Reasonable to assume paddling against the flow, this weekend, on the Isabella River is ok? (and Perent)

Yep. There are very few places (if any) in the BWCA where paddling against the current is an issue (if I understand your question correctly).

Just there a few weeks back. No problems. Even shot by one of the portages. The portages we did were short and easy. Stayed on nice sandy beach site while on Isabella Lake.

excellent.. I had thought as much then someone said out of the blue.. you are paddling against the current on Isabella? That's going to be tough. Didn't make sense to me.. but eh.

Incidentally is there a good place for driving directions to the different EPs?

If you have the Beymer books, they do a good job of describing how to get to the various entry points and what the parking lots are like. Otherwise just post a request to the board with the direction you're coming from and your destination EP. There are plenty of folks here who'd be happy to help you out.

My conundrum is: I am putting in on S. Kwish and originally was thinking of taking out at Hog creek, which seems a nice paddle, but the drive to Hog Creek to drop off a second car looks like it'd add at least 2 1/2 extra hours, so am trying to figure out a different take-out point, maybe (Island River? #34), ideally accessed by Hwy 1.

I Know I have that book somewhere and spent the last 40 mins looking for it but it hasn't turned up yet.

I would suggest you pick up a Superior National Forest map, available at forest service offices. But I have found that Google maps are pretty accurate, although you have too zoom in before all the forest roads show up. That’s what I use here to help.

By the way the road I think you may be asking about is the Tomahawk Trail (FR 173)

Tomahawk looks right, I think I've puzzled the route, any notions of time from town of Isabella to EP #34 ?

Isabella to Island River EP (#34) is about half an hour via gravel roads.

Assuming you're picking up your permit at the Isabella Ranger Station, go:

- East on Hwy 1 to FR 172 (Wanless Rd)
- East on FR 172 to FR 369
- North on FR 369 to FR 373 (Northwest Rd)
- Northwest on FR 373 to FR 377 (Tomahawk Rd)
- Northeast on FR 377 to Island River and Isabella Lake EPs

After dropping off your vehicle at Island River, it's about another hour to the South Kawishiwi EP (#32). From the Island River EP go:

- West on FR 377 (Tomahawk Rd) to Hwy 1
- Northwest on Hwy 1 to CR 230 (Spruce Rd)
- Northeast on CR 230 to the S Kawishiwi EP

The only paved road in all of this is Hwy 1, but the gravel roads aren't too bad if you don't mind the occasional potholes and ruts.

Dropping off at Hog Creek instead could easily add another hour to your travel time (if not more), so your original estimate of 2 1/2 hours for that is pretty good.

quote ES: "Tomahawk looks right, I think I've puzzled the route, any notions of time from town of Isabella to EP #34 ?"

I don't really remember but I would say your average safe speed for most of the roads in that area (once you leave Hwy 1)would between 35-40mph.

There was a washout on Tomahawk reported earlier that necessitated a detour. I don't know if it has been repaired or not. I believe it added about 12 miles...? They should be able to tell you at the ranger station.

That washout has been repaired.

ES, to answer your original question, I have paddled the Isabella River twice, both directions no problems, even solo.

So Google Maps aren’t all that accurate after all. When I got home I checked my map since the road number from Google (FR173) didn’t quite sound right for Tomahawk. According to my Superior Forest map, Tomahawk is numbered FR377 like UncleMoose says. I also checked the route from the town of Isabella to Island River (also the route UncleMoose lists) and figure it will take about 45min if I were driving it.