About South Kawishiwi River
Available sites
21 total sites
RV Sites
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Boating
Fishing
Year-round
Fishing
Spring
Boating
Summer
Boating
Fall
Boating
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
River Access
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Water Access
- River Access
Rates, Sites & Availability
21 Sites Available
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Site Details
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21 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (372)
What Guests Are Saying
South Kawishiwi River is a beautifully maintained campground with well-spaced, clean sites and friendly camp hosts who ensure excellent upkeep, including impressively clean vault toilets. Visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, great water access for canoeing, and lovely swimming spots nearby. While there are occasional issues with mosquitoes and site sizes, the overall experience is highly positive, making it a favorite destination for campers.
What Guests Are Saying
South Kawishiwi River is a beautifully maintained campground with well-spaced, clean sites and friendly camp hosts who ensure excellent upkeep, including impressively clean vault toilets. Visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, great water access for canoeing, and lovely swimming spots nearby. While there are occasional issues with mosquitoes and site sizes, the overall experience is highly positive, making it a favorite destination for campers.
Review Summary
Evgenia B
VerifiedAugust 31, 2026 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER
Clean, comfortable, scenic.
Don N
VerifiedSeptember 10, 2026 • Stayed at: 029, Loop: SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER
The hosts were extraordinary. The campground was unusually well-kept.
Ray P
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2026 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER
Very quiet over Labor Day weekend.
Very clean restrooms.
Chris D
VerifiedSeptember 20, 2026 • Stayed at: 031, Loop: SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER
Got spot to camp and clean vault toilets
William J
VerifiedSeptember 23, 2026 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER
Beautiful camp ground with neat, clean and private camp sites.
cori h
VerifiedSeptember 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 028, Loop: SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER
Perfect campground! Large beautiful sites with minimal sight of your neighbor, easy river access and canoes to rent for best deal (bring cash!). Easy access to the bwca! Lots of electric sites with clean and tolerable pit toilets- very well kept campground-
Michael S
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2026 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER
This is a very nice campsite very quiet!! I can’t say enough about the wonderful kind old couple that takes care of the campground (the hosts). They are so very nice kind and friendly and they keep the campground from the restrooms to everywhere. Very nice and clean.!!! They are wonderful people and I would highly recommend going back again and again.
Andrea B
VerifiedOctober 5, 2026 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER
This is a great little campground with excellent access to the river, which is rather a misnomer, as there really isn’t a current. It like a long, huge lake. Perfect for kayaking, canoeing, fishing. The sites with electric can be awkward if you’re used to having your camper next to the firepit area. Be sure to check that out. We stayed on the back side of the loop and found it extremely peaceful. And as others have said, the bathrooms were immaculately clean for vaults. Aside from so very inconvenient road detours (not the campground’s fault), we give it 5 stars!
Location & Directions for South Kawishiwi River
Kawishiwi Ranger District, Ely, MN 55731 United States
Elevation: 449 ft
Getting There
From Ely, Minnesota, travel about 10.3 mi south on State Highway 1 toward Lake Superior. Turn left onto the campground road.
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
- Beach and picnic areas are open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Contact the Superior National Forest for information during the walk-in season.
- Reserved sites must be occupied by the day after arrival or they will be forfeited.
- Visit the Superior National Forest website for more information.
Local regulations
- Permits are required for travel in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Amenities
- Site 33 at the campground offers a pavilion for rent, accommodating up to 26 people, with an outdoor cooking area and picnic tables.
Vehicles & parking
- Off-road and all-terrain vehicles are prohibited during camping season.
- Each camping unit may have one free towed vehicle if parked safely; additional vehicles will incur a nightly fee.
Cancellation policy
- Refund requests incur a $10 processing fee and the non-refundable reservation fee will not be returned.
Fires & fuel
- Firewood from outside the area is prohibited to prevent invasive species.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: October 7, 2026
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Explore Ely, MN
Population: 3,240
Nearby city: Duluth, MN
Approx. 73 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 1,470 ft
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