As mentioned, portages are a logical place to stop and make camp, whether just to rest and eat, or to stay overnight or longer. Abandoned camps are evident at many portages on the Idaa Trail: tree stumps, tent rings, ammunition casings and fire pits are common signs of past camping locations. When a group found a good spot to camp, several tasks were involved in setting up the site. Firewood was collected for cooking; lodges or tents were raised; and if necessary, some of the group could go hunting or fishing for food.

Inside the tents or skin lodges, spruce boughs were woven together and spread across the floor to soften the ground. A small hearth was dug in the middle of the lodge for heating and cooking. Lines were sometimes hung in the tents to dry clothing.

If any of the party's birchbark canoes were damaged, repairs were made while camped. As a result, scarred birch trees are a common sight along portages.