The Portage between Ella Lake and Grace Lake

Portaging Direction: From Ella Lake to Grace Lake

Some rocks and a slope to climb up at the start, but not too shabby.

It's this portage that makes folks regret that they didn't just take the single 285 rod portage between Beth Lake and Grace Lake. But then you wouldn't have seen pretty Ella Lake. This is the easier direction to walk this portage. The landing on Ella Lake is so-so. Heading in this direction, the first 50 rods or so are mostly flat on a generally good trail. The last 90 rods are gently downhill. However, the trail becomes very rocky along this down sloping section, so you have to watch your footing. Also in mid-summer expect much of this trail to be a little overgrown and brushy. The landing on the Grace Lake end of this portage is a boulder field. Depending on water levels, you may have to rock hop out into the lake a short distance before you reach water deep enough to float your loaded canoe.

Lots of big boulders to hop through along the shoreline. Once you reach the water's edge, you may have to walk out a ways into the lake before you find water deep enough to float your canoe.

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

Portaging Direction: From Grace Lake to Ella Lake

This is a relatively difficult landing. It depends on water levels in Grace Lake, but it's likely you will have to walk your canoe into shore. This is because the water becomes really shallow as you approach the portage landing. Once on shore, there are some big boulders to navigate through for about 20 feet before the actual portage trail begins.

Once you have cleared the landing as described above, you can start portaging. This portage is more difficult going in this direction. For the first 90 rods, it is mildly, but steadily uphill. The trail in this uphill section of the portage is very rocky and also brushy in places. Once you reach the top of the incline, the rest of the portage is flat and much less rocky for the last 50 rods or so to the shore of Ella Lake. Ella Lake has an OK landing, much easier than the Grace Lake landing.

A few rocks, but easy compared to the Grace Lake landing.

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

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