BWCAW Quota Permit — North Kawishiwi River (EP29)

North Kawishiwi River (EP29): what makes it different

North Kawishiwi River is a paddle-only overnight entry point off the Fernberg Road that starts with a boat ramp on Ojibway Lake, outside the wilderness, then crosses Triangle Lake and carries 190 rods to the Kawishiwi River. The quota is 1 group a day.^1,2,3

Getting to the start

The Forest Service lists EP29 as an overnight, paddle-only entry in the Kawishiwi District. You reach the North Kawishiwi River through Ojibway Lake and Triangle Lake, using two portages. Rec.gov repeats that and adds a remark that the permit is not valid at Lake One.^1,2

From Ely, head northeast on Highway 169 for 15 miles to Ojibway Lake Road, turn right, and go south about half a mile to the parking area.³

You can unload at the edge of the lake, and the parking lot is about 300 feet back up the road. The landing has a dock, a boat ramp and picnic tables. A restroom sits near a small picnic area with an extra lot. Day permits are in a box on the left side of the bulletin board.³

The first leg

The route is a mile across Ojibway Lake to the Triangle Lake portage, a short carry into Triangle Lake, another mile across Triangle to the long portage, then a 190-rod carry to the river. BWCA Wild calls the Ojibway to Triangle carry 5 rods on its entry point page and about 10 rods on its Ojibway Lake page, so expect something short.^3,4

BWCA Wild calls the 190-rod carry relatively strenuous. A fall 1999 report on Quiet Journey rated it average, long but fairly easy, with no steep climbs or drops and a well kept trail.^3,5

An August 2001 report at high water found the same carry very wet, with running water and mud bogs over about two thirds of it that needed careful footwork. At the north end of Triangle Lake, just outside the wilderness, a roller portage lets people drag canoes across.^6,5

Terrain and difficulty

Ojibway Lake covers 367 acres, reaches 115 feet and sits at 1,483 feet. It has three basins and cabins on the west end and part of the north shore. The lake is entirely outside the wilderness, and the BWCA Wild page rates northern pike fishing good and walleye fishing poor.⁴

Heading west down the Kawishiwi River from the landing, you reach a split where it becomes the North Kawishiwi River and the South Kawishiwi River. The North branch leads toward Farm Lake, Eskwagama Lake and Clear Lake, and the South branch toward Little Gabbro and Gabbro lakes.³

A summer 2002 report describes the Kawishiwi River water past a short rapids carry as long and narrow with almost no current, and a confusing west end where two bays branch off and only one leads to the portage and campsite.⁷

Quota at this entry point

• 2026 daily quota at North Kawishiwi River (EP29), overnight paddle: 1 group a day. This was the most common daily total on Rec.gov across May to September 2026, shown on 130 of 153 dates. The other 23 dates showed 0.²

Rules specific to this entry point

Ojibway and Triangle lakes are outside the wilderness, so motorboats are allowed on them. Each lake has one campsite, and no BWCA permit is needed to camp at either.³

Permits can be picked up the day before your entry date, so one guide suggests camping at either outside site the night before to start early.³

The Forest Service lists EP29 as paddle only with no motor limit. Rec.gov says the permit is not valid at Lake One.^1,2

Where it leads

Farm Lake, Eskwagama Lake and Clear Lake lie down the North Kawishiwi branch. Friends of the Boundary Waters describes the nearby Kawishiwi River Triangle as an easy 3 day, 21 mile loop with 8 portages totalling 541 rods, though it starts from Farm Lake at EP31.^3,8

Friends says many campsites line the South Kawishiwi stretch to Clear Lake and that it is popular. It rates Eskwagama as less popular than the Clear Lake shortcut. A 121-rod portage at the south end of the South Kawishiwi leads to Gabbro and Bald Eagle lakes.⁸

What trip reports say

A fall 1999 portage report by Eldon Gormsen rates the Triangle to EP29 carry average at average water.⁵

A summer 2001 report by Springer heard wolf howls and saw fresh wolf tracks on the carry. It mentions a campsite on the river directly across and downstream from EP29 and good fishing around the rapids. The writer calls it a pretty stretch of river.⁶

A summer 2002 report by Jim DeVries on the Confusion to Kawishiwi River carry describes it as 5 rods, easy, bypassing rapids with old log pilings on both sides. At higher water the rapids can be run, and the lake beyond has 2 known campsites.⁷

BWCA Wild's most recent visit to the entry point was May 12, 2023, and the Ojibway Lake page was last visited September 4, 2016.^3,4

When to go from here

Water on the long carry changes with the season. The 2001 report found running water and bogs at high water, while the 1999 report at average water called the same trail well maintained.^6,5

Compare with nearby entry points

• Farm Lake (EP31): Farm Lake (EP31) is a boat landing, paddle or motor up to 25 horsepower, that gives paddlers the North Kawishiwi River. EP29 reaches the same river from the other side after a 190-rod carry.^1,3
• Lake One (EP30): Lake One (EP30) is a canoe landing with no carry before the water, on the same Fernberg Road. Rec.gov states the EP29 permit is not valid at Lake One.^1,2
• South Kawishiwi River (EP32): South Kawishiwi River (EP32) is paddle only too, with a 140-rod portage to the river, against 190 rods plus two lakes to cross for EP29.^1,3

Sources

1. Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness Entry Points, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.
2. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permit, North Kawishiwi River division, Recreation.gov. Read 2026-10-15.
3. BWCA Entry Point 29 - North Kawishiwi River, BWCA Wild. Read 2026-10-15.
4. Ojibway Lake, BWCA Wild. Read 2026-10-15.
5. Triangle to Entry #29, Quiet Journey. Read 2026-10-15.
6. Triangle to Kawishiwi River, Quiet Journey. Read 2026-10-15.
7. Confusion to Kawishiwi River, Quiet Journey. Read 2026-10-15.
8. Kawishiwi River Triangle, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. Read 2026-10-15.
9. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permits, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.

Safety & planning

Alternatives to a North Kawishiwi River (EP29) permit