The Turtle Portage Marine Railway System allows boaters to cross from Sabaskong Bay on Lake of the Woods to Whitefish Bay on Lake of the Woods. If not for this shortcut, boaters wanting to go from Whitefish Bay to Sabaskong Bay would have to boat the long journey around the Aulneau Peninsula. That trip is over 145 km (90 miles)! The only reason The Aulneau peninsula is a peninsula is the narrow piece of land at Turtle Portage. Turtle Portage Channel is situated northeast of Turtle Lake, and south of Alfred Inlet.
Over the years, there have been several different ways to cross the Turtle Portage - a channel, a lock system, a roller way, and a trolley system - none have been perfect and often they were unreliable.
In 2018, the hand-operated, almost 20 year old Turtle Portage Marine Railway, that allowed boaters to move their boats and canoes overland between the two bays was at the end of its lifespan. The MNRF decided to decommission the portage in 2019. However, in 2022, the government had a change of heart and decided to spend over $800,000 revitalizing Turtle Portage, predicting 20 more years of use.
Canada