BWCA Portage: Stuart Lake to Nibin Lake

This large table rock outcrop on Stuart Lake marks the location of the start of the bushwhack to Nibin Lake. There will likely be a cairn here, but the place is easy to find regardless. The portage starts at the forest line and the portage path is fairly obvious at the start. This portage used to be maintained by the U.S. Forest Service and on older maps of the BWCA is shown to be 180 rods. It is also shown on U.S. Geological Survey maps.

This is the first part of the bushwhack from Stuart Lake to Nibin Lake. Initially the path is fairly easy to follow. Seems like a lot of folks go halfway and then turn around or something. As you get closer to Nibin Lake, it starts to get a little more difficult to follow.

If you peak out from under your canoe during the bushwhack, there are many subtle, but pretty things to see in the forest. This is around the halfway point.

You continue on the last half of the bushwhack and finally reach Nibin Lake. This last part is discouraging because you have to wind down from a hill; the faint trail does not follow a direct path at all. So you get close to Nibin Lake, but then it seems to take forever to reach it. The portage gets hard to follow in the few places. Always make sure you are on the portage trail. If you have any doubt, stop and get your bearing back. Never just start walking into the forest because it is very easy to get turned around and then lost. Every direction looks the same once off the portage path. Also try to stay with your gear when bushwhacking. If you do get lost, at least you have your stuff.

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

Portage from Nibin Lake into: Bibon Lake

RETURN TO THE LIST OF BWCA CANOE PORTAGES