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Kayak portage for one-way trip? (hexbear.net)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Bought a tent that fits in my kayak. I want to do a one-way camping trip where I go down a river. To get there I will almost certainly have to drive. So I need either

A way to move my car down the river so that I can meet it via kayak
A way to return myself and kayak to the car
A huge 2+day oxbow where the end of the river is only a short hike from the start

How do I find a portage company? Anyone else who has done this? Rental companies often handle this for day trips but I don't know what Google keywords to use for a portage company for your own boat.

I'm in Chicago. I've brought the kayak on the CTA for a day trip down the Chicago river. Inflatable kayak is very bulky and must be carried with one hand, it was kind of a struggle after a quarter mile and it can't fit in a backpack. It would be cool to take one Metra spoke out to a river where I could paddle to a different Metra line to return, but with tent/food/camping supplies it's probably going to be too much to hike with or comfortably carry on the train.

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[–] throw4w4y5 3 points 1 year ago

There’s a spot in Voyageur’s National Park in MN where you can do a ~200m portage that takes two days to paddle back to. You launch your boat on Ash River and paddle up to the entrance of Sullivan. The portage leads into Namakan Lake and there are dozens of small islands with camping spots set out. your trip back round into Sullivan Bay back into Ash River needs to be timed carefully but is a beautiful and challenging paddle.

There is road access to Ash River and nearby parking, a few bars for when you get back off the water. I’ve done my best to represent it on the picture.

I made that journey over seven days about ten years ago and it is one of the defining trips of my life.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use a folding hand truck/dolly for vending at art shows and it’s very convenient. I have seen other people use folding wagons which might be more convenient/effective. I’m not sure how much carrying capacity your kayak has, but it’s an option to consider.

(Also, sorry for the Amazon links; it’s convenient, but these are availability elsewhere)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Unfortunately my kayak can't hold one of those. Just a one seater with a backpack's worth of space in the rear.