South Kawishiwi River

South Kawishiwi River Campground is located in Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, about 10 miles from Ely, Minnesota. It offers fishing, boating and other recreational activities in a relaxing outdoor setting, with sites both with and without electric hookups, plus one group day use area good for family picnics, birthday parties and other gatherings of up to 35 people. Canoeing is a main attraction. The Kawishiwi River provides access to Birch Lake to the south and the Boundary Waters to the north; a permit is required when traveling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and canoe rentals are available from the host. Closer to shore, visitors can enjoy an afternoon of swimming at the campground's grassy beach, hiking the 1-mile Kawishiwi River Forest Trail or trying their luck at fishing for northern pike, perch and walleye. A boat ramp is located on-site. Sites are spacious, private, well-maintained and shaded. Visitors will find vault toilets, drinking water and trash bins within the facility, and firewood is available for purchase. The scenic Kawishiwi River boasts clear, cold and calm waters lined with boreal forest and wetland ecosystems. The campground itself lies in a mixed aspen, birch and conifer forest. Wildlife abounds in Superior National Forest, from moose and bear to bald eagles and loons - 3 million acres in northeastern Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, spanning 150 miles along the United States-Canada border. The forest holds 77 lake accesses, 13 fishing piers, 10 swimming beaches, 22 picnic areas and three scenic byways. Campers can also explore the neighboring Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: over 1 million acres extending nearly 150 miles along the border, with more than 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.