South Kawishiwi River to Isabella Lake

Overview

The South Kawishiwi River to Isabella Lake route begins at Entry Point 32 on the South Kawishiwi River and travels east to finish near Isabella Lake, making this a point-to-point river route rather than a loop. From the put-in, the route heads through Bruin Lake and Gabbro Lake before joining the Isabella River corridor on the way to Isabella Lake.

This route emphasizes river paddling more than most BWCA trips, following the Isabella River through a series of portages around rapids and connecting stretches on its way east. Bruin and Gabbro Lakes offer open paddling early in the trip, while Bald Eagle Lake and Quadga Lake mark the transition into the narrower river corridor that carries the route the rest of the way to Isabella Lake. The shifting rhythm between river current and lake paddling gives this route a different feel than a typical chain-of-lakes trip.

This route is best suited to paddlers with strong portaging experience, since the river sections include a demanding sequence of portages around its rapids. Because it finishes at a different entry point than it starts, groups will need to arrange a shuttle or a second vehicle, making it a good fit for parties looking for a focused river trip rather than a return loop.

Route Highlights

• River paddling and rapids along the Isabella River corridor
• Gabbro Lake and Bald Eagle Lake as open-water stretches early in the trip
• A demanding sequence of portages connecting the river's narrower sections