USDA Forest Service · Minnesota
South Kawishiwi River
USDA Forest Service · Minnesota, United States
- Sites
- 33
- Hookups
- 24 electric, 8 no hookups
- Season
- May 7 to September 25
- Max RV length
- 107 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,476 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- S. KAWISHIWI R. CAMPGROUND (NFSR 183) · crushed aggregate or gravel · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Superior National Forest
- Nearest town
- ELY
- Address
- KAWISHIWI RANGER DISTRICT, ELY, MN, 55731
- Phone
- KAWISHIWI RANGER DISTRICT: 218-365-7600, CONCESSIONAIRE (SUMMER): 218-365-2963
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Swimming Site, Wildlife Viewing
33 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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. The campground has sites with and without electric hookups, as well as one group day use area great for family picnics, birthday parties and other gatherings of up to 35 people.
Recreation
Canoeing is a main attraction. The Kawishiwi River provides access to Birch Lake to the south and the Boundary Waters to the north. When traveling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wildnerness, a permit is required.
Canoe rentals are available by contacting 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.
View recreation guides and maps of hiking trails and canoe routes in the national forest.
Facilities
The campground offers individual campsites and one group picnic area that can be reserved for day use. Sites are spacious, private, well-maintained and shaded. Visitors will find vault toilets, drinking water and trash bins within the facility. Firewood is available for purchase.
Natural Features
The scenic Kawishiwi River boasts clear, cold and calm waters lined with boreal forest and wetland ecosystems. Wildlife abounds in Superior National Forest, from moose and bear to bald eagles and loons. The campground lies in a mixed aspen, birch and conifer forest.
Superior National Forest, located in northeastern Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, is comprised of 3-million acres. The forest spans 150 miles along the United States-Canada border.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (218) 365-2963.
Nearby Attractions
Numerous outdoor recreation opportunities lie within Superior National Forest's 77 lake accesses, 13 fishing piers, 10 swimming beaches and 22 picnic areas. The forest is also home to three scenic byways.
Campers can also explore the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Over 1-million acres in size, the Boundary Waters extends nearly 150 miles along the United States-Canada border and contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Additional sites of interest
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17° | -1° | -29° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 18° | 3° | -27° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 35° | 18° | -10° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 42° | 29° | 7° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 60° | 41° | 29° | 80° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 53° | 44° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 77° | 61° | 51° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 59° | 53° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 70° | 53° | 41° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 50° | 39° | 24° | 70° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 34° | 26° | 1° | 56° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 24° | 12° | -18° | 45° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Birch Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 32 sites
- Fall Lake · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 66 sites
- Babbitt Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 12 mi
- Fenske Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi · 16 sites
- McDougal Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi · 21 sites
All public campgrounds in Minnesota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.