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Story Routes — Waterways

Trent-Severn Waterway:
Trenton to Port Severn

A lock-by-lock guide to Ontario’s 386 km National Historic waterway — by boat, or visited town-by-town by car.

  • 📍 Trenton, ON → Port Severn, ON
  • 📅 5–7 days one-way by boat (or pick individual lock towns as Toronto day trips)
  • 🛶 386 km · 44 locks (numbered 1–45, with Lock 29 abolished in 1968)
  • 🏘️ 43 stops sequentially numbered for the map
  • 🏗️ 2 hydraulic lift locks · 2 flight-lock pairs · 1 marine railway · 37 conventional
  • 🍂 Victoria Day to Thanksgiving (mid-May to mid-October — Parks Canada lockage permit required)

Created by Addison Mosseau, University of Toronto

About the waterway

The Trent-Severn Waterway is a 386 km National Historic Site managed by Parks Canada, linking Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay at Port Severn through rivers, lakes, and canals. The system rises 180 metres above Lake Ontario — peaking at Balsam Lake — before descending 80 metres to Georgian Bay. Construction began in 1833 and the full route opened in 1920.

This guide is structured lock by lock, in cruising order. Many readers will never own a boat that fits the locks — so we’ve added 🚗 “Visiting by car?” notes at every town lock that works as a Toronto-area day trip. The Peterborough Lift Lock, the Big Chute Marine Railway, and the Kirkfield Lift Lock are particularly worth driving to.

How to use this guide

Stops are grouped into four regions matching the four distinct stretches of the waterway.

Each lock entry lists

  • → the boat travel time from the previous lock (🛶),
  • → the lockage time (⏱️),
  • → a short description,
  • → and eat/stay options.

Town locks and engineering highlights get expanded entries with Visit place links, Explore more references, and a car-traveller sidebar.

Region 1 — Days 1–2 — Trent River: Trenton to Hastings

Locks 1–18 · ~80 km · the lower waterway through Quinte West, limestone bluffs, and the Campbellford highlight. End Day 2 in Hastings.

🛶 Start of the waterway — Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario
Lock 1 Start · Town · Marina

Trenton

★ 5.0 📍 155 County Rd 33, Trenton, ON 🚗 Visiting by car? Trenton is 1 hr 45 min from Toronto via Hwy 401 (Exit 526). Park at Trent Port Marina, walk the lockstation grounds, and watch boats lock through. Combine with downtown Trenton’s Front Street shops and the National Air Force Museum of Canada (10 min away) for a half-day visit.

The official start of the Trent-Severn. Lock 1 sits at the mouth of the Trent River where it meets the Bay of Quinte. The lock rises 5.4 m. The lockstation has overnight mooring, washrooms, and a picnic area, with downtown Trenton a short walk away. Buy your Parks Canada lockage permit here if you haven’t already. · 🍴 The Boathouse Pub & Eatery - casual waterfront dining steps from the lock. Trent Port Marina B&B for an overnight with direct dock access.

Visit place
Explore more →
Lock 1 Trenton (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Trent Port Marina — main marina at Lock 1, overnight slips National Air Force Museum of Canada — RCAF history museum at CFB Trenton — free admission Trenton city tourism — local visitor info
🛶 ~20 min from Lock 1 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Between Trenton and Glen Miller

Lock 2 Sydney

★ 5.0 📍 14 Lock No. 2 Rd, Astra, ON

A quiet rural lock on the Trent River through Quinte farmland. Generally used as a stepping stone toward Glen Miller and Frankford. 🍴 No services — pack snacks; the next reliable food is in Frankford.

Visit place
🛶 ~15 min from Lock 3 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Photo Spot

Lock 3 Glen Miller

★ 5.0 📍 551 Glen Miller Rd, Quinte West, ON 🍴 Push on to Frankford for the next sit-down meal.

A small lockstation with a wooded riverbank and a tidy park. Peaceful and photogenic — a good first short stretch stop.

Visit place
🛶 ~15 min from Lock 3 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Town · History

Lock 4 Batawa

★ 5.0 📍 997 Glen Miller Rd, Frankford, ON 🍴 Batawa Ski Hill chalet café (seasonal). Sweets at the Quinte Sweet Shop on the village green.

Batawa was a planned company village built by Bata Shoes in the 1930s — Czech industrialist Tomáš Baťa moved hundreds of European workers here to escape the war. The original modernist factory still stands on the hill. Today it’s a year-round outdoor recreation hub with a small ski hill, mountain biking, and walking trails.

Visit place
Explore more →
Batawa Ski Hill (official site) — chalet café, trails, ski conditions
🛶 ~20 min from Lock 4 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Between Batawa and Frankford

Lock 5 Trent

★ 5.0 📍 27 Hannah Ln, Frankford, ON 🍴 Head upstream to Frankford for the next bite.

A rural transit lock through open farmland with picnic grounds at the lockstation. Mostly a transit, but scenic.

Visit place
🛶 ~20 min from Lock 5 4 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Town · Marina

Lock 6 Frankford

★ 5.0 📍 207 Riverside Pkwy, Frankford, ON 🍴 Dimitri’s Pizzeria & Restaurant on Trent Street. Frankford has a small grocery and an LCBO outlet.

A sweet small village that was once home to one of Canada’s last remaining covered bridges. The lock sits right behind main street — tie up and walk around. Good overnight mooring with washrooms.

Visit place
Explore more →
• Lock 6 Frankford (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Dimitri’s Pizzeria & Restaurant
🛶 ~30 min from Lock 6 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Lock 7 Glen Ross

★ 5.0 📍 3, 29 McGuire Ln, Frankford, ON 🍴 No services near the lock — pack water and snacks.

The river begins to stretch out into the limestone bluffs country. A lovely picnic area beside the lock.

Visit place

🛶 ~25 min from Lock 7 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Percy Reach, Trent River

Lock 8 Percy Reach

★ 5.0 📍 26 Lock Point, 26 Kelleher Rd, Trent Hills 🍴 No services — pack lunch and enjoy the scenery.

One of the most celebrated stretches of the lower waterway. Limestone bluffs rise from both banks, dense hardwood forest, no development. Many boaters call this the highlight of the lower Trent.

Visit place
Explore more →
Ferris Provincial Park on 1000 Towns — the campground above Healey Falls Percy Reach (Northumberland Tourism) — the lower-Trent scenic stretch Trent River geology — why the limestone bluffs rise here

🛶 ~25 min from Lock 8 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Lock 9 Meyersburg

★ 5.0 📍 706 Haigs Reach Rd, Campbellford, ON 🍴 No services — Campbellford is the next stop with food.

A small rural lock continuing the limestone-bluff stretch. Tidy lockstation grounds with picnic facilities — a good break point between Percy Reach and the longer push to Campbellford.

Visit place

🛶 ~20 min from Lock 9 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Lock 10 Hagues Reach

★ 5.0 📍 200 Haigs Reach Rd, Campbellford 🍴 No services — the next stop is Campbellford.

A long, straight cut through high limestone walls. The last lock before Campbellford — keep pushing.

Visit place

🛶 ~20 min from Lock 10 · ⏱️ ~30–35 min lockage time (two chambers back to back; allow 1.5 hrs total)

Town · Flight Lock · Food ⭐

Lock 11/12 Ranney Falls (Campbellford)

★ 5.0 📍 15 Trent Dr, Campbellford, ON K0L 1L0 🚗 Visiting by car? Campbellford is ~2 hr from Toronto via Hwy 401 to Hwy 30 north. Park at the lockstation lot — free during the day. Watch the flight lock cycle (timed every 30 min), walk the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge (5 min), buy butter tarts at Dooher’s. A near-perfect Toronto day trip. · 🍴 🥐 Dooher’s Bakery — sticky buns and butter tarts, an Ontario institution. The Aron Theatre for evening films. Several good BnBs on Front Street for an overnight.

A flight lock — two chambers back-to-back, one of only two flight pairs on the system. Lockage takes longer but it’s genuinely fun to watch. Campbellford is one of the highlights of the lower waterway: a small town with serious bakeries, an indie cinema, and the famous Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge a short walk from the lockstation.

Visit place
Explore more →
Lock 11/12 Ranney Falls (Parks Canada) — the official flight-lock page Dooher’s Bakery on 1000 Towns — famous butter tarts and sticky buns Westben Arts Festival Theatre on 1000 Towns — outdoor concert barn — 10 min from town Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge — 15-min walk from the lockstation https://www.visittrenthills.ca/ranney-gorge-suspension-bridge/

🛶 ~10 min from Lock 11/12 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Town · Marina

Lock 13 Campbellford

★ 5.0 📍 6199 County Rd 50, Campbellford 🍴 Continue the Dooher’s pilgrimage. Several Front Street BnBs.

The second Campbellford lock brings you fully into town. From here you can walk to the suspension bridge, the bakeries, and the Westben outdoor concert barn just outside town. The best overnight in the first region.

Visit place
Explore more →
Lock 13 Campbellford (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page World’s Finest Chocolate — Campbellford factory shop — the chocolate factory shop is in Campbellford

🛶 ~30 min from Lock 13 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Between Campbellford and Hastings, where the Crowe River joins the Trent

Lock 14 Crowe Bay

★ 5.0 📍 North Umberland 38, Trent Hills, ON 🍴 Healey Falls has a picnic area beside the falls — perfect for a quick lunch on the upstream side.

A lovely reach where the Crowe River meets the Trent. Healey Falls is just upstream — visible from this lock’s upper grounds.

Visit place
Explore more →
Ferris Provincial Park on 1000 Towns — adjacent campground with the best Healey Falls overlook

🛶 ~20 min from Lock 14 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Waterfall · Scenic

Lock 15 Healey Falls

★ 5.0 📍 11th Line W, Trent Hills, ON 🍴 Picnic area beside the falls. Hastings is 45 min upstream for a proper sit-down meal.

A spectacular natural waterfall right beside the lock — one of the most photogenic lockstation settings on the whole waterway. Tie off and walk the bank trails. After heavy rain the falls roar.

Visit place
Explore more →
Ferris Provincial Park on 1000 Towns — campground with the best Healey Falls views Healey Falls (Northumberland Tourism) — falls + Lock 15/16/17 area

🛶 ~5 min from Lock 15 · ⏱️ ~30–35 min lockage time (two chambers back to back)

🛶 ~45 min from Lock 16/17 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Town · Marina · Heritage

Lock 18 Hastings

★ 5.0 📍 4 Bridge St N, Hastings, ON 🍴 Hastings BrewPub (note: not Bancroft) and Yellow Roof B&B beside the lockstation. The Carrying Place Inn for a more substantial sit-down meal.

A well-kept lockstation right in the heart of Hastings. The Hastings Heritage Swing Bridge here is one of the most photographed on the waterway. Good overnight mooring with washrooms and a short walk to the village. End Day 1 or Day 2 here, depending on your pace.

Visit place
Explore more →
Lock 18 Hastings (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Lock 18 BrewPub (Hastings) — local brewpub right at the lockstation Hastings Heritage Swing Bridge — the iconic swing bridge in the village
Region 2 — Days 3 — Otonabee River: Scotts Mills to Young’s Point

Locks 19–27 · ~40 km · the Otonabee River climb to Peterborough — the world’s highest hydraulic lift lock — and out to the gateway of cottage country.

🛶 ~45 min from Lock 18 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Between Hastings and Peterborough

Lock 19 Scotts Mills

★ 5.0 📍 804 Morphet Ave, Peterborough, ON 🍴 No services — push on to Peterborough.

Rural lock through farmland — the transition zone between Trent River country and the approaching Otonabee River Valley. Quiet and pastoral.

Visit place
🛶 ~30 min from Lock 19 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
East edge of Peterborough

Lock 20 Ashburnham

★ 5.0 📍 175 Maria St, Peterborough, ON 🍴 Ashburnham Ale House for craft beer — but save your appetite for downtown Peterborough.

Brings you to the doorstep of Peterborough. Ashburnham is a historic neighbourhood with cafés and shops a short walk from the lock. The Peterborough Lift Lock is one lock away.

Visit place
Explore more →
Ashburnham Ale House — craft beer + pub food, 5 min walk from the lock Beavermead Park (Otonabee waterfront) — swimming, picnic area, paved riverside trail Hutchison House Museum — 1837 stone cottage in Ashburnham — Peterborough's oldest house
🛶 ~10 min from Lock 20 · ⏱️ ~30 min lockage time
Engineering · City · National Historic Site ⭐

Lock 21 Peterborough Hydraulic Lift Lock

★ 5.0 📍 354 Hunter St E, Peterborough, ON 🚗 Visiting by car? Peterborough is ~1 hr 30 min from Toronto via Hwy 115. Park free at the Lift Lock Visitor Centre on Hunter Street. The Visitor Centre has exhibits explaining the hydraulic engineering, and the viewing platform overlooks the entire structure. Cycle takes 20 minutes — time your visit to watch a boat lock through. Combine with the Canadian Canoe Museum (10 min away) for a full day. · 🍴 Peterborough has full services. Publican House Brewery, El Camino, plus a strip of waterfront restaurants. Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront for an overnight; many other downtown options.

The crown jewel of the entire waterway and a National Historic Site in its own right. When it opened in 1904 it was — and remains — the world’s highest hydraulic lift lock at 19.8 m (65 ft). Two massive water-filled caissons counterbalance each other; the heavier side lowers as the other rises. You ride inside the caisson with your boat. Parks Canada staff narrate the crossing. Allow extra time to watch from the viewing platform either before or after your own lockage.

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Canadian Canoe Museum on 1000 Towns — world-class canoe collection in a new waterfront facility Peterborough on 1000 Towns — the full city page Lock 21 Lift Lock Visitor Centre (Parks Canada) — exhibits, viewing platform, hours Publican House Brewery — the city’s flagship craft brewery Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront — hotel with marina access
🛶 ~15 min from Lock 21 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
North of Peterborough, Otonabee Rive

Lock 22 Nassau Mills

★ 5.0 📍 3779 Nassau Mills Rd, Peterborough, ON 🍴 No services — push on to Lakefield.

First lock north of Peterborough on the Otonabee River. Wooded banks, calm water — you’re entering cottage country.

Visit place
🛶 ~15 min from Lock 22 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Otonabee River

Lock 23 Otonabee

★ 5.0 📍 River Rd, Otonabee-South Monaghan 🍴 Continue to Lakefield.

Pleasant Otonabee River lock through forests and meadows. Wide and easy navigation.

Visit place
🛶 ~15 min from Lock 23 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Lock 24 Douro

★ 5.0 📍 4052 County Rd 32, Douro-Dummer, ON 🍴 Continue to Lakefield.

Rural and peaceful. The surrounding Douro township is classic Ontario farm country blending into Canadian Shield rock. Lockstation grounds make a perfect picnic spot.

Visit town
🛶 ~15 min from Lock 24 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Between Douro and Lakefield

Lock 25 Sawer Creek

★ 5.0 📍 4200 County Rd 32, Douro-Dummer, ON 🍴 Lakefield is 10 min away.

Compact, efficient lock with light forest at both banks. Almost in Lakefield — save your appetite.

Visit place

🛶 ~10 min from Lock 25  ·   ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Town · Marina · Shopping

Lock 26 Lakefield

★ 5.0 📍 1-47 Katherine St S, Peterborough 🚗 Visiting by car? Lakefield is ~25 min north of Peterborough via Hwy 28 — about 1 hr 50 min from Toronto. Free parking at the lockstation. Walk the village, browse Hamblin Watsa Wines & Brewery and the indie shops on Queen Street. A good half-day from Toronto for cottage-country charm. · 🍴 Reid’s Dairy Bar for a sweet treat. Village Inn for the overnight. The Lakefield Pantry for breakfast.

A gem of a small Ontario town. Beautifully preserved main street with indie shops, good restaurants, and canoe/kayak rentals to explore the surrounding Kawartha lakes. Highly recommended overnight stop — it’s the right kind of town to walk in the evening.

Visit place
Explore more →
Lock 26 Lakefield (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Reid’s Dairy Bar — old-school ice cream stop Village Inn Lakefield — the village’s small heritage hotel Lakefield village walking tour — local history walking tour
🛶 ~20 min from Lock 26 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Town · Lake Transition

Lock 27 Young’s Point

★ 5.0 📍 2093 Nathaway Dr #2071, Douro-Dummer, ON 🍴 Young’s Point General Store for provisions and the famous ice cream window. The Lockside Trading Co. for local crafts.

The gateway from river to lake travel. Katchewanooka and Clear Lake open ahead — the landscape broadens and the true cottage-country feeling begins. The quintessential Ontario summer village.

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Young’s Point General Store — the village institution — ice cream and provisions Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park (nearby) — the wilderness park beyond Young’s Point
Region 3 — Days 4-5 — Kawartha Lakes

Locks 28–41 · ~130 km · the heart of the waterway: Burleigh Falls swimming hole, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, the Kirkfield summit, the descent toward Lake Simcoe. Includes the open-water crossing.

🛶 ~1 hr lake crossing from Young’s Point · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Resort · Scenic

Lock 28 Burleigh Falls

★ 5.0 📍 ON-28, North Kawartha, ON 🍴 Burleigh Falls Inn — classic resort with dining room and dock access for boats. Lakefield is the bigger overnight alternative 30 min back.

Natural granite and rushing falls surround the lock — a beloved swimming spot in summer. Originally a flight lock (Lock 29 was abolished in 1968 after the falls were rebuilt), which is why the numbering jumps from 28 to 30. Classic Kawartha resort country.

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Burleigh Falls Inn — the long-running waterfront resort Burleigh Falls Provincial Park — adjacent — petroglyphs site nearby
🛶 ~20 min from Lock 26 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Boat-only · Wilderness

Lock 30 Lovesick

★ 5.0 📍 Peterborough County, ON 🍴 No services and no road access. The lock itself is the experience.

One of only two locks on the entire waterway accessible only by boat — no road. The setting is pure Canadian Shield: pink granite, white pine, cottage-lined shores. The Parks Canada staff stationed here arrive by boat every morning. Worth slowing down for.

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Burleigh Falls — Lovesick — Buckhorn route — the boat-only stretch is the wildest section of the Kawarthas
🛶 ~25 min from Lock 30· ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Town · Marina · Art

Lock 31 Buckhorn

★ 5.0 📍 Buckhorn Narrows Rd, Trent Lakes 🚗 Visiting by car? Buckhorn is ~30 min north of Peterborough on Hwy 36 — about 2 hr from Toronto. Free lockstation parking. Time your visit to the Wildlife Art Festival weekend in mid-August (Canada’s largest wildlife art show) for the headline experience. · 🍴 Main Street Bar & Grill for casual lakeside dining. Windmill Park Campground for tent or RV space.

A full-service town with marinas, restaurants, galleries, and the famous Buckhorn Wildlife Art Festival in August. Good overnight mooring at the lockstation and on private docks. Central to the larger Kawartha cottage lakes.

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Lock 31 Buckhorn (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Main Street Bar & Grill
🛶 ~45 min lake crossing from Buckhorn· ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Town · Heritage · Marina · Food ⭐

Lock 32 Bobcaygeon

★ 5.0 📍 15 Bolton St, Bobcaygeon, ON 🚗 Visiting by car? Bobcaygeon is ~2 hr from Toronto via Hwy 35 / County Rd 36. Free parking at the lockstation and along King Street. Watch boats lock through, grab Kawartha Dairy, walk the small downtown. One of the most popular cottage-country day trips in the province. · 🍴 Kawartha Dairy — the original location and arguably the best ice cream in Ontario. The Bobcaygeon Inn for an overnight on the lock. Many BnBs in town.

The first lock built on the system (1834) and one of the most beloved stops on the entire waterway. Made famous by The Tragically Hip’s 1998 song. A lively, walkable Kawartha village with good food, quirky shops, and a serious ice-cream pilgrimage at Kawartha Dairy. Best overnight between Peterborough and Fenelon Falls.

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Lock 32 Bobcaygeon (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page — the first lock built on the system Kawartha Dairy on 1000 Towns — the iconic ice-cream shop (original 1937 location) “Bobcaygeon” by The Tragically Hip — the 1998 song that made the town famous
🛶 ~1.5 hr along the Scugog River from Bobcaygeon· ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Town · Services · Theatre

Lock 33 Lindsay

★ 5.0 📍 3 King St, Lindsay, ON 🚗 Visiting by car? Lindsay is ~1 hr 30 min from Toronto via Hwy 35/115. Park downtown and walk to the lockstation. The Academy Theatre has a strong summer programme — check the calendar before you come. A working town more than a tourist one.

The largest urban centre between Peterborough and Barrie on the waterway. Full services — grocery, fuel, restaurants — and the historic Academy Theatre downtown for evening shows. The lockstation is right in the city centre.

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Lock 33 Lindsay (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Academy Theatre on 1000 Towns — 1893 heritage theatre — live shows summer–fall Black Horse Pub — downtown gastropub
🛶 ~1 hr from Lock 33· ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
Town · Heritage · Waterfall ⭐

Lock 34 Fenelon Falls

★ 5.0 📍 3 Colborne St, Fenelon Falls, ON 🚗 Visiting by car? Fenelon Falls is ~2 hr from Toronto via Hwy 35. Free lockstation parking. Watch boats lock through with the falls behind them — one of the most photographed scenes on the waterway. Combine with Bobcaygeon (15 min east) for a full Kawartha day trip. · 🍴 The Locker at the Falls for lunch with a view. The Little Pie Shack for sweet treats. The Eganridge Resort just outside town for a luxury overnight.

Self-described “Jewel of the Kawarthas” — and it earns the title. The lock sits right beside the natural falls in the heart of the village, and main street is lined with restaurants, bakeries, and boutiques. Lively, charming, walkable. One of the two best stops on the entire waterway (Bobcaygeon being the other).

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Lock 34 Fenelon Falls (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Colborne Street Gallery on 1000 Towns — heritage gallery in the Fenelon Falls Oak Street conservation district The Locker at the Falls — riverside lunch with falls view The Little Pie Shack — sweet stop on main street

🛶 ~40 min from Lock 34  ·  ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Between Fenelon Falls and Kirkfield, ON

Lock 35 Rosedale

★ 5.0 📍 161 Trent Canal Rd, Rosedale, ON 🍴 No services — stock up in Fenelon Falls before pushing on.

A quiet rural lock that begins the climb toward the waterway’s summit at Balsam Lake. The landscape shifts from Kawartha lake country to higher, rockier terrain. Peaceful stop with picnic grounds.

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Balsam Lake Provincial Park on 1000 Towns — the summit of the waterway — 256 m above sea level Rosedale paddling route (Parks Canada) — the Rosedale to Coboconk paddling stretch Carden Alvar Provincial Park — rare grassland habitat 20 min west — major birding destination
🛶 ~30 min from Lock 35· ⏱️ ~30 min lockage time
Engineering · Summit · Quiet ⭐

Lock 36 Kirkfield Hydraulic Lift Lock

★ 5.0 📍 2023 Kirkfield Road, County Road #6, Kirkfield, ON 🚗 Visiting by car? Kirkfield is ~1 hr 45 min from Toronto via Hwy 12. Free parking. The viewing platform gives an unobstructed view of the lift cycle and is much less crowded than Peterborough. A peaceful alternative to the Peterborough Lift Lock experience. · 🍴 No services at the lock itself. The village of Bolsover is the next small stop (15 min).

The quieter, less-crowded sibling of the Peterborough Lift Lock — same engineering principle, 15 m (49 ft) lift, far fewer visitors. Many boaters prefer the unhurried Kirkfield experience. This lock also marks the highest point of the entire waterway — from here, everything descends to Georgian Bay. Lovely picnic grounds beside the lock.

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Lock 36 Kirkfield Lift Lock (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Balsam Lake Provincial Park on 1000 Towns — the summit lake on the waterway Kirkfield Lift Lock (Wikipedia) — engineering and history
🛶 ~15 min from Lock 36 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
🛶 ~15 min from Lock 37 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time
35 Lock 38 Talbot · Between

Lock 38 Talbot

★ 5.0 📍 1419 Canal Rd, Ramara, ON 🍴 No services — continue to Gamebridge.

Rural descending lock through farm and forest.

Visit place

🛶 ~10 min from Lock 38  ·  ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Between Talbot and Thorah, ON

Lock 39 Portage

★ 5.0 📍 Township Of Brock, ON 🍴 No services — continue to Gamebridge.

Another descending lock through flatter terrain approaching Lake Simcoe. The waterways feel broader and more open.

Visit place

🛶 ~20 min from Lock 39  ·  ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

🛶 ~20 min from Lock 40 · ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Lock 41 Gamebridge

★ 5.0 📍 33235 Durham Regional Rd 50, Township of Brock, ON 🍴 Stock up before crossing the lake. The Carden Inn at Gamebridge for an overnight.

The last lock before the waterway empties into Lake Simcoe’s east arm. From here you cross 30 km of open lake to Orillia — a significant transit that requires attention to weather. But the view is worth it.

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Beaverton on 1000 Towns — the closest full-service town Lock 41 Gamebridge (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Lake Simcoe — overview — Ontario's 4th-largest lake, history of the crossing
🛶 ~1.5–2 hrs depending on weather · ⏱️ Open water transit — no lockage
Open Water · Caution

Open Water: Lake Simcoe & Lake Couchiching Crossing

★ 5.0 📍 Gamebridge → Orillia, ON 🍴 No services until Orillia. Pack lunch and water for the crossing.

The trickiest stretch of the entire waterway. The route crosses the east arm of Lake Simcoe (30 km of open water), passes through the Atherley Narrows, and arrives at Lake Couchiching and Orillia. Check weather forecasts the night before — wind builds in the afternoon and the lake can be rough. Cross in the morning if possible. Full marine services, fuel, and provisions in Orillia.

Region 4 — Days 6-7 — Severn River & Georgian Bay

Locks 42–45 · ~70 km · Orillia, the wild Severn, Big Chute Marine Railway, and out into Georgian Bay at Port Severn.

🛶 Short transit through Orillia after the lake crossing·    ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

City · Marina · Heritage

Lock 42 Couchiching (Orillia)

★ 5.0 📍 4375 Canal Rd, Washago, ON L0K 2B0 🚗 Visiting by car? Orillia is ~1 hr 30 min from Toronto via Hwy 11. Park at Centennial Park beside the lockstation. Combine with the Stephen Leacock Museum (10 min away) and Couchiching Beach Park. A working day-trip destination from the GTA. · 🍴 Brewery Bay Food Co. on the waterfront for casual dinner. Casino Rama Resort for a destination evening (10 min away).

Marks the transition from Lake Couchiching into the Severn River — the final river section before Georgian Bay. Orillia’s waterfront is all within walking distance: restaurants, fuel, and a lively summer scene. Good overnight mooring.

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Brewery Bay Food Co. — the long-running waterfront gastropub Stephen Leacock Museum National Historic Site — the writer’s summer home — 10 min from the lock

🛶 ~45 min from Orillia· ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

Scenic · Wilderness

Lock 43 Swift Rapids

★ 5.0 📍 Muskoka Lakes, ON 🍴 No services — the lockstation grounds are the attraction. Big Chute is 30 min ahead.

One of the most scenic lockstations on the entire system — granite banks, white pines, clear water. The Severn here feels genuinely wild and remote. The Parks Canada staff at Swift Rapids are known for being exceptionally welcoming. Worth slowing down to enjoy the setting.

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Severn River — the river’s history and route

🛶 ~30 min from Swift Rapids· ⏱️ ~30–45 min lockage time (a true event)

Engineering · Unique · Bucket List ⭐

Lock 44 Big Chute Marine Railway

★ 5.0 📍 7000 Upper Big Chute Rd, Coldwater, ON 🚗 Visiting by car? Big Chute is ~2 hr from Toronto via Hwy 400 to Coldwater. Free viewing area on the south side. Boats are cradled every 30 min in summer; check the Parks Canada schedule and time your arrival. One of the most unusual sights in Canada — even non-boaters travel here specifically to watch. · 🍴 Big Chute Marina for fuel and provisions.

There is nothing else like this in Canada — and only one or two like it in the world. Instead of a lock or lift, your boat is loaded onto a wheeled steel cradle and physically carried overland on rails — 18 m (58 ft) of elevation change, fully out of the water — between two stretches of the Severn River. It handles vessels up to 30.5 m long. The marine railway is the engineering showpiece of the whole journey. Watch from shore or ride in your boat — both are unforgettable.

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Lock 44 Big Chute Marine Railway (Parks Canada) — how it works, viewing area, history Big Chute Marina — fuel and provisions at the lockstation Engineering details (Wikipedia) — the 1923-original-1978-replacement engineering history

🛶 Short transit through Orillia after the lake crossing·    ⏱️ ~20 min lockage time

End · Town · Georgian Bay

Lock 45 Port Severn — Journey’s End

★ 5.0 📍 175 Port Severn Rd N, Georgian Bay, ON 🚗 Visiting by car? Port Severn is ~1 hr 30 min from Toronto via Hwy 400. Park at Lock 45 viewing area, watch boats finish their journey. Combine with a short drive into the Thirty Thousand Islands of Georgian Bay (Honey Harbour) for a complete day. · 🍴 Rawley Resort for a celebratory dinner on the bay. Residence Inn Muskoka for a comfortable final night before heading home — or push on into Georgian Bay if you’re continuing.

The final lock. Pass through and the Severn River opens into Georgian Bay — sky, open water, Canadian Shield islands. You’ve completed 386 km, 44 locks, and one of Canada’s great waterway journeys. Lock 45 is also the smallest lock on the system (84 ft × 23 ft) and sets the upper size limit for any vessel attempting the full transit.

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Lock 45 Port Severn (Parks Canada) — the official lockstation page Rawley Resort — riverside resort at the lock

Good to know

Season & permits

Waterway operates Victoria Day (mid-May) to Thanksgiving Monday (mid-October). Parks Canada lockage permits are required and can be bought online at parks.canada.ca, at the first lockstation, or at Parks Canada visitor centres. Day, six-day, and seasonal permits are available; the seasonal permit pays off if you plan to lock through more than ~10 times. Mooring permits are separate and are required for overnight tie-ups.

Fuel & food

Fuel docks at Trenton, Campbellford, Peterborough, Bobcaygeon, Lindsay, Orillia, and Big Chute. Provision in the same towns — gaps of 30–60 km of pure transit are common between them. Long stretches without service: Frankford to Campbellford, Hastings to Peterborough, Young’s Point to Bobcaygeon, and Gamebridge to Orillia.

Vessel size limits

Standard locks: 36.6 m × 9.75 m (120 ft × 32 ft). Big Chute Marine Railway: 30.5 m × 7.3 m × 90 tonnes (100 ft × 24 ft). Lock 45 (Port Severn): 25.6 m × 7.0 m (84 ft × 23 ft) — the smallest lock and the binding constraint for any full transit. Depth: locks 1–19 carry 2.4 m (8 ft); locks 20–45 carry 1.8 m (6 ft).

Marine safety

Monitor VHF Ch. 16. Many lockmasters communicate on Ch. 68. The Lake Simcoe / Lake Couchiching open-water crossing (Lock 41 to Lock 42) is the trickiest stretch — 30 km of open water where wind builds in afternoon. Cross in the morning, check the marine forecast the night before, and stay close to the south shore if conditions deteriorate. Wildlife protection closures may apply near the Bay of Quinte in spring — confirm with Parks Canada before departure.

Visiting by car instead of boat

The best stops for road travellers are the engineering wonders (Peterborough Lift Lock, Kirkfield Lift Lock, Big Chute Marine Railway) and the town locks (Trenton, Campbellford, Hastings, Lakefield, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Orillia, Port Severn). Each has a 🚗 sidebar in the relevant lock entry above. All have free or low-cost parking at the Parks Canada lockstation. Watching a lock cycle from a viewing platform takes 20–30 minutes; combine 2–3 town locks for a full day trip from Toronto.

More guides from this region

Scenic Byways

Stratford & Mennonite Country:
A Weekend Out of Toronto

2 days · 390 km

See the guide  →

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