This road follows the general route of the Indian portage from Lake Simcoe to Balsam Lake. The portage was first mapped by the Honourable John Collins, Deputy Surveyor General of Canada, when he surveyed the Trent route from the head of the Bay of Quinte to Balsam Lake and thence by way of Lake Simcoe to Georgian Bay in 1785. The Trent route was used by Champlain and his Huron allies in their expedition against the Iroquois in 1605. Subsequently, at the time of settlement, the portage was surveyed (1834-35) by John Smith, and a large portion of the old trail was incorporated in what became known as the Portage Road.

Location

At the intersection of County Road 46 and Highway 48 on a section of the former road, west of Kirkfield near Bolsover

Themes

• Communities
• Exploration
• Transportation systems and communications