Kawishiwi Falls is located between Garden Lake and Fall Lake, just outside of Ely, MN, near the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).
Garden Lake has a dam created at its outlet for purposes of generating electricity. The falls are located between the Garden Lake Dam and Fall Lake.
Considering the limited topography of the area, these falls are admittedly a pretty good size.
Kawishiwi is a Ojibwe name meaning "river full of beaver or muskrat houses".
The Ojibwe peoples are a major component group of the Anishinaabe-speaking peoples, a branch of the Algonquian language family which includes the Algonquin, Nipissing, Oji-Cree, Odawa and the Potawatomi. As if everyone doesn't already know that. Sheesh.
Really, you may be more interested to know that the Ojibwe (also Ojibwa or Ojibway) or Chippewa (also Chippeway) are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. You can probably read more about this, if you are interested, on wikipedia.
So, as I mentioned earlier, the falls were pretty impressive.
The hike is pretty short, less than a mile round trip, with minimal elevation gain. We were in a bit of a hurry to get back to visiting with relatives, so our exploration was pretty brief.
There are portage trails (as per the sign), so it's easy to access the water at a number of points.
If you are in the neighborhood, this is a perfect hike for families looking for a short adventure that will capture the interest of all ages and abilities.
Happy Trails!
~E
Next hike coming right up: Saturday, August 13, 2011!
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