Boundary Waters Map, BWCA, Portage Information

Portage Number:	38 Link to Map
Distance:	23.40 Rods, 156.9 Meters, 0.07 Miles
Start Approx. Latitude:	48.1312
Start Approx. Longitude:	-90.9720
End Approx. Latitude:	48.1298
End Approx. Longitude:	-90.9718
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Member Comment 1 - (posted on 05/22/2023)

Portage Info Posted by:	FindHim
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 7 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Maintenance Rating	Rating 1 (scale of 1 to 5 from poorly maintained to well maintained)
Entry Point:	55A - Saganaga Lake Only
Approximate Date of Visit:	07/01/2022
Portage Notes:	We thought the shorter one from Alpine to Sea Gull was best...wrong! Water was not high and the both the entrance and exit were into the rapids, the trail was more narrow than the canoes, and there was a 12' boulder to crawl over. This was the only time we had to carry canoes with 2 people.

Member Comment 2 - (posted on 08/15/2022)

Portage Info Posted by:	dhaugen
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 1 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Maintenance Rating	Rating 1 (scale of 1 to 5 from poorly maintained to well maintained)
Entry Point:	-
Approximate Date of Visit:	08/12/2022
Portage Notes:	I never did find the portage. We traveled from Alpine to Seagull lake. The water was low but I was able to walk the canoe down the stream loaded with my daughter in the front. We had a good time.

Member Comment 3 - (posted on 05/29/2020)

Portage Info Posted by:	joewildlife
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 8 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Maintenance Rating	Rating 1 (scale of 1 to 5 from poorly maintained to well maintained)
Entry Point:	54 - Seagull Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:	06/01/2013
Portage Notes:	We thought, sure, take the shorter portage! We were paddling upstream against the current, and could make no progress so I jumped out of the canoe. DANG that water was cold late may! Then, we got to the portage. It was worth stopping and taking a picture. TAKE THE LONGER PORTAGE.

Member Comment 4 - (posted on 09/07/2016)

Portage Info Posted by:	web2xs
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 8 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Maintenance Rating	Rating 1 (scale of 1 to 5 from poorly maintained to well maintained)
Entry Point:	54 - Seagull Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:	09/01/2016
Portage Notes:	Portage has become very overgrown. Bust through it if your part moose, and if your also part billy goat, you can manage the rock climbs. Alpine side is a slippery boulder field. Maybe you can run it in high water, but you would be better off to just take the easy 100 rod portage. This is seriously no short cut, or time saver, and is certainly not a portage avoidance option.

Member Comment 5 - (posted on 02/28/2015)

Portage Info Posted by:	Captn Tony
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 6 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Maintenance Rating	Rating 2 (scale of 1 to 5 from poorly maintained to well maintained)
Entry Point:	J - Saganaga Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:	07/10/2010
Portage Notes:	The trail was so poorly maintained that we lined the canoes which caused a lot of skinned ankles and stubbed toes as the water was low and we couldn't paddle it. I don't know if you could paddle it if the water was high.

Member Comment 6 - (posted on 06/15/2013)

Member Comment 7 - (posted on 08/30/2012)

Portage Info Posted by:	shock
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 5 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Maintenance Rating	Rating 2 (scale of 1 to 5 from poorly maintained to well maintained)
Entry Point:	-
Portage Notes:	you can ride this from alpine to seagull but stay to the left. coming from seagull dont do it clay portage in spots not nice especially if you just started your trip

Member Comment 8 - (posted on 07/12/2012)

Portage Info Posted by:	TSmoody
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 1 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Entry Point:	J - Saganaga Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:	08/19/2011
Portage Notes:	We lucked out, as the year we took this portage the water was high and I was able to sit ont he nose of the canoe (I have a heavy old aluminum canoe) and kind of bob my way down the small river/creek. It was a TON of fun!

Member Comment 9 - (posted on 08/28/2011)

Portage Info Posted by:	Hawbakers
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 9 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Maintenance Rating	Rating 3 (scale of 1 to 5 from poorly maintained to well maintained)
Entry Point:	54 - Seagull Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:	08/11/2011
Portage Notes:	Hated this one. Don't go this way. This year anyway the water levels are low so we had to rope the canoe thru two small rapids before getting to the actual portage. Tough footing as it was all rocky. The actual portage even though it is short, it has every yucky aspect you can think of. Up a short, steep hill then right back down on a rock that tilts when stepped on, then back up, re-rout around a fallen tree, 2 trees to step over. Thick underbrush, now down a steep rocky incline into mud. Then the 'fake path' to the river, keep going a little farther to a bad loading area. Yeah, it's short but it's a little b***h. Portage is on the left, not the right as map shows. Landing is ok but small. One canoe at a time. In high water years, I have heard you can paddle through.

Member Comment 10 - (posted on 03/15/2010)

Portage Info Posted by:	TuscaroraBorealis
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 3 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Maintenance Rating	Rating 1 (scale of 1 to 5 from poorly maintained to well maintained)
Entry Point:	54 - Seagull Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:	08/18/2008
Portage Notes:	The kids in our crew just floated down these rapids wearing their PFD's. While we walked the fully loaded canoes down. Probably doesn't save any time versus the 97 rod portage? But definitely a lot cooler on a hot day.

Member Comment 11 - (posted on 08/14/2007)

Portage Info Posted by:	cowboymac12
Difficulty Rating:	Rating 9 (scale of 1 to 10 from easiest to hardest)
Maintenance Rating	Rating 1 (scale of 1 to 5 from poorly maintained to well maintained)
Entry Point:	55 - Saganaga Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:	08/12/2007
Portage Notes:	This portage has several downed trees that require going either over or under as of 8/12. We wished we had taken the 100-rod portage from Alpine instead. Going into Alpine also requires walking up through a small rapid. Some folks have paddled therapids, but with a full canoe, you would walk it, and there are a couple of spots that might flip the boat.