From Ely, follow Minnesota Highway 1 east for about 18 miles to Tomahawk Road (Forest Road 173). Take a left onto this road and follow it for about 6 miles. The road is usually well graded. You eventually come to the BWCA entry point sign for the Little Isabella River and the Snake River. Take a left onto this road (Forest Road 381) which heads north. This road is narrower and usually rougher than Tomahawk Road. Follow this road until it comes to a 'Y'. A sign here indicates that it is 1 mile to the Little Isabella River to the right. The sign also indicates it is 1 mile to the Snake River to the left. Either way you go, expect a bumpy ride as these roads are in fairly rough shape. By summer time, grass rows two feet high down the middle ridge of the road in both directions. Be careful driving since this grass can sometimes hide boulders and large pieces of wood.
The parking lot for the Little Isabella River entry point is very small. Can maybe get five cars squeezed in here. You park right next to the start of the short portage that goes from the entry point down to the river. The portage is 33 rods and easy to walk.
Route options from this entry point are fairly limited. You of course must paddle down the Little Isabella River to the Isabella River. From there it is either east or west. West brings you to Bald Eagle Lake. East leads to Quadga Lake and Lake Isabella beyond via the Isabella River. A nice loop of rivers would be to paddle down the Little Isabella River, head west down the Isabella River and then back up the Snake River. It is just a two mile walk from the Snake River entry point over to the Little Isabella River entry point.
Exploring the Entry Point
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It's a bit of a drive out to this point. From Minnesota Highway 1, you follow Tomahawk Road to reach this sign.
At the sign, you turn onto this road which is Forest Road 381 (sign visible to the far right). Follow Forest Road 381 for about two miles.
Forest Road 381 eventually comes to a "T" intersection. As the sign indicates, pick your entry point. It is one mile either way along a rather unpleasant road.
A closer view of the nasty little road. That grass running down the middle is over two feet high in places and is good at hiding ruts and rocks. This is one of the better sections of the road.
The tiny parking lot for BWCA Entry Point 75 - Little Isabella River. It's at the end of the road.
This is a compact entry point with space for maybe five cars.
The bulletin board. The portage of 33 rods starts just to the right of it. If you just need a day permit, they are in the box hanging from the left side of the bulletin board.
