Our group is planning to use Betsy's Portage this spring to exit Saganagons after a week of fishing. Yes, we intend to Base Camp.

Has anyone used this portage lately? Just looking for information regarding the route, condition and difficulty of Betsy's Portage. thx

Curious as well, is this a difficult portage?

I attempted it in the winter in 1995. Ended up getting lost. Had to follow tracks back to Sag.

bobbernumber3: "Our group is planning to use Betsy's Portage this spring to exit Saganagons after a week of fishing. Yes, we intend to Base Camp.

Has anyone used this portage lately? Just looking for information regarding the route, condition and difficulty of Betsy's Portage. thx
"

When are you going? May be more difficult earlier in the spring

There is another option. There is a well used route that I have taken a few times, once with an ATV. The trail runs from the bay north of the “n” in Saganaga to the bay that extends south of the Quetico in Saganagons. Look south of the “o” in Saganagons. It’s not straight and jumps on some logging roads, but was very well used back in the day. I assume it still is. Canadian residents keep canoes at the end of that bay outside the park. (Or they used to). A few years ago while fishing one of my hotspots on Sag I saw a towboat exit that bay with canoes on it. Either one of the outfitters uses that route once in a while or the towboat operator was just a lost college kid. I’d post a picture of the trail on a map but I can’t login, maybe I got kicked off.

Walley_hunter: "There is another option. There is a well used route that I have taken a few times, once with an ATV. The trail runs from the bay north of the “n” in Saganaga to the bay that extends south of the Quetico in Saganagons. Look south of the “o” in Saganagons. It’s not straight and jumps on some logging roads, but was very well used back in the day. I assume it still is. Canadian residents keep canoes at the end of that bay outside the park. (Or they used to). A few years ago while fishing one of my hotspots on Sag I saw a towboat exit that bay with canoes on it. Either one of the outfitters uses that route once in a while or the towboat operator was just a lost college kid. I’d post a picture of the trail on a map but I can’t login, maybe I got kicked off."

We have used Dickie's Portage (as you described) several times in the last few years... it is likely us you saw catching a tow out of there if early June.

We are looking to expand our fishing to the east end of Saganagons and using Betsy's Portage this year.

B3 what outfitter picks you up at Dickies or Betsy portage? I have asked about the shortcut portage out of Saganagons in the past and they act as if they don’t exist.

BnD: "B3 what outfitter picks you up at Dickies or Betsy portage? I have asked about the shortcut portage out of Saganagons in the past and they act as if they don’t exist."

We worked with Deb at Seagull Outfitters. She was very accommodating about our request for a Dickie's pickup and sent tow boat operators out early the first time to scope out the pickup point and landing. I think we have come out that way for the last 6-7 years.

We've had several e-mails back and forth with Deb and Janice (Cache Bay Ranger) regarding Betsy's portage for this year's trip. If you ask Deb for a Dickie's Portage pickup, I'm sure she would just go ahead and schedule you, no problem.

Be prepared for a good amount of portage time. If you go that way, contact me for a few pointers on the route.

bobbernumber3: "

BnD: "B3 what outfitter picks you up at Dickies or Betsy portage? I have asked about the shortcut portage out of Saganagons in the past and they act as if they don’t exist."

We worked with Deb at Seagull Outfitters. She was very accommodating about our request for a Dickie's pickup and sent tow boat operators out early the first time to scope out the pickup point and landing. I think we have come out that way for the last 6-7 years.


We've had several e-mails back and forth with Deb and Janice (Cache Bay Ranger) regarding Betsy's portage for this year's trip. If you ask Deb for a Dickie's Portage pickup, I'm sure she would just go ahead and schedule you, no problem.


Be prepared for a good amount of portage time. If you go that way, contact me for a few pointers on the route."

Did they give you an idea on the shape of Betsys portage?

Smallie#6: "
Did they give you an idea on the shape of Betsys portage?"

Here is the info so far on our inquiries. Deb and Janice have been great help.

Hey ___,

Yep, I did a ton of bush work brushing ski trails and then after the Oct 26 heavy snow - re-clearing them all of thousands of downed trees. Have skied 4 times but we're on day 10 of -30 temps. Too cold for much of anything outside.

Re "Betsy's Portage", it's a 2 mile walk and I think followable. From Gons it's an obvious trail which then turns right(west) on an old logging road for maybe 10 minutes - can't remember. Then turns left (south) back onto a bush trail that takes you to Sag. There is a sketchy section around a swamp but most folks seems to figure it out. I haven't walked it for 5 yrs.

Whether it gets brushed or not is up to the Sag folks who have Quetico seasonal day passes to fish Gons for the day. The Park does not maintain this portage as it's outside of the boundary.
The portage exits onto Sag immediately next to Kayser's property on the west on a rock face on the east. Like Betsy, Kaysers hope folks stay on the trail and not wander all over their property. Peter Rogers took the liberty to build a dock there, it's controversial.

I certainly remember ----- ----- and kudos to him for still being curious! And of course he should take Boundary Pt entry #74 for that route, even if he paddles N over Dead Mans portage then turns to go to the east end of Gons, instead of continuing N to Falls Chain.
Cheers, ------