Public travel plan
A Boat-Traveler’s Two-Day Trent-Severn Waterway Passage
This source-backed route follows the boat passage from Campbellford through Hastings to Peterborough. The crew recommends wearing gloves during lock work. Their passage included rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and poor…
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Travel inspiration behind this plan
Plan notes
Useful context before you go
This source-backed route follows the boat passage from Campbellford through Hastings to Peterborough. The crew recommends wearing gloves during lock work. Their passage included rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and poor visibility; they used radar when visibility deteriorated. They also encountered very shallow water and heavy weeds at an unnamed anchorage, so treat that anchorage as a cautionary experience rather than a recommended stop. The cost ranges below are per person and exclude boat fuel and any unreported mooring costs.
Itinerary highlights
What is in this plan
Day 1 — Campbellford to Hastings
The passage begins in Campbellford and continues through the Trent toward Hastings. The crew encountered changing weather and multiple locks, then anchored for the night at an unnamed location. Their account of that anchorage describes very shallow water and extensive weeds, so it is not represented here as a specific destination.
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Golden CafeGolden Cafe, Campbellford, Ontario, Canada
Stop for coffee, a smoothie, or a quick breakfast. The crew describes the cafe as a small, cute morning stop serving coffee, scones, sweet treats, and breakfast sandwiches.
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Hardy IslandHardy Island, Trent-Severn Waterway, Ontario, Canada
The crew passes Hardy Island through a tight, narrow channel and notes that their boat was too large for a shortcut. Their account is a reminder to proceed carefully through this specific stretch.
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Hastings Lock 18Hastings Lock 18, Trent-Severn Waterway, Hastings, Ontario, Canada
The crew identifies this as the final lock of their day and describes it as being in the center of Hastings. They also mention that rain had stopped by the time they reached it.
Day 2 — Rice Lake to Peterborough Lift Lock
The next passage covers about 31 nautical miles toward Peterborough, with Rice Lake, a river approach, and the lift lock as the main named points. The creator describes Locks 19 and 20 before reaching the lift lock. The account says the lift lock is free to use; a separate lift-ferry tour is also mentioned, but no operator or booking details are provided.
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Rice LakeRice Lake, Ontario, Canada
The crew leaves Rice Lake and enters the river route toward Peterborough. They describe a narrow cut on the approach and report 14 feet of water at the time of their passage.
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Trent-Severn Waterway Lock 19Trent-Severn Waterway Lock 19, Ontario, Canada
The crew reports that Lock 19 raises the boat 8 feet. Their passage also encounters traffic near the lock, so allow for waiting when boats are moving through in both directions.
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Trent-Severn Waterway Lock 20Trent-Severn Waterway Lock 20, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
The crew identifies this as Lock 20 and says it raises boats 12 feet. It is one of the final conventional locks they pass before the Peterborough Lift Lock.
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Peterborough Lift LockPeterborough Lift Lock National Historic Site of Canada, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
This is the route’s signature engineering stop: the crew describes Lock 21 as a hydraulic boat elevator that raises vessels 65 feet. The transfer itself takes roughly two minutes, though loading and unloading can take longer on a busy day. They say using the lock is free. A lift-ferry tour is also visible and described as carrying visitors up and down the lock.