The Portage between Crooked Lake and Gillis Lake

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Portaging Direction: From Crooked Lake to Gillis Lake

Standing at the beginning of the portage leading to Gillis Lake. The portage to Gillis Lake from Crooked Lake is slightly uphill. This end of the portage has a nice shallow water landing, on a small pebble/sand beach. There used to be an old dock structure here. May still be traces of it visible just offshore under the water (June 2020).

Another view of the portage landing (October 2015).

The portage runs for roughly 90 rods. It is relatively flat and wide. A couple of small rock ledges to traverse. There is a delightful creek to see along the way (near the Crooked Lake end) and a small unnamed lake which is quite picturesque too. The portage trail runs close to this tiny lake for 20 rods or so. Sometimes this little lake floods the portage. It is possible to divide this portage into two separate carries by paddling across this lake. This idea may have merit if water levels are high and the lake seriously floods the trail. If you decide to do two separate portages instead of one, the portages are about 20 rods from Crooked Lake to the pond and then about 45 rods from the otherside of the pond to the shore of Gillis Lake. Near the lake, closer to the Crooked Lake end, are the ruins of an old trapper's cabin. Besides the occasional flooding along the lake shore, there is a fair amount of rocks and roots to deal with along this portage too.

Older video of the portage in the same direction (October 2015).

A small unnamed lake between Gillis Lake and Crooked Lake. You can see the portage trail running along this lake to the right side of your view. It's almost always muddy along this part of the portage and sometimes the lake floods the path completely.

Gillis Lake end of the trail. There are a few boulders you will have to maneuver through with your boat as you make your way out into the lake, but good landing all in all.

Now that you've made it over the portage, visit: GILLIS LAKE

Portaging Direction: From Gillis Lake to Crooked Lake

The landing at Gillis Lake for the portage leading to Crooked Lake. This is a 90 "rodder". Requires dodging a few rocks as you glide into the landing (June 2020).

Alternative look at the portage landing on the Gillis Lake end (October 2015).

A stroll of 90 rods slightly downhill from Gillis Lake to Crooked Lake. The second half of the portage takes you close to a small lake which you will see off to your right. The trail can be muddy as it traverses the lake shore, and there are some rocks and tree roots to make things a bit more difficult for you. As you near Crooked Lake, you will see the remains of an old trapper's cabin. A small stream flows over some bubbling rapids nearby, bringing the water from Gillis Lake down into Crooked Lake (June 2020).

Older video of the portage in this direction (October 2015).

Stopping to take in the view and sounds of a small creek that runs along the portage path. Contrast this with the view of these rapids in the portage video shown on this page (October 2015).

This view greets you after the 90 rod haul from Gillis Lake. This is mid-October 2015. You are looking across the northeast arm of the lake toward the south in the early morning. There used to be a dock structure here, but it must have been reclaimed by the lake. May be visible if you peer into the water just offshore (June 2020).

A panoramic view of Crooked Lake from this end of the portage (October 2015).

Now that you've made it over the portage, visit: CROOKED LAKE

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