Years ago I passed this way and at the time was unfamiliar where the portage was.  I did the right hand side path and it disappeared into brush, moved downhill into the bog (at the time no corduroy) and finally I found myself in center of the bog where the walking was surprisingly good (solid) to the "back" of the dry pond where I ran into the main portage trail on high land. 
Coming back later on that trip I realized the main trail comes out at the base of the cliff and talus pile.  I agree with Solus that if you can get to that (talus) end of the portage at all, go that way.