Question regarding the route from the east end of Lac La Croix to Iron Lake for those who paddled through here. There is water (Bottle River) that connects Lac La Croix to Bottle Lake to Iron Lake but I see a 320 rod portage not far from here that bypasses Bottle Lake. Is this portage required because of rapids or something along the Bottle River water route?

Thanks, BeaV

Plenty of rapids along the bottle river. I would take the portage on the canadian side to Iron. Lots to see on that lake, and the fishing is second to none.

Thanks, Andy. My map doesn't show a Canadian portage. Is that portage located straight west of Bottle Lake?

Voyageur Map #2 shows the Canadian portage from Lac La Croix to Bottle Lake...

Take the Bottle Portage. In Canada (International portage), but you can use it without Quetico permits.....just dont linger on it.

Thanks for the Voyageur Maps link and the advice.

The Bottle Lake portage is the old voyageur route. It is often very muddy! The 320 out of Iron Lake that you mention is long but flat. It actually has a beaver pond in the middle that you paddle across...I followed the blaze mark on tree trunks in the pond to reach the next part of the portage.

Yes, take the Canadian portage, and yes it does have a reputation for being muddy.

My advise on that portage is take the alternative trail that misses the mud.

As you start out from the LLC end, you gain some elevation and cross a small bridge over a smaller stream/water diversion channel. about 20-50 steps after that, there is a small spur trail to the right. Take it. It bypasses the boot sucking mud.

If you are coming in from Iron Lake and get to the portage, the obvious portage is straight ahead, but if you go to the left by the big rock near the end of the portage, it leads to the alternate trail.

The alternate trail is more up and down but much better unless you want a mud bath.

We did the Bottle portage last year. It really wasn't that bad. Some mud, but not that challenging. It's neat doing the portage and picturing the Voyageurs doing the same thing years back.

quote dadof6: "My advise on that portage is take the alternative trail that misses the mud."

That would be cheating :)

Just passed over Bottle Portage on our trip. Here are pictures 6/8/2011
If the mud is too bad there is a side portage that takes off to the right( Up the hill) that avoides the mud...it starts about 50' into the portage.

fishguts