South Kawishiwi River

We wanted to visit the North American Bear Center so looked for nearby camping. The South Kawishiwi campground is a lovely forest service campground with 30 amp electric in many of its large sites. There are spotless vault toilets, a dumpster, aluminum recycling and a very friendly camp host. Cell service is variable…sometimes fast but occasionally very slow.

There’s also a lovely beach with designated swimming area and a boat launch for small boats, canoes and kayaks.

I spent two nights at site #13 which was an electric site with my RV. There is a mile-long hiking trail in the park which is a plus. It was raining and was windy so I didn't get to enjoy it much but what I noticed that it is overrun with mice during the night. They kept me up getting in and running around. I put traps out during the night and I caught 6!!! I never caught six in one place during one night ever. I was talking to the neighbor and she said she also had mice in her rig. The park needs more owls :)

Anyways, it is a nice park, and I can see that it is lots of fun when the weather is nice, you can kayak, canoe on the lake, and kids can run around. I just didn't have the best experience there.

Dyrt Ranger Review of Banner and Oak Products at the South Kawishiwi Campground

Campground Review: My husband and his motorcycle buddies love riding on backroads and scenic byways in our state and National Forests in northern Minnesota. The MN State Highway 1 winds through the tall pines of the Chippewa National Forest, to the Bear Island state forest, and the Superior National Forest all the way east to Lake Superior. A nice weekend ride on this route includes a nice campout at the National Forest Service’s South Kawishiwi campground just off Highway 1 between Ely and Isabella. The campground is a typical rustic Forest Service campground, no hookups or plug-ins for RVs though many of the campsites would have room for a camper. All of the sites are great for tent camping, with large sheltered campsites in the pines, picnic tables and great fire rings with grill. There are water pumps for drinking water, and but the bathroom facilities are outhouses. One of the best features of this campground is the waterfront, with a nice beach and picnic area and a good boatlaunch for canoes and fishing boats. The campground is quiet and peaceful and well maintained. You can hike or boat in the area, and its an easy trip into Ely if you need supplies or want to visit the nature centers in town. Well recommended for families and small groups, accessible for motorcycles, cars, trailers and campers who want a quiet and simple camping experience.

Product review: As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I sometimes have the chance to review camping gear and related outdoor products. This review is for Banner and Oak gear, specifically their outdoor tshirts https://bannerandoak.com/collections/shirtsand their camping mugs https://bannerandoak.com/collections/gear-we-love/products/steel-camper-mug-white . My husband tried out these products on his recent camping trip with his motorcycle buddies, and he lived both of them. Our mess kit includes the standard flat sierra cups, which are fine for your instant oatmeal in the morning, but not great for coffee. The Banner and Oak mugs are enameled stainless steel, sturdy enough to be crammed into a tight pack and large enough to hold a good stiff morning coffee—and the “Freedom to Explore” motto on it is great! But most of all, he LOVED the shirts, and said they were the softest he has ever worn, whether hanging around the campsite or, more importantly, under his motorcycle jacket when he is on the road. He felt it was soft and comfy—yes, by comparison, softer even than our little pug dog, which is saying a lot— and its lightweight, and breathes well in addition to preventing chafing under his jacket. He’s a fan! He doesnt usually pay much attention to his tshirts, but Banner and Oaks are remarkable and he will surely be buying more. Its a plus that they are made in the US too!