Portaging your canoe is simply the act of moving your canoe from one body of water to the next.

That having been said, might I suggest a wonderful canoe adventure that involves a portage?

Yellowstone National Park holds many of the most visually stunning landscape and wildlife photography opportunities on earth. If you want to get off the beaten path, away from the crowds, and have a true wilderness experience, then canoeing Yellowstone is for you! I think the Lewis Lake to Shoshone Lake canoe adventure is a must and should be on every canoe enthusiasts bucket list!

The nearest town is Jackson Hole, Wyoming. You’ll drive north from Jackson through Teton National Park and enter Yellowstone Park from the South entrance. Plan to take extra time getting there because the views of the majestic Tetons are stunning and you won’t be able to hold yourself back from stopping for pictures! The main road into Yellowstone is called South Entrance Road. It runs through the park and along the east shore of Lewis Lake.

Preplanning and obtaining camping permits are necessary but well worth the effort! Your adventure will start on Lewis Lake and you’ll canoe across the lake or follow the shoreline to the Lewis River Channel. You can paddle quite a distance up the channel (learn your basic canoe strokes with our videos here!) but will have to portage your canoe and gear to get to Shoshone Lake. The portage is not long and the differences in elevation are small. Lewis Lake is at 7779′ elevation while Shoshone is at 7791′ elevation.

Lewis Lake allows boats with motors but the larger lake, Shoshone Lake, is restricted to hand propelled craft only.

Once on Shoshone Lake you can follow the shoreline to your designated campground. There are hiking trails that circle the lake which are great for exploring. Camping permits are available for multiple night stays. Check with the park service for details and reservation availability.

Have fun and be safe!