Quick Answer The Trent-Severn Waterway is a 386-kilometre navigable system running from Trenton to Port Severn through 44 locks. In 2026, lockage is free under the Canada Strong Pass from June 19 to September 7. For a 20-foot boat, that is roughly $45 per day in fees not...
Quick Answer
The Trent-Severn Waterway is a 386-kilometre navigable system running from Trenton to Port Severn through 44 locks. In 2026, lockage is free under the Canada Strong Pass from June 19 to September 7. For a 20-foot boat, that is roughly $45 per day in fees not paid. Mooring at lockstations is still $1.50 per foot per night. Harris Boat Works sits on Rice Lake between Locks 18 and 19. Navigation season runs May 15 to October 12, 2026.
Verify all lock hours, fees, and program dates directly with Parks Canada before your trip, as these details are subject to change.
Full Article
The Trent-Severn is one of those places where a 20-foot aluminum boat built for walleye fishing can lock through a hydraulic lift designed in 1904, anchor beside a 19th-century lock keeper's cottage, and pull into a small-town pub for lunch. The New York Times called it one of the best travel experiences of 2025. Three generations of this family have watched the waterway from the dock at Gores Landing without needing the Times to confirm it.
Harris Boat Works sits on Rice Lake, roughly between Locks 18 and 19. We have been here since 1947. This is the guide we would give a friend who was doing their first trip.
What the Trent-Severn Actually Is
386 kilometres. 44 locks. Two flight locks. One marine railway. About 60 bridges. Operated by Parks Canada as a National Historic Site.
It connects Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay at Port Severn, passing through Rice Lake, the Kawarthas, and the Severn River. The infrastructure ranges from simple manual locks to the Big Chute Marine Railway, which lifts boats over land in a giant cradle, and the Peterborough Lift Lock, one of the largest hydraulic boat lifts in the world.
Most boats on the waterway are fishing boats, pontoons, and cruisers. It is not a river system, it is a managed navigable waterway where the lock staff do the actual work, and you hold a line.
Free Lockage 2026, What's Actually Free
The Canada Strong Pass program makes lockage free from June 19 to September 7, 2026, for Canadian residents and international visitors on all boat types. No permit required for the day.
What else is free during the pass window:
- Camping and roofed accommodations at Parks Canada sites: 25% off
- Youth 17 and under: free admission to all Parks Canada sites
What is still paid:
- Mooring at lockstations: $1.50 per foot per night
- Shore power: $12 per night
- Parking, charts, and third-party services
Example: a 20-foot boat tying up overnight at a lock pays $30 for mooring, plus $12 if you use shore power.
Verify current program details and dates at Parks Canada before your trip.
2026 Navigation Season and Lock Hours
Season: May 15 , October 12, 2026
| Period |
Mon, Thu |
Fri, Sun + Holidays |
| May 15 , June 18 |
10:00 am , 3:30 pm |
9:00 am , 6:30 pm |
| June 19 , Sept 7 (peak) |
9:00 am , 5:30 pm |
9:00 am , 6:30 pm |
| Sept 8 , Oct 12 |
10:00 am , 3:30 pm |
9:00 am , 4:30 pm |
The key operational rule: You must arrive at the blue zone (the boat staging area) by the last lockage time. It is not enough to be nearby. Lockmasters do not open the gates after closing. Build at least 30 minutes of slack into your day's end.
Note: Hours are set by Parks Canada and are subject to change. Verify the current schedule at parks.canada.ca before departure.
A First-Timer's Guide to Locking Through
The system looks complex. It is slow and predictable, and the lockmaster does most of the work.
The process:
- Approach slowly. Wait in the blue zone until the lockmaster signals you in.
- Have fenders ready on both sides. The lock walls are concrete, gel coat does not bounce well.
- Have a person at the bow and one at the stern (or run a single mid-line on a small boat). The lockmaster hands you a rope from the lock wall. You hold it as the water level rises or falls. You are not tying off, you are keeping the boat against the wall.
- Engine off or in neutral while the chamber fills or empties. This takes 8 to 15 minutes per lock. Plan about 20 minutes per lock for travel calculations.
- Monitor VHF Channel 16. Murray Canal swing bridges specifically use Channel 14.
A good lockmaster will walk a first-timer through it without making a thing of it. The system handles tens of thousands of transits per season.
Boat sizing for the Trent-Severn
Will your boat actually fit through the locks?
In 2026, free lockage from June 19 to September 7 means more boats will try the system. Make sure yours is one of them.
If you mostly stay on one lake or section between locks
- ✓Fishing on Rice Lake, the Kawarthas, or a single stretch
- ✓Pontoon boats, wide fishing rigs, and smaller cruisers all work fine
- ✓No beam or draft restrictions on open water
- ✓Locking through only one or two locks for a weekend trip
Any size fits
If you plan to run the full lock system
- ✓Long-distance transit from Trenton to Port Severn or vice versa
- ✓Beam under 8.5 feet clears all locks without issue
- ✓Draft under 3 feet handles the shallowest chambers
- ✓Length 21 to 25 feet is the practical sweet spot
Check your dimensions
When in doubt:Measure beam and draft before you plan a full transit. Most 18 to 20 foot aluminum fishing boats and smaller pontoons clear everything. Wide cruisers and sailboats need to check the 22 foot vertical clearance at fixed bridges too.
Vessel Constraints, Will Your Boat Fit?
| Constraint |
Detail |
| Vertical clearance (lowest fixed bridge) |
22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Water depth at Locks 1, 19 |
8 feet |
| Water depth at Locks 20, 45 |
6 feet |
| Big Chute Marine Railway max length |
99.2 feet |
| Big Chute max beam |
24 feet |
| Big Chute max weight |
99 tons |
Anything taller than 22 feet, radar arches, tall biminis, sailboat masts, needs to come down. Most sailors un-step at Trenton or Frankford before the transit.
You can build a live CAD quote for your repower online at Mercury Repower Centre.
Fees Outside the Free Window
When the Canada Strong Pass is not active, lockage fees apply:
| Permit |
Rate |
| Single lock and return |
$1.50/ft |
| One day |
$2.25/ft |
| One-way transit |
$6.00/ft |
| Six days |
$6.50/ft |
| Seasonal |
$11.25/ft |
For a 20-foot boat: $45 for a day, $225 for a seasonal pass. Confirm current fee schedules with Parks Canada, as these can change between seasons.
A Sample Trip Plan from Rice Lake
Most people do not transit all 386 kilometres. They take three or four locks at a time, anchor for the night, eat lunch in a small town, and come back. Here are three trip types from HBW at Gores Landing.
Weekend run (2 days, 4 locks): East from Rice Lake to Lock 18 at Hastings. Overnight at Hastings. Lunch at one of the pubs. Return Sunday. Quiet and scenic. No commercial harbor traffic.
Long weekend (4 days, ~10 locks): West from Rice Lake up the Otonabee through Lock 19 (Scott's Mills) and the Peterborough Lift Lock (Lock 21). Continue to Lakefield and back.
Full Kawartha tour (7 days, 17 locks): Rice Lake to Bobcaygeon and back. Includes the Lift Lock, the flight at Healey Falls, Lakefield, and Buckhorn. The most relaxed pace, best for first-timers wanting to see the system.
For a full Trenton-to-Port-Severn transit, plan at least 5 to 7 days at a relaxed pace.
Where to Fuel Up
Fuel is available at commercial marinas along the route, not at lockstations.
Fuel stops from south to north: Trenton, Frankford, Campbellford, Harris Boat Works (Gores Landing on Rice Lake), Hastings, Lakefield, Buckhorn, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Orillia, Port Severn.
HBW fuel note: We pump ethanol-free 89-octane marine gas. Ethanol pump gas absorbs water and degrades over weeks, ethanol-free is shelf-stable for a season. Call ahead if you are transiting outside peak summer, smaller marinas sometimes close mid-week or end-of-season.
Don't Own a Boat? You Can Still Do This
Rent from HBW. Our 9-boat fleet on Rice Lake includes 16-foot ProSports, 20-foot Transporters, and 23-foot Cruise pontoons. Rice Lake is part of the Trent-Severn, you are already on the waterway when you launch from Gores Landing. Book at harrisboatworks.ca/rentals.
Houseboat the system. Companies including Le Boat operate on the Trent-Severn and offer multi-day trips. Most houseboat operators brief customers on locking, no boating licence required in most rental cases.
Why HBW Is a Useful Home Base
HBW is at Gores Landing on the south shore of Rice Lake, roughly 90 minutes from Toronto.
| Service |
Detail |
| Fuel |
Ethanol-free 89-octane marine gas at the dock |
| Transient slips |
4, 6 available; $1.00/ft/night; call ahead to confirm availability |
| Launch ramp |
2-lane concrete; $20/day or $200/season |
| Rentals |
9-boat fleet for day trips |
| Mercury service |
Platinum dealer; for engine repairs, we only service Mercury and Mercruiser |
Call 905-342-2153 before heading out if you need a slip or want to confirm fuel availability. Mercury repower quotes at mercuryrepower.ca.
Related guides
- Rice Lake Boating Guide 2026: Launches, Hazards, Fish, and a Local's Notes: A local's guide to Rice Lake, launches, the sunken railway hazard, fishing seasons (FMZ 17), launches.
- Rice Lake Ontario Fishing Guide 2026: An honest 2026 guide to fishing Rice Lake, Ontario: species, seasons, FMZ 17 regulations, top spots and the.
- Why Boat Rentals and Shared Access Are Booming in 2026: How Harris Boat Works Gets You on the Water: The boat rental market is surging across North America. Here's why shared boating is exploding, what's.
- Trent-Severn Mercury Dealer Survival Guide (HBW Rice Lake, 2026): Doing the Trent-Severn? HBW on Rice Lake has the largest Mercury and Mercruiser parts inventory in Ontario.
FAQs
Do I need a special licence to lock through the Trent-Severn?
No. You need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) and a valid Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL), the same requirements as any Ontario boating. No special lockage licence.
What changed for PCLs in 2026?
Lifetime licences were converted to 5-year renewals at $24. If your PCL was previously lifetime and has not been renewed, check its status before the trip.
How long does a standard lock take?
8 to 15 minutes from entry to exit. Plan 20 minutes per lock for travel calculations. The Peterborough Lift Lock is faster; Big Chute is slower at about 25 minutes.
Can I anchor inside a lock chamber overnight?
No. You can tie up at the lockstation walls above or below the lock at $1.50 per foot per night.
Are water and shore power available at lockstations?
Most lockstations have both. Shore power is $12 per night outside the free-lockage program window.
Parks Canada doesn't sell fuel at lockstations?
Correct. Fuel comes from commercial marinas along the route. Most marinas accept cards.
What is the best single-day section of the Trent-Severn?
The Peterborough Lift Lock (Lock 21) and the surrounding Lakefield-Trent canal stretch. The Lift Lock alone is worth the trip.
Internal Links
- Walleye Opener Boat Prep Checklist
- Mercury SmartCraft Connect Guide Ontario
- Rice Lake Fishing Guide
- Boat Rentals on Rice Lake
CTA
Starting from Rice Lake? HBW is between Locks 18 and 19.
Call 905-342-2153 before you head out, slip availability, fuel confirmation, or anything else.
Boat rentals at harrisboatworks.ca/rentals.
Mercury repower quotes at mercuryrepower.ca.
Harris Boat Works, 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing, ON. Est. 1947.
Ready to price it out? Build a live CAD quote for your repower online at the Mercury Repower Centre.
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