BWCA Portage 690 (Oriole)

We started at just before 11 pm from the landing and, though I had been here before, it was tough to find this portage that night. The landing is real rocky and then it's up a little hill and over. I have taken this portage at high water and low water and the far side changes a lot depending. On our night trip, it was high and there was some tricky navigating to paddleable water. A few weeks later, the area was a big sand flat to walk out to the water.

It does have a decent run of stairs climbing up when heading in; though it's certainly nothing crazy. But as consolation consider that this is, by a good margin, the toughest portage on the direct travel route between here and Cherokee Lake.

Steps on EP side are very steep. Hauling a canoe up them is basically a series of squats. Landing going toward Ham Lake is not that bad. Overall it isn't a bad portage, but will get you breathing hard. 3/5

Rocky landings and steeper inclines. It was the hardest portage on the stretch down to Cherokee Lake but get it over with and you are fine the rest of the way.

Mostly uphill going in with large set of stairs near start (with very tall large steps). Only 66 rods but a tough climb for those new to portaging -- and right at the start of entry 50.

Rocky, slightly uphill traveling towards Ham. Pretty portage with a very nice landing