South Kawishiwi River in MN -- Campground & RV Camping
South Kawishiwi River in MN
CampgroundUSFS
8.3 mi from Ely
Official campground & reservations ↗
KAWISHIWI RANGER DISTRICT: 218-365-7600, CONCESSIONAIRE (SUMMER): 218-365-2963
Road Access
- Road difficulty 1 of 5: an easy drive in.
- Recorded as maintained for passenger-car comfort, gravel, pitching to 8%.
Rig fit
- Maximum published vehicle length: 88 ft.
- Longest published RV site: 88 ft.
- Longest published trailer site: 88 ft.
Campground details
Setting
South Kawishiwi River Campground is situated in a mixed aspen, birch, and conifer forest along the Kawishiwi River, about 10 miles from Ely, Minnesota. The facility features spacious, shaded campsites—with both electric and non-electric options—along with a reserveable group day-use picnic area for up to 35 people. On-site features include a boat ramp, a grassy swimming beach, the 1-mile Kawishiwi River Forest Trail, vault toilets, drinking water, and firewood sales. The river offers direct access to Birch Lake and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Getting there: From Ely, Minnesota, travel about 10.3 miles south on State Highway 1 toward Lake Superior. Turn left onto the campground road.
- Limited separation from through roads or other sites here, a 32-site campground with the nearest through road 0.2 miles off.
- The Birch Lake shoreline is 0.2 mi off.
- Open country, with nothing named rising within 30 miles.
- Most sites here have an electric hookup, with most of them shaded.
Climate averages
October normals 32–51°F, 2.7″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.
Starlink Radar
Open sky · Terrain & buildings · Tree canopy
Estimated horizon in eight compass directions, using 10 m USGS elevation. Sky clearance 99 of 100.