery should be well under way, but there will most likely still be evidence of the fire around you.

While I love the route to the pictographs (and you should go there), I also love the Louse River. Two years ago now we completed a journey from Wine Lake to Malberg on the Frost. This western section has a lot of evidence of spruce bud worm infestation, but the paddle is still one of the most wonderful wilderness areas around.

We have taken the time to go to Amber Lake and dip our toes in the sand beach at the eastern most campsite.

Then there is "the most comfortable rock in the Boundary Waters" at one of the island campsites as you travel the river to the pictographs:



Hope you have a great trip!

Very straight forward to get to Malberg. Took me 4 hours in the opposite direction on my solo a couple years ago. In the beginning there is one portage on the map that doesn't exist anymore but then there is about a 2 rod one around a beaver dam that isn't on the map. But most of the portages are flat and the landings are mostly decent.

I was just there on the 1st of the month. Michwall2s description of the route is spot on.

Polly is definitely gettable in a day. Camping before Polly’s tough in a hammock. All the likely hanging spots are short on trees.

Again, really appreciate all the answers here.

So...Louse river. I guess I assumed low water would make this route too difficult and more than I wanted to bite off, but have others travelled this late season? I might entertain making Sawbill my exit point if I could figure out logistics (I'll contact Sawbill outfitter first). A little nervous about a long stretch where there are very few campsites. I've walked the Zenith to Kelso portage before and that doesn't worry me too much.

Thoughts?

Cricket67: "Again, really appreciate all the answers here.


So...Louse river. I guess I assumed low water would make this route too difficult and more than I wanted to bite off, but have others travelled this late season? I might entertain making Sawbill my exit point if I could figure out logistics (I'll contact Sawbill outfitter first). A little nervous about a long stretch where there are very few campsites. I've walked the Zenith to Kelso portage before and that doesn't worry me too much.


Thoughts? "

The Louse River has a better reputation for water levels. Beaver dams help and the river itself is more navigable than the Frost in low water levels.

Do the Louse River in two stages: Malberg to Trail Lake, Trail to either Wine or Mesaba Lake. Given our last time through I would opt for the Bug - Dent - Mesaba route. The river route through the Louse River, Louse Lake, Poe to Wine Lake is more treacherous. If you decide to go to that way, let me know and I can cover a description to help you.

The trip west to east is a little more tricky route finding. One portage end in particular is not intuitive.

All that being said, the Louse River is one of my favorite routes in the BW. High quality wilderness. You would be going when the tamarack trees have turned a bright yellow. Magical.

Hope you have enough time to enjoy this route.

A few late-season specifics for your window, since the water itself is covered above:

Permits: quota permits are required through Sept 30, so if you push off before Oct 1 you need an EP 37 reservation on Recreation.gov (quota is 7/day after the 2022 reduction). If your trip starts Oct 1 or later, overnight permits are self-issued at the entry point (non-motorized day use is self-issue year-round), so no quota scramble, but still fill the card out.

2026 fire season: worth a check before you leave. The July lightning storm closures are under an active closure order that runs through Oct 1, but the Kawishiwi district reopened in August (Phase 5, Aug 5) and EP 37 is open; fire danger in the district is currently LOW and 1,600+ campsites are open. The order is still technically active until Oct 1, so pull up the FS alerts page and the closure Exhibit A map before you head out.

Cold: you'll likely catch the tamarack turn. Ely highs drop from the upper 50s to low 40s across October, and the first snow can land near the border in late September, so assume a hard frost every night. Lakes generally don't ice until mid-November, but the shallow beaver channels (the Kawasachong entrance) freeze first - by late October they're the sketchiest water on the route, not the big lakes. For the hammock, plan the underquilt like it's winter; that's where the cold will find you.

Thanks RonanWolf

I've been watching the permits. There are a couple available for Sept 22 and then quite a few for the last few days of Sept. Bigger deal is trying to hit the right window with work stuff.

I have tracked the fire situation very closely all summer. The scout group I help lead had to pivot from Moose River North for our August trip. We were fortunate to be able to secure a Lake One permit and thankfully everything opened less than a week before our trip.

For fall trips like this, I always keep a close eye on the weather and will abort the trip if necessary. I have a good idea the limits of my sleep system and if I don't think I will be relatively comfortable I don't feel the need to prove how tough I am. You are correct, it's the nights that I would be worried about as I know that I wouldn't have much issue staying warm during daytime.