BWCA Portage 136 (Pencil)

Avoid the rapids and take this easy portage. If you are headed downstream toward Afton, you will encounter one of the more tricky spots on the Frost river after this portage. It is very rocky and narrow with lots of beaver activity and challenging to navigate. We followed this general rule as we headed downstream: If we encountered a beaver dam, we usually could get out and pull our canoe over without much trouble. When we encountered rapids or a large boulders block the route, we looked for a portage. The portages are rarely exactly where they are on the maps depending on water level and beaver dams.

There are two landings for this one. The first is before the beaver dam on river left. The second is after the beaver dam and just before the lip of the falls. I recommend taking the first. I missed the first landing and ended up at the second - and my canoe was close to being swept down. I was here during high water.

We lined our canoe part way through this one and then portaged around the waterfall in the middle. This one is really pretty. We sat at the bottom and ate a snack here.