The action or work of carrying or moving a boat or its cargo across land from one waterway to another one or around an unnavigable section of water: The portage of the boat was made possible in order to get around the dam.

To carry or to convey boats, goods, etc. over land between navigable bodies of water: Rick, Roger, and the others in the group were portaging their canoes from one lake to another lake during their summer vacation.