Portage River, Main/Middle Branch Access

The Little Portage Wildlife Area provides a concrete boat ramp with a gravel parking area for accessing the Little Portage River in Lacarne, Ottawa County. The ramp is approximately 20 feet wide with a gradual slope, making it suitable for launching kayaks, canoes, and small motorboats. This is a good put-in point for paddlers looking to explore the scenic waterway through the wildlife area.

From this access point, paddlers can enjoy a 5-6 mile downstream trip on the Little Portage River, which eventually connects to the Portage River system and provides access to Lake Erie near Port Clinton. The wildlife area's location in the historic Great Black Swamp region means the surrounding landscape offers opportunities for wildlife viewing along with paddling. In addition to boating access, approximately half the wildlife area's perimeter borders the river, offering bank fishing opportunities if you're interested in combining paddling with angling.