Hello,
We are going to head up into knife lake next month and plan to take the border route east after a taxi up moose lake. I was looking on this site trying to get an idea what we are up against and I noticed an interesting parallel portage going on between Seed and Knife lake (as seen in the picture). Are Americans supposed to use the southern portage? Or is there another reason there are two options? Or is something else going on? Any advice would be appreciated... I would like to take the shorter of the two portages (which is on the US side) but I am not sure what to expect.

thanks,

You can use either portage along border, whichever "facilitates commerce" best.

i've only used the longer one , it may depend on moving water being able to get to the shorter portage ? we shot the whole thing coming out of knife but this was a long time ago, there maybe many more obstacles now .

You can use either side on the border portages. Every time we've gone that way we've used the longer one.

When I go through here, there are 2 portages that I take (it's not one as your map suggests). Coming from the west, I've taken the American side portage (your map doesn't show it) into a pond shown in the middle of your boxed in map and then take a 2nd longer Canadian portage into Knife.

Maybe there is a longer Canadian portage that bypasses that pond (like your map shows)in the middle but I have not seen it.

It's called Knife River and as such is quite variable, depending on year & season.
Actual 2011 canoe portage track is in orange, International Border green, portages marked on my USGS Quad map light blue. Photo is looking east last portage to Knife.


butthead

quote butthead: "It's called Knife River and as such is quite variable, depending on year & season.
Actual 2011 canoe portage track is in orange, International Border green, portages marked on my USGS Quad map light blue. Photo is looking east last portage to Knife.

butthead"

Thanks butthead, your orange track is what I was describing. And depending on water levels and paddler preference, some of these portages can be avoided by pulling canoes up the "river" or running rapids going down.

It's an easy set of portages, all the way from Newfound/Sucker to Knife. Even if you took the longest Canadian side it's easy going.

Hi there BeaV!

butthead

quote kpdoyle: "Hello,
We are going to head up into knife lake next month and plan to take the border route east after a taxi up moose lake. I was looking on this site trying to get an idea what we are up against and I noticed an interesting parallel portage going on between Seed and Knife lake (as seen in the picture). Are Americans supposed to use the southern portage? Or is there another reason there are two options? Or is something else going on? Any advice would be appreciated... I would like to take the shorter of the two portages (which is on the US side) but I am not sure what to expect.

thanks,

"

Just an FYI. International Treaty allows use of any portage along the border route without requiring an RABC. Meaning you can use Canadian portages along the international border route. I've had friends that have been unsure about this in the past and have purchased RABC's (remote area border crossing permits) without needing them just to be safe. The treaty dates back to 1840, but is still valid.

I've only ever used the Canadian side when going to Knife. I don't think I could even locate the other one. The Canadian side is well-marked and traveled, easy to find/follow.

I was asking a friend about what was up with there being multiple portage route choices between the same lakes? Her reply, if there are multiple choices, it is because they all suck. this was in specific reference to Isabella to Side in the Quetico.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Joe