BWCAW Quota Permit — South Kawishiwi River (EP32)

South Kawishiwi River (EP32): what makes it different

South Kawishiwi River is a paddle-only Ely entry point where a short road-end portage, listed at 140 rods and measured at 147, drops straight to the river. It is the exit point of the long one-way Isabella route, and for a paddler starting here it leads upstream to Little Gabbro Lake, Lake One and the Kawishiwi River.^1,2,3

Getting to the start

The Forest Service lists EP32 as overnight paddle only, in the Kawishiwi District out of Ely, with a 140-rod portage to the river. Rec.gov repeats that.^1,2

BWCA Wild gives the drive as MN Highway 1 east from Ely for about 10 miles. After the second crossing of the Kawishiwi River bridge, turn left onto Spruce Road (Road 230), also called the Lake County 16 Road. Pass the Outward Bound school and drive 4 miles to the lot on the left. A sign there shows Little Gabbro Lake 2 miles further.³

The small lot at the bulletin board holds a few cars, and a larger overflow lot lies about 100 feet further down the road. BWCA Wild lists no restroom at this entry point.³

The first leg

The portage starts just off the road edge, to the right of the bulletin board, and lands on a sandy canoe landing in shallow water. BWCA Wild measured 147 rods, just under half a mile, and rates it average. It drops downhill to the river, and on the way back it climbs about 40 feet.^3,5

Canoerone's summer 2004 report at low water on Quiet Journey measured 140 rods and rated it average. The trail rolls, with many rocks and roots, and the last 20 rods run down to the river over a boardwalk. The put-in is cramped, so only one canoe can be loaded at a time.⁶

BWCA Wild lists rapids just downstream of the portage landing.⁴

Terrain and difficulty

Inside the wilderness the South Kawishiwi runs just over 8 miles, at about 1,440 feet at the upstream end and about 1,400 where it leaves. BWCA Wild counts about 20 campsites along it, and campsite 1696 is the one nearest EP32. Fishing is for northern pike and walleye.⁴

From the river, BWCA Wild lists portages of 122 rods to Little Gabbro Lake, 85 rods to Eskwagama Lake, 70 rods to Clear Lake, 15 rods to the Kawishiwi River and 20 rods to Bruin Lake. A bushwhack of about 60 rods leads to Astray Lake.⁴

Downstream from the landing the river leaves the wilderness quickly. BWCA Wild says the North and South Kawishiwi split about 9 miles upstream, and that Lake One suits a one-way trip with few loop options.³

Quota at this entry point

• 2026 daily quota at South Kawishiwi River (EP32), overnight paddle: 2 groups a day. This was the most common daily total on Rec.gov across May to September 2026. About 23 dates read zero when checked. BWCA Wild also prints 2.^2,3

Rules specific to this entry point

Paddle only, no motors. Rec.gov's division text puts the access at a 140-rod portage to the river.^2,1

Where it leads

Friends of the Boundary Waters ends its four-day, 29-mile one-way South Kawishiwi route at this lot. The route runs from Isabella Lake through Gabbro and Bruin lakes, with a 278-rod portage to Bruin and a 13-rod carry into the river, then south to the 140-rod climb to the lot. It rates the trip challenging and says to stage a second vehicle at the lot.⁹

A fall 1998 report at low water describes two ways from the Kawishiwi to Clear Lake. The eastern one is shorter and direct but extremely muddy at the river end in low water. The western one goes through Eskwagama Lake, with portages of about 100 rods each. The writer found Clear Lake quiet, with four known campsites and excellent northern pike fishing.⁷

What trip reports say

Staff at an outfitter wrote about carrying a canoe over this portage on April 4, 2019 to look for open water. Many nearby lakes still had around two and a half feet of ice, and the river had only a few open spots, so they got partway along its edge. They warned about unsure footing on the trail at that time of year and about very cold water.⁸

The 2004 Quiet Journey report on the same portage describes a rolling path with roots and rocks and the boardwalk finish. It says the carry then continues from the river up to Little Gabbro.⁶

When to go from here

Ice-out comes late on this river. The April 4, 2019 visit found the river still largely iced over, with nearby lakes under about two and a half feet of ice.⁸

Low water changes the river. The 1998 report notes thick muck at the Kawishiwi end of the Clear Lake carry at low water, and the 2004 portage report was written at low water.^7,6

Compare with nearby entry points

• Little Gabbro Lake (EP33): Little Gabbro Lake (EP33) is 2 miles further down the same Spruce Road. Its portage is 200 rods to a lake, and you can drive up to the start to unload, while EP32's portage is 140 rods to a river.^1,3
• North Kawishiwi River (EP29): North Kawishiwi River (EP29) is also paddle only, but the Forest Service says it reaches the river through Ojibway and Triangle lakes using two portages. EP32 has one portage straight to the South Kawishiwi.¹
• Isabella Lake (EP35): Isabella Lake (EP35) is reached by a 70-rod portage and is run from the Tofte district. It is the start of the long one-way route that ends at EP32.^1,9

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, South Kawishiwi River division, Recreation.gov. Read 2026-10-15.
3. BWCA Entry Point 32 - South Kawishiwi River, BWCA Wild. Read 2026-10-15.
4. South Kawishiwi River, BWCA Wild. Read 2026-10-15.
5. Portage between BWCA Entry Point 32 and the South Kawishiwi River, BWCA Wild. Read 2026-10-15.
6. Entry #32 to South Kawishiwi River, Quiet Journey portage database. Read 2026-10-15.
7. Kawishiwi River to Clear, Quiet Journey portage database. Read 2026-10-15.
8. First canoe paddle of 2019, Boundary Waters Catalog blog. Read 2026-10-15.
9. One Way on the South Kawishiwi River, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. Read 2026-10-15.
10. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permits, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.

Safety & planning

Alternatives to a South Kawishiwi River (EP32) permit