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South Kawishiwi River Campground

Superior National Forest, Minnesota

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As of October 2026, South Kawishiwi River Campground is a campground in Superior National Forest, Minnesota with 22 campsites. South Kawishiwi River Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

PermitSnag checks South Kawishiwi River Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
South Kawishiwi River Campground is located at 47.8156° N, 91.7314° W.

people allowed on 21 of 22 sites: 9
people allowed on the largest site: 35

South Kawishiwi River Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

November 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

Taxes apply
Maximum consecutive stay: 14 consecutive days
Book up to: 6 Months
Tribal discount available

Published by Recreation.gov for South Kawishiwi River Campground, read on September 29, 2026.

Campsites at South Kawishiwi River Campground

12345678910111214222326272829303133

Standard 21
Group 1
Accessible 1
Hookups 22

What an RV fits

40–44 ft1 site
45–49 ft2 sites
50–54 ft1 site
55–59 ft5 sites
60–64 ft5 sites
65–69 ft2 sites
70–74 ft2 sites
75–79 ft1 site
85–89 ft2 sites

Amenities

restrooms
potable water

At a glance: Setting: Forest.

Things to do: fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, wildlife, photography.

All sites at South Kawishiwi River Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the SOUTH KAWISHIWI RIVER loop.

Site	Type	Sleeps	Max RV	Hookups	Access
001	Standard	9	63 ft	Electric	-
002	Standard	9	57 ft	Electric	-
003	Standard	9	78 ft	Electric	-
004	Standard	9	64 ft	Electric	-
005	Standard	9	62 ft	Electric	-
006	Standard	9	56 ft	Electric	-
007	Standard	9	63 ft	Electric	-
008	Standard	9	65 ft	Electric	-
009	Standard	9	54 ft	Electric	-
010	Standard	9	56 ft	Electric	-
011	Standard	9	60 ft	Electric	-
012	Standard	9	70 ft	Electric	-
014	Standard	9	58 ft	Electric	-
022	Standard	9	66 ft	Electric	-
023	Standard	9	59 ft	Electric	-
026	Standard	9	49 ft	Electric	-
027	Standard	9	40 ft	Electric	-
028	Standard	9	71 ft	Electric	-
029	Standard	9	49 ft	Electric	-
030	Standard	9	87 ft	Electric	-
031	Standard	9	88 ft	Electric	-
033	Group	35	-	Electric	Accessible

About South Kawishiwi River Campground

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

Rules and notices at South Kawishiwi River Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 29, 2026. Check South Kawishiwi River Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

Traveling within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness requires a permit; day use requires a self-issued permit; overnight use requires a permit from the quota system.

Beach and picnic areas open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The South Kawishiwi River Campground holds a pavilion for rent (site 33) that can accommodate up to 26 people. The site also has an outdoor cooking area with a large grill and two picnic tables. See site 33 for more information.

Off-road and all-terrain vehicles not allowed during camping season.

During the walk-in season please contact the Superior National Forest for information.

Please Note: One towed vehicle per single camping unit will be allowed for no extra charge if it can be parked completely on the surfaced area and does not create a safety hazard. Examples of towed vehicles include a boat trailer or a car towed by a motor home. Two motorcycles are considered one vehicle.

Two vehicles per site. RV or trailer counts as first vehicle. Any additional extra vehicles will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground if you did not pay for the Extra Vehicle Add On.

Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information.

superior Click here to learn more about Superior National Forest.

Recreation.gov permit and campground cancellations →

South Kawishiwi River Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at South Kawishiwi River Campground?

South Kawishiwi River Campground is rated "Moderate to Book" based on historical demand. With 22 sites available, you have good chances of finding availability, especially on weekdays.

How do I find last-minute availability at South Kawishiwi River Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at South Kawishiwi River Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does South Kawishiwi River Campground have?

South Kawishiwi River Campground has 22 campsites.