South Kawishiwi River
Superior National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: ELY, MN, MN
Price: From $22 per night
Price range: $22–$170 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (115 reviews)
Season: May through October
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 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.For facility specific information, please call (218) 365-2963.The campground of
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Fishing, Boat Launch, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/south-kawishiwi-river to be notified when sites open up.
South Kawishiwi River Campground offers 32 sites near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with excellent recreational opportunities including canoeing, fishing, and boating. Campers report good spacing between sites and well-maintained vault facilities.
Wildlife alert: Canada Lynx, Gray Wolf, Gray Fox, North American River Otter, American Beaver, Ruffed Grouse, Broad-winged Hawk, Canada Jay, Common Loon, and Painted Turtle documented within 8km.
Insider tips for South Kawishiwi River: Mix of reservable and first-come/first-serve sites available Book early as this is a popular federal campground Select sites #16 and others offer tent pads with stairs providing separation from the road Firewood available for purchase on-site
Skip South Kawishiwi River if: You need water or sewer hookups — only electric hookups available on select sites. You require bathroom lighting — vault toilets have no lights and minimal windows. You need year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only.
Best time to visit South Kawishiwi River: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Nearby campgrounds: Birch Lake Campground (ELY, MN), Fall Lake (ELY, MN), Fenske Lake Campground (ELY, MN), Mcdougal Lake Campground (Tofte, MN).
Cell Phone Coverage at South Kawishiwi River
Cell signal at South Kawishiwi River (ELY, MN): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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 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.For facility specific information, please call (218) 365-2963.The campground offers individual campsites and one group picnic area that can be reserved for day use.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryMix of reservable and first-come/first-serve sites available
Book early as this is a popular federal campground
Select sites #16 and others offer tent pads with stairs providing separation from the road
Firewood available for purchase on-site
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Ely, Minnesota, travel about 10.3 miles south on State Highway 1 toward Lake Superior. Turn left onto the campground road.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Superior National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Superior National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does South Kawishiwi River cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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