Portage Description:
To begin with this portage which bypasses parts of Lac La Croix and Bottle Lake enroute to Iron Lake is long, at a mile. Aside from the initial climb it is a relatively flat portage where I saw my first Lady Slipper. The portage starts on the point directly east of the southeastern Lac La Croix Ranger Station (not sure if its still in service?) The problems start about 1/2 mile in, where a mud/clay/beaver lake engulfs the portage-couple hundred feet wide. Load the canoe back up and fire up the stump/canoe-harpoon detector. Then just try to find the portage on the other side-took me 30 very frustrating minutes. Slightly south of straight across (east), where you'd expect. We did our best lumberjack impressions just to scurry to shore across fallen floating timbers. If you've made it this far you might as well push on, but the rest of the portage trail is a lil' more soggy and a wood tick heaven. I lost a shoe in the mud near the boardwalk-a Nike size 13 if you find it...I know, leave no trace but...The rest of the portage is rather unremarkable, but I've never been so happy to see water as I was at the end of this portage. While the Bottle portage tends to be muddy and better suited for mountain goats, I'd highly recommend that alternative. On our way to Bottle portage we saw a swimming bear and a dancing moose-the types of things that make those hellish portages worth it!

Lake after portage: Iron
Known campsites: 8+
Lake Description:
Awesome big lake known for its smallmouth fishing and beautiful waterfalls-Curtain and Rebecca.

Portage from Iron into:
McAree
Dark
Return to Lac La Croix
Crooked