BWCA Portage 576 (Skoop to Ada)

8/18/2024 The beaver has rebuilt the dam on the creek, allowing this portage to be reduced to the original 10 rods. That was a glorious surprise nine years after I last passed through! 7/9/2015 As the previous person stated, this portage may show two small portages on your map, but it is now one long portage as seen on this website. The portage is a tough slog through a swampy marsh. I got stuck in knee deep mud with the canoe on at one point and the rest wasn't much better. Expect this portage to feel much longer than the stated distance. All that said, the folks at Sawbill Outfitters said they expect the forest service to work on this portage later this year to make it more passable now that the creek is too shallow to paddle. Hopefully others passing through the area will keep this site updated with comments, particularly if the forest service moves part of the portage farther from the marsh.

This is a tough portage due to the rocky and muddy trail along the creek. On this trip we were able to slide over the beaver dam leaving Adda Lake and paddle the first third of the creek before unloading and portaging the final 2/3's.

The trail that runs along the creek can be very, very muddy. If at all possible, try to line your canoe down this portage. Paddling the creek may be possible if the water is high, but you'll likely need to walk on rocks and pull the canoe. 3/10

Terribly challenging, a real moral killer, be prepared to get wet, covered in swampy stinky mud, and annihilated by mosquitos. This used to be two separate portages, (12 and 1) but is now at least an 80 rod portage from hell. Give yourself plenty of time and patience. We were coming from Cherokee headed south to Sawbill...while paddling south from Skoop, low water made it impossible to stay in the stream until Ada. When it becomes too shallow, disembark and follow the muddy path of tears along the stream until you reach Ada. Beware of sink holes along the flooded path, we had a teammate sink down to his waste on this portage. Could have easily did a knee. Take your time.

Had high water conditions, so we were able to paddle thru to the 10/12 rod portage at the end. Gotta watch for rocks sticking up here and there. If you've got a big load, you may need to portage.

One of my least favorite portages. It's a walk through a boulder field. It is flat so it looks easy on the chart. You will be glad once it's over. Very muddy in places. The Ada Lake landing is very muddy; the Skoop end isn't bad at all.

This portage was mostly flooded out, so it's really a twisty stream ending in a 12 rod portage (northbound).

We were able to avoid much of this portage by paddling the stream adjacent to the portage. You will run into a dead end if you attempt this, but the remaining ~10 rods that will remain is very manageable.

It's just ugly.... Much of the portage is strewn with rocks from softball size to wheelbarrow size. You need to pick your way slowly and carefully to avoid twisting an ankle or breaking a leg. The best thing that could happen would be for a beaver to plug the stream outlet at the Ada Lake end and remove the need for much of this portage.

Killer portage with more rocks and mud than you could imagine

Ada landing is fine, but from there it is muddy and rocky. Have to be careful not to bust your ankles. If coming from Skoop landing be aware that there is a false landing. The creek does not go through, take the trail to the right.

It was disappointing to find one larger portage when our map had indicated two. That being said we were lucky to hit a drier period so no bogs for us. Not sure if the Forest Service made it in (since we had a fallen tree blockage later on the Cherokee River but that's another story) but the trail along the creek was not a bad portage. Easy to see how it could turn hellish if wetter though.

This used to be two separate portages. This is now an 80 rod portage, combining the 13 and 1 rods through Ada creek following the collapse of a beaver dam. One of the most difficult portages between Sawbill and Cross Bay. Watch out for mucky bog holes that will suck boots up to waist high.