Minnesota / Lake County / Bear Island State Forest

South Kawishiwi River

Closed — Closed for the season. Typically operates from late spring through early fall. Reservations available through Recreation.gov during the operating season.

About

South Kawishiwi River Campground is located in Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, approximately 10 miles south of Ely, Minnesota on State Highway 1. The campground offers 31 spacious, private campsites nestled in a mixed aspen, birch and conifer forest along the clear, cold waters of the Kawishiwi River. Sites are well-maintained and sit above the river, with 22 sites available for reservation and 9 first-come, first-served sites. The campground provides both electric hookup sites ($20/night) and non-electric options. Canoeing is the primary attraction, as the Kawishiwi River provides direct access to Birch Lake to the south and serves as a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to the north. Canoe rentals are available through the campground host. An on-site boat ramp facilitates easy water access. Anglers can fish for northern pike, perch and walleye in the river's clear waters. The campground also features a grassy swimming beach, the 1-mile Kawishiwi River Forest Trail for hiking and mountain biking, and a historic log pavilion built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 that can be reserved for group gatherings of up to 26 people. The surrounding Superior National Forest spans 3 million acres across northeastern Minnesota's Arrowhead Region and is home to diverse boreal forest and wetland ecosystems. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with moose, black bears, bald eagles and common loons frequently spotted in the area. The campground provides vault toilets, drinking water, trash collection, and firewood for purchase.

Directions

From Ely, travel about 10.3 miles south on State Highway 1 toward Lake Superior. Turn left onto the campground road.

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