BWCA Portage 401 (Missing Link to Tuscarora)

The only good thing about this portage is the landings. Coming from the Tuscarora side it starts out steep and then a pretty steady climb. Once you reach the second highest point you think you got this when it starts going down hill, but then it climbs again almost all the way to the end.

This is the only portage I have crossed so far that I hope to never see again (and I've done the Grand Portage!). Granted, we did this after 3.12" of rain, so we pretty much got the worst it could throw at us, but there is a little bit of everything to hate on this one going from Tuscarora to Missing Link. Elevation gain? Check. Boulders to dodge? Check. Balance beam-wide planks? Check. Length? Check. Mud??? Absolutely. Every step of this portage was earned, and most of them were an adventure consisting of gingerly stepping into calf-knee high water and hoping to find solid footing. I'm sure its much better under normal conditions, but the endless water/mud pools over this beast of a portage made it play way longer than its already considerable length.

This portage sucks. Very hilly and rocky. Great landings on both sides is the only positive.

If it's been raining you should definitely plan on getting your feet wet and/or muddy. Otherwise, not too bad if you just take a couple breaks as needed!

Coming from Missing Link to Tuscarora It is a long portage and it did get muddy in a few spots, but over all not a bad portage. We started out with this portage doing a loop back to Round Lake thinking we would get the hard part over with....we found this to be the easy portages over the multiple shorter portages back to round

For a portage that is over a mile, it is not that bad. Fairly well maintained, we say multiple folks portaging at the same time, including a group with all grey hair. Just keep plugging away and take a break or two, I thought I was probably 2/3 through when I made it to Missing Link.

Yes, it is long. Yes, it is rocky. Yes, it is muddy. Yes, there are hills. As mentioned, Tusc to Missing Link is much more difficult. If you need a break there are plenty of places to set your canoe/pack down to get a breather. 5/5

The fabeled Tuscarora portage is long and has several elevation changes as well as a few potentially muddy sections. The climb out of Tuscarora Lake (if headed in that direction) is certainly the toughest section.