The Trent-Severn Waterway links Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay, and it first opened in 1922. Parks Canada runs it as a national historic site. Cottagers on its lakes share the water with locks, lock staff and through boaters. This guide covers the rules and fees you meet first.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 386 km |
| 2026 lockstation season | May 15 to October 12, 2026 |
| Navigation season (general) | Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, mid-May to mid-October |
| Operator | Parks Canada |
| Peterborough Lift Lock | Lock 21; average lift 19.8 m (65 ft); opened July 9, 1904 |
| Parks Canada phone for section dates | 705-750-4900 (toll-free 1-888-773-8888) |
| Fisheries Management Zone | Zone 17 |
Quick answer
Carry proof of competency if you drive a power boat. Keep to 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore. Plan around lockstation hours, because locks close in the evening and shut earlier after September 7. Pay lockage and mooring by the foot, using the rates on the Parks Canada fee page.
Operator card and safety equipment
Power boat drivers need proof of competency, most often the Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Transport Canada runs the card program. Read the Transport Canada pages for the safety equipment that applies to your boat. We do not restate the list here.
Speed limits and shoreline rules
In Ontario, power boats may not exceed 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore, with exceptions such as towing a skier straight out from shore, and in canals and buoyed channels. We did not confirm any waterway-specific speed limits in a primary source for this guide. Follow the posted signs and buoys, and read the Parks Canada safety and guidelines page before you go.
Locks, hours and seasons
Parks Canada gives one set of 2026 hours for all Trent-Severn lockstations:
| Dates | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| May 15 to June 18 | Monday to Thursday | 10:00 am to 3:30 pm |
| May 15 to June 18 | Friday to Sunday and Victoria Day (May 18) | 9:00 am to 6:30 pm |
| June 19 to September 7 | Monday to Thursday | 9:00 am to 5:30 pm |
| June 19 to September 7 | Friday to Sunday, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day | 9:00 am to 6:30 pm |
| September 8 to October 12 | Monday to Friday | 10:00 am to 3:30 pm |
| September 8 to October 12 | Saturday, Sunday and Thanksgiving | 9:00 am to 4:30 pm |
Parks Canada says opening and closing times, and first and last lockages, can change for water management, maintenance or other interruptions. Lockstations are not staffed after hours, and access to them is prohibited between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am; after hours, call 911 in an emergency. Vessels must reach the blue zone by the last lockage time, and the last swing bridge opens 10 minutes after that. For section-specific dates, call Parks Canada.
The Peterborough Lift Lock is Lock 21. Parks Canada calls it one of only two hydraulic lift locks on the waterway. It has an average lift of 19.8 m, or 65 ft, and opened on July 9, 1904.
Fees
Parks Canada charges lockage and mooring by the foot. The rates on its fee page on November 3 2026 include:
| Lockage (per foot) | Rate |
|---|---|
| Single lock and return | $1.50 |
| One day | $2.25 |
| Transit, one way | $6.00 |
| Six days | $6.50 |
| Seasonal, recreational | $11.25 |
| Mooring (per foot) | Rate |
|---|---|
| Overnight, recreational (includes day mooring) | $1.50 |
| Seasonal, recreational, overnight | $12.25 |
Rental houseboats and commercial boats pay higher seasonal rates. Rates change, so read the current page before you travel.
Charts, hazards and water levels
The Parks Canada waterway page links to brochures and publications and to a water levels page. Check both before a long trip, and read a current chart before you leave the marked channel.
Marinas, fuel, tours and rentals
We do not list marinas, tours or rentals in this guide, because we could not confirm their seasons on each business’s own website. Ask your cottage host where they fuel and pump out.
Invasive species
Clean, drain and dry boats, trailers and gear between lakes. The Trent Lakes launch page also strongly recommends washing hulls before and after boating.
FAQ
How long is the Trent-Severn Waterway?
386 km, per Parks Canada. Checked November 3 2026.
When did the locks run in 2026?
The lockstation season ran from May 15 to October 12, 2026. Checked November 3 2026.
How much does a one-way transit cost?
$6.00 per foot of boat length on the Parks Canada fee page. Checked November 3 2026.
Do I need a licence to drive a power boat?
Power boat drivers need proof of competency, most often the Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Checked November 3 2026.
What is the speed limit near shore?
10 km/h within 30 metres of shore, with exceptions. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages on the water
Browse cottages in Bobcaygeon or the Kawarthas region. See also Pigeon Lake and Bobcaygeon.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for the City of Kawartha Lakes. The City of Kawartha Lakes requires a licence for short-term rentals of fewer than 28 consecutive calendar days (By-law 2023-111). Read the City’s owner and operator page before you list. Rules change; confirm with the municipality.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterway is 386 km, first opened 1922, links Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay; national historic site; navigation season runs Victoria Day to Thanksgiving (mid-May to mid-October) | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | 2026 lockstation season May 15 to October 12; hours by period; blue zone and last swing bridge rule; times can change; not staffed after hours, access prohibited 10 pm to 6 am; call 705-750-4900 / 1-888-773-8888 | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/visit/heures-hours | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Lockage per foot: single lock and return $1.50; one day $2.25; transit one way $6.00; six days $6.50; seasonal recreational $11.25 | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/visit/tarifs-fees | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Mooring per foot: overnight recreational $1.50 (includes day mooring); seasonal recreational overnight $12.25; higher rental-houseboat and commercial rates (Canada Strong Pass statement not on page: removed) | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/visit/tarifs-fees | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Peterborough Lift Lock: Lock 21; average lift 19.8 m (65 ft); opened July 9 1904; one of only two hydraulic lift locks | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/visit/posteeclusage-lockstation/ecluse-lock-21-ascenseur-liftlock-peterborough | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | Zone 17 includes the Trent-Severn, Kawartha Lakes and Crowe River | https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary/fisheries-management-zone-17 | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | Trent Lakes recommends washing hulls before and after boating | https://www.trentlakes.ca/play/boat-launches/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Parks Canada site links ‘Brochures and publications’ and ‘Water levels’ pages | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern | 2026-11-03 |
| 9 | Power boat drivers need proof of competency, most often the Pleasure Craft Operator Card. | https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/pleasure-craft-operator-card | 2026-11-03 |
| 10 | Power boats may not exceed 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore, with exceptions such as towing a skier straight out from shore and canals and buoyed channels. | https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2008-120/FullText.html | 2026-11-03 |
| 11 | Clean, drain, dry: boat, motor and trailer | https://www.ontario.ca/page/invasive-species-ontario | 2026-11-03 |
| 12 | City of Kawartha Lakes requires an STR licence for stays of fewer than 28 consecutive calendar days under By-law 2023-111 | https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/business-development/business-and-economic-development/business-programs/short-term-rentals/owners-and-operators/ | 2026-11-03 |
Photo: Jeffrey Eisen, on Unsplash (Unsplash License).