From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishportageport‧age /ˈpɔːtɪdʒ $ ˈpɔːr-/ noun [uncountable] TTwhen people carry small boats over land from one river to another
Examples from the Corpus
portage• The canyon relented a little at times, so they could portage, but the river did not.• Perry Barr 1st Flight offers a wide, easy portage down past the sports stadium.• At the next portage we change seats and Rob drives us as we head towards Savernake and Bruce Tunnel.• They would only run the rapid if they couldn't line or portage.• Tiffany, now 13, helps paddle and carries her mom in a backpack when they portage.• Immediately came a rapid which they decided to portage.• The falls were so dangerous that most people labored to portage around them rather than try to run the waters.• The rapids was bookended by cliffs; there was no way to portage and no way to line.Origin portage (1200-1300) Old French porter “to carry” 