BWCA Portage 508

Came through this portage twice - on our route going from Snowbank to Alworth and then back a few days later. It sucks both ways. Low water has caused the Ahsub side of this portage to be extremely muddy. The mud is that bottomless peaty kind, so be prepared to go in up to your knees or higher if you step out of the canoe. If you can find footing on a log or rock, or if you can get to the grass, you might try that. Look for a rocky/grassy landing on the left bank as you approach down the stream toward the portage where people get out early, and take out your gear there. There's a bushwhacked trail that leads to the real portage landing. The Jitterbug side is kind of muddy but it's got a lot more gravel and is much easier to get loaded and launched on that end. The portage itself is nothing special, just getting to it and out of it on the Ahsub side is where there's the tricky bit.

Came through this portage twice - on our route going from Snowbank to Alworth and then back a few days later. It sucks both ways. Low water has caused the Ahsub side of this portage to be extremely muddy. The mud is that bottomless peaty kind, so be prepared to go in up to your knees or higher if you step out of the canoe. If you can find footing on a log or rock, or if you can get to the grass, you might try that. Look for a rocky/grassy landing on the left bank as you approach down the stream toward the portage where people get out early, and take out your gear there. There's a bushwhacked trail that leads to the real portage landing. The Jitterbug side is kind of muddy but it's got a lot more gravel and is much easier to get loaded and launched on that end. The portage itself is nothing special, just getting to it and out of it on the Ahsub side is where there's the tricky bit.

Easy and pretty portage

If you are coming from Ahsub Lake, you need to go pretty deep to see the landing. The lake of the lake has changed a lot, Google map is pretty accurate about it compared with printed map we have from the outfitter.

If you are coming from Jitterbug, the landing is located in the marshy area. Look for an inlet that's a little more devoid of lily pads than the rest. Portage itself wasn't bad, just finding the landing is.

It may have been the weather, or the fatigue of a long trip, but we struggled immensely to find the portage landing on the Jitterbug side. Pretty weedy landing.

This is a good portage with nice landings on both sides the channels are a bit shallow and weedy.

Muddy on Jitterbug side, short and easy.

Very muddy, with sink holes, shallow landing that makes it difficult to land loaded.