BWCA Portage 727 (Burntside to Crab)

Long, some elevation, some mud/wet spots, a few rocks/roots, but mostly just a long walk. We did a double portage and took our time and it wasn't too bad. Pack light and tight or you'll make this portage more difficult than necessary.

I took a solo adventure back this way with a big heavy Grumman for my couple days off of guiding. Well worth it. I did the portage without stopping both ways and this portage really changes character after a hard rain. Like others have said, there are stages of this portage. It's definitely hilly near Burntside. There is one really wet section on the Crab end. The wet section wasn't too bad the first time through (about calf deep.) We had really hard rains during the trip and on the way back the water was well over the knees. This portage will test you if you don't do canoe trips all the time. I portaged it twice on the way in, and the group that was sprawled out on the Burntside end when I first arrived was still there when I left for my second trip. Took me close to an hour to run the portage 3 times.

This portage has 3 phases. 1. the first leg (coming from Burntside) has several ups and downs along a very rocky trail. 2. The trail skirts then crosses a swamp before skirting it again. This section will, at the very least, be wet if not muddy. 3. Finally, the trail opens up and continues on a very long gradual climb over an excellent path. (Fortunately there's a nice rest spot at the top of the climb). The portage finishes up at a nice sandy beach on Crab Lake.

I've been across this portage several times over the years, most recently with two 13 year-olds on their first trip. The first half of the portage is up-and-down and a little rough. After the portage takes a left onto the old portage trail, it gets much wider and smoother. The trail skits a beaver pond and can be wet, but as long as you stay on the trail. the footing underneath is firm. We passed a group of college guys that were struggling, making the boys in our group determined to be strong and press on to the end.

The portage is long but in good shape. The beginning (starting from Burntside) is hilly and rocky. A few years ago the portage location on Burntside was moved south due to a dispute with a private landowner. Where the new portage joins with the old one (about 170 rods in), it flattens out and gets wider. At about the 200 rod mark it goes around a beaver pond. The beaver pond marks about halfway. If water levels are really high, the portage could be underwater at one spot along the pond. Starting about 120 rods from Crab Lake, the trail climbs steadily upward. It gains about 80 feet in elevation over 60 rods. This can get tiring if you are going towards Crab Lake. The trail then levels out for the last 60 rods to Crab Lake.