The Victoria Day long weekend is almost here, and that means the Trent-Severn Waterway is about to open for its 105th navigation season.
Starting Friday (May 16), lockstations will be open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for the entire long weekend, including Victoria Day on Monday.
After May 19 and until June 19, they will be open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday.
From June 20 until September 1, lockstations will be open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday as well as on Canada Day (July 1), the Civic Holiday (August 4), and Labour Day (September 1).
From September 2 to October 13, hours are 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday as well as on Thanksgiving (October 13).
Spanning 386 kilometres from Trenton to Port Severn, the Trent-Severn Waterway is a National Historic Site that first opened in 1922 to connect Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay.
Today, Parks Canada maintains and operates the historic lock system as a perennial destination for recreational boaters and paddlers, and a home to the many people who live, work, and play along its length.
This past January, the Trent-Severn Waterway was featured by the New York Times as one of its 52 Places to Go in 2025.
As the navigation season opens, Parks Canada is cautioning boaters, paddlers, and swimmers that certain areas along the waterway continue to have higher-than-average flows. Floating debris may be present, and aids to navigation may be off-station as Parks Canada continues to monitor the navigation channels.
Boaters are also advised to watch their wake and wash near shorelines to avoid damage to docks, boats, and property.
For those wanting to explore the Trent-Severn Waterway on their screens, Parks Canada has created a virtual tour on Google Earth at t2m.one/TrentSevernWaterWayWeb.
You can virtually travel the 386-kilometre length of the waterway and visit each of the 44 different locks, viewing historical photos and a description of each lock.
For more information about the Trent-Severn Waterway, including lockage and mooring fees, visit the Parks Canada website.
