Headed up next week, and wanted to see if anyone has updated information about the Bottle portage. From a quick search, I've found that it is a shared portage between US/Canada, and provided we don't fish or linger too long on either end we should be fine to use it enroute to Iron lake?

Am I correct in this thinking? The only thing that has me concerned are the closed borders at the moment. Are we better off just taking the 2 portages out of boulder bay directly into Iron?

Thanks all!

We're also headed up next week and will be in the same area. The treaty allows for free use of the portage without any sort of official border crossing or permit so nothing to worry about.. other than it can sometimes be a muddy and buggy portage.

You are correct and good to go. Have a great trip and be safe out there.

I saw a Facebook post from Voyageur North outfitters that said they contacted the Canadians and they said we were good to go.

Good to go. And....fyi...
The 2 portage route from Boulder Bay to Iron can be a real nightmare. Take the Bottle.

I actually preferred the 2 portage way in. The second half of it (after the beaver pond) is long, but it was a reasonably nice trail, your not likely to run into any other groups on it, and it saves you something like 3 miles of paddling to get to the same spot on Iron. We are a group that packs relatively light and single portages though; if double portaging I think I'd go Bottle.

Disk1: "I actually preferred the 2 portage way in. The second half of it (after the beaver pond) is long, but it was a reasonably nice trail, your not likely to run into any other groups on it, and it saves you something like 3 miles of paddling to get to the same spot on Iron. We are a group that packs relatively light and single portages though; if double portaging I think I'd go Bottle. "

I almost always take the 2 portage route simply because there are some “relics” along the portage and I’ve seen moose back in that beaver pond. There is a little poison ivy back there though so be careful.

Tony

I also prefer the 2 portage route if you are able to single portage. The beaver pond is neat to see and it's an easy trail, just long at ~250 rods. Bring your bug net as it can be a "buggy" portage. This can also be beneficial if it is a windy day and you are trying to limit time on larger open water. If you are double portaging and winds are calm, bottle portage is probably the better route.

GopherAdventure: "

Disk1: "I actually preferred the 2 portage way in. The second half of it (after the beaver pond) is long, but it was a reasonably nice trail, your not likely to run into any other groups on it, and it saves you something like 3 miles of paddling to get to the same spot on Iron. We are a group that packs relatively light and single portages though; if double portaging I think I'd go Bottle. "

I almost always take the 2 portage route simply because there are some “relics” along the portage and I’ve seen moose back in that beaver pond. There is a little poison ivy back there though so be careful.


Tony"

I'll be heading up with kegger70 (OP) and we're taking the advice given by the folks on the thread and weather conditions that day to make our decision on Bottle to Iron vs. LLC to Iron. When you mentioned relics along the 2 portage route, what specifically do you mean? Are these things off the beaten path or are they easy to see from the portage?

One other thing I should note and mistake I made my first time, if you are coming from Iron to the beaver pond you don't launch straight (its a soft bog), there is a trail to your right that takes you along the beaver pond to a log dock which is much easier to launch from.

After seeing that picture, I think I'll stick to the Bottle portage