Around here
Around Kawishiwi River
Data Source: Recreation.gov · Source: USGS GNIS · Source: Canadian Geographical Names Database (NRCan), Open Government Licence - Canada · Public land: USGS PAD-US
About this river
Kawishiwi River is a 44.2 mile river near Boundary Waters Outfitters in Minnesota. Streamflow is measured at the USGS gauge Kawishiwi River near Ely, MN (site 05124480). The National Hydrography Dataset places it at stream order 5. Reach geometry comes from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
Typical flow by month
1966 to 2026
Kawishiwi River typically runs highest in May, at a median 635 cfs, and lowest in March, at 56 cfs. The highest flow on record for any single day is 1,900 cfs, in 2026.
Show the numbers
| Month | Typical (cfs) | Usual range (cfs) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 87 | 55 to 118 |
| February | 64 | 53 to 84 |
| March | 56 | 45 to 67 |
| April | 107 | 68 to 224 |
| May | 635 | 378 to 847 |
| June | 298 | 206 to 435 |
| July | 170 | 116 to 248 |
| August | 88 | 59 to 148 |
| September | 64 | 34 to 128 |
| October | 75 | 30 to 136 |
| November | 87 | 34 to 183 |
| December | 106 | 46 to 166 |
Typical is the median of each month’s daily median values, and the usual range runs from the median 25th to the median 75th percentile, across about 60 years of record. Statistics published by the US Geological Survey for Kawishiwi River near Ely, MN (site 05124480). Conditions on any given day can fall well outside the usual range. Check the current reading before you go.
Boat access nearby
2 mapped launches sit in the mapped area of Kawishiwi River, all of them public access. Ramp data comes from the USGS national boat-ramp inventory.
- Ojibway Lake (North)Ojibway LakePublic
- Tofte LakeTofte LakePublic
Made to print
Put Kawishiwi River on your wall
This river section as an art print, drawn over the real terrain with its miles, plus the trails, roads and peaks around it. Pick the colors and the size, and see the finished print before you buy. From $39, shipping included.
Embed this gauge on your site
Paste this snippet anywhere, an outfitter page, a club site, a trip report, to show Kawishiwi River's live streamflow, water level and 7-day trend. It reads the USGS gauge directly, updates itself, and links back here.
See every free widget you can put on your site, including live conditions and a 7 day forecast.
