In all of my BWCA trips, I've never done the Horse Portage segment of the Basswood River. On the maps it shows portages shooting in all different directions and lengths, I'm assuming that is to accommodate differing water levels throughout the season. My question is this: do you usually just do the whole long portage, or put back in the water and get out again closer to Basswood Falls? It looks like there's a lot of paddleable water in there along the portage, between rapids.
I'll be doing the Border Route from Rainy Lake to Lake Superior in September and I'm not counting on higher water levels based on the current conditions. This will be during day 3 of my trip and about 114 miles in so I'll probably be getting a little tired by this point.

Any insight into the best way to tackle this section of the river would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Tony

A lot depends on water levels. If you're coming upstream, if you stay right on all forks you'll end up at the other end above the upper falls. You're right about trails leading off...sometimes to campsites, or fishing/picture spots, or a potential landing.

I've done it both ways, and if you're going upstream there's a narrow spot with high rock banks that was TOUGH to get up in the current. Let alone after being 100+ miles into a trip. I'd suggest taking the one long portage over trying to make it 2 or 3 shorter ones, especially being tired and going upstream. If you were going the other way I might have a different answer.

The trail itself is very easy, wide, and flat.

I've done it both ways, but always take the long portage on a
challenge. I'm pretty sure everyone does.

I took the longer portage as well. I was in a solo boat so I doubted that I could paddle up anything with really strong current. The portage is flat and well-trodden. You can carry the entire length of it to Basswood or leapfrog. I think that I did the latter. There are nice campsites along that stretch as well if you decide for some reason that it's time to make camp and finish it the next day.

Hey Tony!

First off, I'm jealous! That sounds like an amazing trip! I'm reading a book right now titled, "Minnesota's Boundary with Canada - Evolution Since 1783" and I'm learning a lot about the border country - can I hitch a ride? LOL

I was in this Horse Portage area back in early October 2017. I entered Mudro and made it to LBF - camped there two nights - that was pure bliss!! Then, meandered over to Basswood Lake. Water levels were VERY HIGH - portages were all muck after a really wet month of September. Rapids were ROARING!
Based on everything I'd read and what outfitters told my dad and I (he was 63 at the time), everyone said "TAKE THE ENTIRE PORTAGE."

Well, after we portaged around Wheelbarrow Falls, I was hellbent on taking the whole HORSE PORTAGE. My dad, on the otherhand, wanted no part of taking it and its 340 rods of glory.

When we arrived at the start of the portage and rapids, we noticed that the river took an extreme turn back to the left around a point. We landed on the point, and did some scouting. We realized we could portage over the point (like a 50 foot portage) and walk our canoe along the shore for a couple hundred yards above the first batch of rapids. That's exactly what we did - we noticed two campsites and a few places where it looked a person could access the portage. We had lunch at a makeshift spot above those initial rapids.

We then paddled north and eventually back south on the Basswood River. We saw an AMESOME set of rapids and campsite - we had to portage about 30 rods through that site. Then, after paddling about a half mile, we had to portage again - 30 rods or so - and this is where the so-called cable car is above the river. We had to semi-buschwhack our way through this portage, but it was fun.

We paddled another mile or two before arriving at the upper falls. We were able to get to one of the campsites there to join the HORSE PORTAGE - which I'd say we had to do the last 70 rods of it. We also spent some time admiring the falls as well before we left and made it to an island site on Basswood.

I know we didn't go "by the book," but we are experienced and we were going upstream. I'd do the same thing 100 times over - because we made some great memories and got to see some great rapids/falls up close. Also - because we went when we did, we didn't see a soul, so that was also rewarding.

Here is a video I made of that trip - if you skip to about 19:40 of it, it highlights the stretch I talk about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyF9CNa8H24&t=213s

I'm excited for a family trip I have planned next week - I'm taking my wife and three boys all the way up the north shore to Grand Portage - I've never been there, so I'm looking forward to that. Have an awesome trip - and I hope you post some pics and a report!

Beau

GopherAdventure: "In all of my BWCA trips, I've never done the Horse Portage segment of the Basswood River. On the maps it shows portages shooting in all different directions and lengths, I'm assuming that is to accommodate differing water levels throughout the season. My question is this: do you usually just do the whole long portage, or put back in the water and get out again closer to Basswood Falls? It looks like there's a lot of paddleable water in there along the portage, between rapids.
I'll be doing the Border Route from Rainy Lake to Lake Superior in September and I'm not counting on higher water levels based on the current conditions. This will be during day 3 of my trip and about 114 miles in so I'll probably be getting a little tired by this point.

Any insight into the best way to tackle this section of the river would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Tony"

Awesome replies everyone, thanks so much. I think I’m going to have to play it by ear and see how I’m feeling, but will more then likely portage as I don’t mind long portages at all. I will be posting a trip report and a video after the trip, but it might not get completed until mid October.

Thanks as keep those paddles in the water.

Tony

My group just did that portage at the end of July.

I had entertained dropping in and out but we were also double portaging and it would have been a bunch more extra work and, of course, time.

The portage was easy and pretty scenic in a woodsy sort of way. I enjoyed it even though it was long and the skeeters kept nailing me on the shoulder blades when I carried the canoe. LOL

I think we spent about an hour and half -ish making the double portage.

Only saw two other people the entire way and they were very casual and in no hurry. It appeared they were portaging it in multiple segments. had a little dog with them.

The water was very low and some of the rapids looked runnable but my crew wasn't experienced enough to risk it.

We were coming from Basswood lake and we stayed to the left at every fork.

Good luck and have fun!

Having done the border route 4 times in Sept (water levels-- going upstream) ) , you will more than likely shoot up a few canoeable rapids, than be forced to your right where you can't canoe anymore by current. From here it will not look like a portage. Boulder hopping about 30-40 rods on the right shore will bring you to a campsite in which the portage winds around and forth towards the back of the site.(or so, depending on what track you take) Finding the exact trail (port) amidst the trails of the campsite will probably take a few hit and misses. Reccm doing this section in daylight. Looked at a map of campsites in the area and I can't figure out exactly which site for sure the port starts from (its either 1541 or 1685-- not sure they are accurate on maps)-- always been "cloudy" here mentally, but my above points are trustworthy.

WhiteWolf: "Having done the border route 4 times in Sept (water levels-- going upstream) ) , you will more than likely shoot up a few canoeable rapids, than be forced to your right where you can't canoe anymore by current. From here it will not look like a portage. Boulder hopping about 30-40 rods on the right shore will bring you to a campsite in which the portage winds around and forth towards the back of the site.(or so, depending on what track you take) Finding the exact trail (port) amidst the trails of the campsite will probably take a few hit and misses. Reccm doing this section in daylight. Looked at a map of campsites in the area and I can't figure out exactly which site for sure the port starts from (its either 1541 or 1685-- not sure they are accurate on maps)-- always been "cloudy" here mentally, but my above points are trustworthy.
"

Thanks WW,
I really appreciate the insight. I’m assuming you’ll be doing the challenge this year as well. Maybe I’ll see you out there this year? I’ll be traveling in a NW solo with a blue CCS pack and either a wooden canoe paddle or orange bladed kayak paddle. I’m camping on Sand Point Lake my first night as the BWCA permits were all taken for Saturday. Thanks again!

Tony