Interactive Map (the green line shows this route)
Follow this link, then to display additional data such as campsites and photos, click “Layers” in the upper left corner of the map. To display the route on satellite imagery or a different background, click “Background” in the upper left of the map. Zoom in and out using the plus and minus buttons in the upper left.
Total Miles: 20
Note: An average BWCA travel day is about 6 or 7 miles. A long travel day is about 10 miles.
Total Rods Portaged One-Way: 547 (1.7 miles)
Note: Triple the one-way portage distance if you need to take two trips across the portages, which is typical. One rod is 16.5 feet.
Portages: 11
Longest Portage Length: 189 rods (.6 miles)
Difficulty: More Difficult
Typical Trip Length: 4 - 5 days
Entry Point: 84 - Snake River
Exit Point: 30 - Lake One
This route can be reversed.
Significant Waterbodies on the Route: Snake River, Bald Eagle Lake, Gabbro Lake, Little Gabbro Lake, South Kawishiwi River, Kawishiwi River.
Many small falls and rapids. All falls and rapids have portages around them, and portages must always be used.
A secret waterfall that is seldom seen. Ask us about it.
Good fishing for walleye, pike, and bass.
No motorboats are allowed on any part of this route.
There are no recent fire impacts on this route, although there is an opportunity to portage off the main travel route to the north of Bald Eagle Lake to see the Pagami Creek Fire burn area.
The small lakes to the north of Bald Eagle Lake make for a good day trip route for fishing for walleye and smallmouth bass, and for exploring.
There are many routing options from this entry point. For example, you could shorten the length of this trip to about 11 miles by exiting at Little Gabbro Lake (EP#33). See that route here.
Although this route may be reversed, we recommend starting at Snake River during the higher water season (May and June) to more safely approach the Kawishiwi River portages from the downstream side if your group includes less experienced paddlers.
The Snake River flows toward Bald Eagle Lake. It is a very small, winding stream. There are rocks and small rapids that have portages around them.
The Kawishiwi River is a very wide river that flows toward the southwest, but mostly feels like a long lake. There is typically no appreciable current and if you stop paddling, then your canoe will go where the wind blows it. The exception to this is at the portages where the river narrows and there are rapids. All of these rapids have portages around them, and portages must always be used.
The Snake River entry point portage is 189 rods (.6 miles) long.