Hi all,

First time posting here! I'm heading to Lake One with my wife and kids at the end of the month (June '26) and wondering if the section in the picture can be paddled. Hard to tell from satellite images. Any insight would be appreciated!

I knew the area you were asking about before I opened the thread.
On my Fisher maps it says 'dangerous water'


You cannot paddle that area. I was a dummy when I was 19 and tried it and I still remember the dumbness of my attempt with my girlfriend.

So that's that.

Tom

*edit I was looking at the wrong spot on the map.

Thank you kind internet strangers!

Years ago our group of 4 came to that portage. My canoe took the portage and found the other brave paddlers in our group afloat in the water. Nobody was injured but we spent a significant amount of time searching for gear. One of the guys lost his prescription sunglasses and did the rest of the trip to Insula and back very sad about it.

Could have been a lot worse but it was a great lesson that when it comes to running rapids we always take the portage.

Is there even a real portage in that area? I don't see it marked on the maps, and elsewhere that area is described as:

"This logging-era relic still partially obstructs the outward flow of Lake Two, slightly raising its water level. The channel below the dam is rarely paddled—and for good reason. The dam and the surrounding set of rapids are extremely hazardous, with no direct portage available to bypass them. While there is a trail beginning on the Lake Two side that is frequently used by fishermen, it does not extend all the way to Lake One. The combination of swift water, unpredictable currents, and the lack of a complete portage route makes this area particularly dangerous. Extreme caution is advised."

Simple answer is no and the campsite there is not very good

Can you walk around the rapids, yes... I've done it... with difficulty. However, there is no portage and as stated it's in no way safe to paddle. Take the established portages a bit south.

Side note, there is good fishing to be had both above and below the dam/rapids areas.