Minnesota · Hiking · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Powwow

4.8 mi
round trip
465 ft
climb
1,596 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May, Jul–Sep
best months

Is Powwow open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Powwow, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Superior National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Powwow hike is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, within the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route lies entirely inside designated wilderness. The trail rises about 116 feet from a starting point near 1,527 feet to a high of about 1,596 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.9 miles in, with a grade of about 5 percent. The climb is rated hard, so plan for a steady effort over the full length. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ely show July highs around 77°F with lows near 55°F, while winter highs stay in the teens and 20s. North Wilder-South Wilder is about a mile away, and the Powwow Trail is roughly 2.9 miles off. Paddlers can reach the Isabella River, about 5.7 miles away, and the Kawishiwi River, about 7.7 miles away.