Portage between Missing Link Lake and Tuscarora Lake and surrounding area
Length in Rods: 426 rods
Date portage was last visited: June 13, 2020; Previous Visit(s): October 10, 2015
Portage Rating: Rugged
The Portage between Missing Link Lake and Tuscarora Lake
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Portaging Direction: From Missing Link Lake to Tuscarora Lake
The landing is a sand beach. A fine start to an otherwise semi-beastly portage to Tuscarora Lake (October 2015).
Generally the same view as shown above, but this is in early summer (June 2020).
Pace yourself on this portage. This portage is 426 rods. Most of the elevation is lost as you get near Tuscarora Lake. The stretch of portage near Contest Lake is often very muddy. In this direction Contest Lake will be visible on your left. The water level of this little lake changes substantially and when it is high, it floods the portage trail.
This is older footage of the portage. The first section of the portage is shown on your left. The second part is on the right.
A typical section of the trail that has been improved by the U.S. Forest Service with stepping rocks.
A plank walkway over a particurly juicy section. There are lots of "juicy" sections along this trail and most don't have a handy boardwalk across them.
A view to the south from the back of the northeastern bay of Tuscarora Lake. This is on a fairly breezy day. Out on the main lake, the waves were up to two feet high, so plan your crossing accordingly. This lake can be dangerous when she's in a tizzy.
A relatively calm and very clear day.
A wider angle image of the view above.
Now that you've made it over the portage, visit:TUSCARORA LAKE
Portaging Direction: From Tuscarora Lake to Missing Link Lake
A strenuous portage that will gain about 125 feet of altitude. This portage is well over a mile long. The portage begins with a near perfect landing on a sandy beach. The first part of the portage is strongly uphill from Tuscarora Lake. The trail then levels out and passes over two swampy areas that represent former lake beds; Wish Lake (on the left) is the first small lake you'll pass as you traverse the portage and is mostly a wetland now. Contest Lake (on your right) is farther down the path. Contest Lake offers a pleasant view from the portage trail. By the time you get to Contest Lake you'll be interested in a rest spot with a nice view. Don't rest too long though or the skeeeters will find ya! (October 2015)
Beautiful landing on Tuscarora Lake (June 2020). Notice how the shoreline has changed from the image above, which was about 5 years before.
This portage has a bit of a reputation for being tough and it will live up to those expectations for most BWCA visitors. From this direction, it is uphill at the beginning. It's not real steep, but the trail is definitely going up...and for a long time. With a big pack on your back, this will likely get most people puffing pretty good. Once the portage levels out, it changes its attitude to rocky and mucky. Not far into the portage you will pass Wish Lake (a lake that is mostly just a wetland now) on your left. A long stretch of wet and muddy trail can be found when you get near Contest Lake (on your right going in this direction). Sometimes Contest Lake, after it has been rainy and particularly in the spring, floods the trail. It does offer a pretty view though. The rest of the trail meanders up and down small hills. Many areas are rocky and a few sections are overgrown a bit. There are even a few good stretches of flat trail with no obstructions at all. Enjoy those while you can. Also on the plus side, the canoe landings at both ends of this long portage are as smooth as you'll find in these parts (June 2020).
Older footage of the portage from October 2015 (part 1 on left, part 2 on right).
One of several wooden plank bridges you will cross along this trail. While these bridges cross many of the muddy sections, if it has rained lately, there will still be plenty of muddy sections where there is no bridge to facilitate the crossings. This is the view in late fall (middle of October 2015).
Missing Link Lake looking north from its southern tip. The two paddlers in the canoe ahead were the only people seen in two days through this area during a mid-October trip (October 2015).
