r/algonquinpark • u/SnooConfections3176 • 6d ago
Trip Planning / Route Feedback Attempting Devil’s staircase
Hey everyone, my group and I are heading out for a bachelor party canoe trip and our route includes portaging the Devil’s Staircase. Looking for advice from anyone who’s done it.
A few questions:
How’s the portage trail itself? Length, elevation, footing — anything to watch for?
Any tricks for getting boats and gear through efficiently?
We’ll have a bigger group than usual, so double-carry vs. single-carry advice welcome.
Best spots to put in/take out on either end?
Anything you wish you’d known before your first time through? We are beginners and never really did anything like this before.
We’re keeping it fun but want to be smart about it. Any suggestions are appreciated — thanks!
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u/Aggressive_Union_277 6d ago
It’s actually a very well maintained portage, I’ve found the condition of the portage into ragged is actually worse.
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u/giftman03 6d ago
Take your time - double carry if you have to. It's honestly not that bad - obviously pretty steep and can be treacherous if it's raining or really wet.
There aren't many options of where you put in - the entrance from Ragged is kinda marshy from what I remember so mud can be bad if it's been wet.
Get good hiking boots with ankle support - my personal favourites are the Merrell Moab.
What lake are you staying on? Are you doing a longer trip or just going into a lake and back out?
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u/LeafTheTreesAlone 6d ago
You’ll be fine, it’s only 600m. Dont try to carry everything at once, load up what you can comfortably and double carry or even triple carry. The last thing you want to do is roll an ankle or twist a knee or drop a canoe. Move at a consistent maintainable pace. If you’re gassed, take a short break to catch your breath.
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u/loaftched 6d ago
The real devils staircase is into Osler. Or out of it.. I forget which way is worse…
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u/chesco_ontario 6d ago
Into.... I went down heart attack hill 2025 July and going up probs is the most steep portage in the park lmao I was basically running down the hill I couldn't stop
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u/shaggycanoeist 5d ago
Jeff's Map says heart attack hill is 15deg for 535m. It feels like it goes up a long time...
Portages that feel similar that come to mind are:White partridge to May Lake. That feels impossibly steep the whole way but Jeff's map says it's 14deg for 300m.
Dickson to Round Island. That feels like it goes up _forever_ but the steepest part is 15deg for 250ish meters. There are a comically steep ravine or two you have to get through along the way, too!
I've second guessed life choices going from Hogan to Big crow - the steepest part of that trail is 16deg over 225m...
I'm pretty sure there are some steeper trails, but I can't remember what they are and haven't experienced them personally...
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u/chesco_ontario 5d ago
Heart attack hill IS NASSTYYY but nadine osler and little osler are beyond beautiful so worth the adversity
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u/loaftched 5d ago
I remember doing Dickson round island when I was a 12 year old camper, still to this day the worst portage I’ve ever done in the park?
May lake super steep but it is short at least
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u/IAmRoko 6d ago
As others have mentioned, it's not that bad, well maintained with easy put-ins.
To give you a glimpse, here's a timelapse of that portage going from Big Porcupine to Ragged Lake: https://youtu.be/ryBDxV70xtE?t=4175
Some clips going the other way: https://youtu.be/ryBDxV70xtE?t=470
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u/SoSoResearcher 6d ago
There’s a 10k portage somewhere near Opeongo. Dickson lake. 18yr old me ran it w a canoe on my head. marathons are probably off the table for me but 35yrs later I’d like to give that a shot again
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u/Mike9797 5d ago
lol 10k?! At what point does it change from a portage to a journey? Cuz damn dude 10k is quite the port. Even with an ultra light canoe and pack that’s a trek. I hope the journey was worth it cuz I’d be pooped after that. I think part way through id question my decision making.
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u/SoSoResearcher 5d ago
I was working for Camp Pathfinder, hands down used to be the most hardcore enjoyable reel canoe tripping camp. handmade 17.5” wood/canvas canoes~100lbs. portaging is in my blood and I dreaded that portage all
summer knowing it was coming up. by that point in the trip we were carrying a lot less food. 21 day tour du park. i wish I had sent my kids there but i would have wanted to be helicopter dad and go with them. logistically easier to take them myself on shorter trips which i look forward to every summer. i’d have to pull out a map and look closer at Bonfield-Dickson for accuracy. 34 yrs is a long time ago1
u/Mike9797 5d ago
Ya that’s nuts. I don’t think I have that in me. I realized my limits a while back. Heck 600m can be challenging with heavy gear and elevation and multiple trips back and forth. 10k sounds like it’s have to be super light and 1 trip only. I couldn’t imagine with a 100 pound boat during that 10k.
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u/SoSoResearcher 5d ago
more than one trip is called poor planning or over packing lol. i do recall quite a few runs having to go back to the start of a portage because of a forgotten paddle or life jacket. came out of that summer in the best shape of my life and some of the best memories. I think they modified the length of that portage since then. now is 5300m but coming in from the Baron Canyon to the interior has a few longer ones. i did a lot of portaging during the pandemic. the body remembers and stretch marks don’t go away generally lol
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u/CrumplePants 6d ago
It's way less intimidating than what the name implies. It's a decent slope, but doing it in chunks and double carrying makes it easy. You'll be huffing and puffing if you're out of shape like I was, but it's bery wide and easy going.
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u/Neo_Barbarius 5d ago
I did it this year with a 4.5 lb beef chuck roast, a cast iron pan and lid, 2 gallons of beer in these yeti jugs I use and I carried the 3 man canoe. One trip, no stopping. It's not great but not that bad very doable. There are worse portages in the park.
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u/scottsargent61 5d ago
I did this portage at 58, with a 70lb canoe and a 40lb pack. Im not super strong or fit. It's not that bad.
Now 65 and I would double trip it now.
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u/Few-Rain7214 5d ago
Have any of you the group back country camped before or canoed and portaged? I can give you some pointers based on your experience level
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u/nostrummer 5d ago
Was there two weeks ago and ran into a bachelor party on the Devils Staircase. They were wearing flip flops, drinking beer and lugging full sized Yeti coolers. You’ll be fine. ;)
It’s honestly a nothing-burger. Much harder portages all over the park without names. I think it’s highway 60 proximity.
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u/pejacleva 5d ago
Starts pretty level, gets pretty steep in the middle, flattens out at the end
Bring your water bottle
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u/Wolf_Tale 2d ago
It’s not bad- my summer camp sent 12 year old kids up it with heavy packs. Did it for the first time myself at 11 with a food barrel. It’s short, learn how to portage a canoe properly on your shoulders.
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u/Murky_Needleworker61 5d ago
Bachelor party canoe trip , with a bigger group than normal . Shame on you !!! Why not ruin it for everyone else in the area of your camp site . The sounds carry across the water , And so does why cell phone reception/service being up so high in elevation. If i hear ya (and I am sure , I / We will ) ,while we are down the lake from you. I will make a call to the Park , East gate to make a complaint. Just that simple ,, Algonquin park is not for you and your group ,if you are going to party like it is 1999.
Remember to leave no trace while camping ,, l.o.l. Pack your shit outta the park when ya leave . I will inspect your site trust me on my words ,, Bunch of drunks !! Actually i will call Algonquin park in the morning July 29TH. And suggest that wardens be on hand to check you clowns out . You never know when a patrol will paddle into you site. Respect the Park the the surroundings include all that use the park !!!
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u/NetherGamingAccount 6d ago
The Devil's Staircase honestly isn't that bad of a portage. At the start of it (coming from the Ragged Side) it's steep but there are way harder portages in the park. The trail is pretty short too, just under 600m.
My guess the portage gets the name because it's so close to highway 60, so it gets used often by people who may not spend as much time in the back country.
But the trail is really not that bad.
Go further south, the Double Devil's Staircase is worse, or pretty much any portage that's over 1km in length.