BWCA Portage 639 (Clear)

There are two landing spots on the Clear Lake side. One close to the small stream and the other just northeast in the first "dip" on the map. Both are about the same distance but the more northern option you don't walk through the long grasses. Blueberries along the way were delicious! The river landing was muddy and we had to get out a ways before the canoe would float...with me in it anyway!

This has the possibility of being a real ankle breaker. Lots of rocks on the path - but otherwise pretty flat and open

Water levels are low in the summer of 2021. The muddy landing on the river side was barely accessible for us as we approached from the south. I had to do my best impression of a venetian gondolier to push us through the mud. Even still, my wife stepped into mud up to her knee before reaching the "safety" of the muck around the rocks. The actual portage is easy, once you get to it.

Came across from the north side. Very flat, easy, boarded where it needed to be. There are a few offshoots from the path that might lead to navigable water if levels were high enough. For us it just meant a slightly sunnier, buggier detour. Coming from the north, I think it's generally accurate that at any juncture, taking a left is the correct move if you want to stay on the main trail. The landing on the south end is very muddy, but there's a little structure built up that meant we were mostly able to miss the mud. The landing itself is pleasant enough, we stopped and had lunch there before heading south.

The mud at the south end is a bummer. From the north, you have to go into the creek just a bit to find the trail. Other than that, it is a well used, nice trail.

Very muddy portage to begin from the South. Other than the muddy start, it's a relatively easy portage to Clear Lake.

Flat, easy portage. Have not been here when water is very high but appears since it is so low that it could be very wet or under water at times. There are several short cut put-in spots along the trail as you approach the river if conditions are optimal to avoid going the entire trail.