Portage Lake Trail
The Historic Portage Route
For hundreds of years the main route for long-distance travel through what is now central Minnesota was the Mississippi River, and the preferred watercraft
was the canoe. Beginning in the 1700s European fur traders adopted this ancient travel route, eventually setting up trading stations about one-day's travel
apart. Historical accounts note Mississippi River trading stations near Aitkin, Rabbit Lake and at the Pine River confluence. From Riverton to the vicinity of Rabbit Lake the river
takes a considerable northwesterly loop. Long ago, upstream travelers discovered a “shortcut” through a string of small lakes and along the Rabbit River. This portage route shortened
the Mississippi River upstream paddling trip by several miles. Crow Wing County's Portage Lake Trail provides an opportunity for you to experience part of the same canoe route
travelled hundreds of years ago.
Bass
Lake
Upper
Mission
Lake
I
PP
SI
S
I
V
RI
ER
SS
Lo
we
rM
iss
ion
La
k
e
MI
Island
Lake
Cole
Lake
Rabbit
Lake
Foley
Lake
Miller
Lake
Ra
Little Mahnomen
Lake
Pascoe
ive
r
Lake
June
Lake
Portage
Lake
I
Yawkey Mine Pit
L.
Agate
Lake
Black
Lake
30
6
Portsmouth
Pit
Serpent Lake
Deerwood
Cuyuna Country
State Recreation Area
River or Stream
Mississippi River
Riverton
Hay
Lake
Lakes
Historic Portage Route Lakes
59
Historic Portage Route
0
Sagamore
Pit
210
Crosby
Little Blackhoof Lake
1
2
3
4
5
Highway
County or Township Road
Water Access (Trailer)
210
From 1849 to 1920, United States General Land Office Surveys were conducted
throughout what is now the State of Minnesota. The surveyors plotted survey
lines across the countryside, noting tree cover and cultural features such as trails,
roads and settlements along the way. J. William Trygg of the Ely Land Company
compiled these survey records into a series of maps he titled Composite Maps of
United States Land Surveyor's Original Plats and Field Notes. This map section
shows the portage trail encountered by the U.S. Government surveyors as they
documented their lines through the area. The Rabbit River Portage Trail also
appears on Joseph N. Nicollet's map of 1836.
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Cuyuna
Ironton
Blackhoof
Lake
Gillespie Lake
S
SI
S
MI
P
SI
it
nP
Clinker
Lake
r
Turner
Lake
Pit
gton
nin
Pen
o
ngt
nti
Hu
R
PI
en
om
n
ah
M
bb
it R
Ra
You Are Here
R
VE
Rive
bb
i
t
Black
Bear
Lake
Little
Rabbit
Lake
Carlson
Lake
Mud
Lake
Scale In Miles
Water Access (Carry in)
N
On this map the lakes and river along the old Rabbit River Portage Route
are highlighted in a darker blue and the historic overland portage trails are
marked in red. You are welcome to paddle in any of the waters on this
historic route, but be aware that some of the shore land is private.
There are no formal landings or portages beyond the Portage Lake Trail.
Be respectful of private lands. If public portages are developed they will be
clearly marked.
This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota
through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
6
Photographs
courtesy of
U.S.D.A. Forest Service