- 3–5 days
- Duration
- Challenging
- Difficulty
- 23 mi
- Total distance
- 21 mi
- Paddling
- 13
- Portages · 654 rods
About this route
The Isabella to South Kawishiwi Traverse is a point-to-point route that connects the quiet forests surrounding Isabella Lake with the winding waters of the South Kawishiwi River. Beginning at Entry Point 35 (Isabella Lake), the route travels through a series of small waterways, marshes, and portages before reaching Rice Lake and eventually Little Gabbro Lake, one of the larger lakes along the journey.
The route offers a peaceful wilderness experience with a mix of narrow channels, small lakes, and forested portages. After crossing Little Gabbro Lake, paddlers continue through Bruin Lake before following the final stretch toward Entry Point 32 (South Kawishiwi River).
While the paddling itself is generally straightforward, several longer portages make this a more physically demanding trip. In return, paddlers are rewarded with a quieter route that sees fewer visitors than some of the Boundary Waters' more popular corridors.
The portages
13 carries, 654 rods total.
| Portage | Rods | Climb |
|---|---|---|
| Little Gabbro Lake → Bruin Lake difficult | 238 | +141 ft |
| Bruin Lake portagecarry 2 of 2 difficult | 149 | — |
| Rice Lake → Little Gabbro Lakecarry 6 of 6 difficult | 141 | — |
| Isabella Lake → Rice Lakecarry 3 of 3 difficult | 106 | +27 ft |
| Isabella Lake portage moderate | 78 | +0 ft |
| Rice Lake → Little Gabbro Lakecarry 3 of 6 moderate | 46 | — |
| Isabella Lake → Rice Lakecarry 1 of 3 moderate | 42 | +23 ft |
| Rice Lake → Little Gabbro Lakecarry 4 of 6 moderate | 36 | — |
| Isabella Lake → Rice Lakecarry 2 of 3 easy | 25 | — |
| Rice Lake → Little Gabbro Lakecarry 1 of 6 moderate | 22 | — |
| Rice Lake → Little Gabbro Lakecarry 2 of 6 easy | 21 | — |
| Bruin Lake portagecarry 1 of 2 easy | 20 | +36 ft |
| Rice Lake → Little Gabbro Lakecarry 5 of 6 easy | 12 | — |
Lakes on this route
6 lakes, 22 campsites between them. Fish species recorded by the Minnesota DNR.
| Lake | Depth | Size | Campsites | Fish species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isabella Lake | — | 119 ac | — | — |
| Isabella Lake (2) | 19 ft | 1,257 ac | 13 | black crappiebluegilllake whitefishlargemouth bassnorthern pikepumpkinseedrock basssunfishwalleyewhite suckeryellow perch |
| Rice Lake | — | 122 ac | 1 | — |
| Rice Lake (2) | — | 205 ac | 3 | — |
| Little Gabbro Lake | 26 ft | 148 ac | 4 | black crappienorthern pikerock basstullibee (cisco)walleyewhite suckeryellow perch |
| Bruin Lake | 30 ft | 35 ac | 1 | northern pike |
More routes from EP 35
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