Trent Severn Waterway road trip
Jun 18th, 2023, 02:23 PM
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Trent Severn Waterway road trip
The Trent Severn Waterway connects lake Huron to lake Ontario.
It's about 386 kilometers long and has 45 locks that allow for the passage of watercraft between the rivers, lakes and canals that make the waterway.
Most people use their own boats or rent houseboats to transverse the waterway.
We decided to do a road trip emulating the waterway as much as possible, this allows for side trips to local villages and points of interest accessible by car.
Doing the road trip in reverse order by starting at lock 45 Port Severn.
Port Severn lock 45
Most locks look like this one. A boat enters the lock, the gate is closed, the water is raised or lowered to the level of the next body of water.
Lock entrance/ exit and swing bridge, the bridge is on rails allowing it to move for the passage of boats
Detail of the swing bridge rail that allows it to rotate.
Next stop Big Chute
It's about 386 kilometers long and has 45 locks that allow for the passage of watercraft between the rivers, lakes and canals that make the waterway.
Most people use their own boats or rent houseboats to transverse the waterway.
We decided to do a road trip emulating the waterway as much as possible, this allows for side trips to local villages and points of interest accessible by car.
Doing the road trip in reverse order by starting at lock 45 Port Severn.
Port Severn lock 45
Most locks look like this one. A boat enters the lock, the gate is closed, the water is raised or lowered to the level of the next body of water.
Lock entrance/ exit and swing bridge, the bridge is on rails allowing it to move for the passage of boats
Detail of the swing bridge rail that allows it to rotate.
Next stop Big Chute
Last edited by aulop; Jun 18th, 2023 at 02:45 PM.
Jun 19th, 2023, 05:10 AM
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Big Chute isn't a lock but rather a marine railway.
It's interesting to see the railway platform enter the water pick up the boats and transfer them to the next lake.
The road to the Big Chute is surrounded by nature and we stopped along to appreciate it.
The Big Chute Marina has a restaurant, we had the fish sandwich - delicious.
Road to the Big Chute
Small lake with beaver lodge - the pile of sticks in the water.
White's Falls
Geese crossing at the Big Chute
Marine Railway platform, close up of cables and pulleys used to operate it.
Boats being loaded into the Marine Railway platform. A sling system holds the boats in place and level. Notice how the rails continue submerged in the water.
The Marine Railway platform crossing the road
The last boat seems to be falling off but it's properly secured.
Marine Railway platform going to the next lake that is much lower
Walkway beside the Big Chute
Beside the Big Chute water overflow area
It's interesting to see the railway platform enter the water pick up the boats and transfer them to the next lake.
The road to the Big Chute is surrounded by nature and we stopped along to appreciate it.
The Big Chute Marina has a restaurant, we had the fish sandwich - delicious.
Road to the Big Chute
Small lake with beaver lodge - the pile of sticks in the water.
White's Falls
Geese crossing at the Big Chute
Marine Railway platform, close up of cables and pulleys used to operate it.
Boats being loaded into the Marine Railway platform. A sling system holds the boats in place and level. Notice how the rails continue submerged in the water.
The Marine Railway platform crossing the road
The last boat seems to be falling off but it's properly secured.
Marine Railway platform going to the next lake that is much lower
Walkway beside the Big Chute
Beside the Big Chute water overflow area
Jun 21st, 2023, 05:42 AM
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Next we stopped at a side of the road museum in Coldwater.
It's a bit of a mix from farm equipment to an old school.
Coldwater heritage museum
Antique steam tractor
Interesting wheels, road tires on the front and small tractor wheels on the rear, an interesting adaption for rural use.
Blacksmith shop
Antique carriage
Museum buildings
Old store
Antique electrical hair curler. Scary, Medusa immediately came to mind.
It's a bit of a mix from farm equipment to an old school.
Coldwater heritage museum
Antique steam tractor
Interesting wheels, road tires on the front and small tractor wheels on the rear, an interesting adaption for rural use.
Blacksmith shop
Antique carriage
Museum buildings
Old store
Antique electrical hair curler. Scary, Medusa immediately came to mind.
Jun 21st, 2023, 09:40 AM
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Hi aulop
Thanks for the trip report. Living in Quebec, I’m always seeking travel ideas in the adjacent province, as I find Ontario offers an interesting contrast and is workable for a few day getaway. I’ve not been to the part of the province you explored this trip; other than the Niagara peninsula, I’ve only been to points Toronto and east. The license plate motto “Ontario, yours to discover” I find could not be more accurate as I’ve been discovering with each visit how much left I indeed do have to discover…even in the southeastern part I know best!
Best wishes, Daniel
Thanks for the trip report. Living in Quebec, I’m always seeking travel ideas in the adjacent province, as I find Ontario offers an interesting contrast and is workable for a few day getaway. I’ve not been to the part of the province you explored this trip; other than the Niagara peninsula, I’ve only been to points Toronto and east. The license plate motto “Ontario, yours to discover” I find could not be more accurate as I’ve been discovering with each visit how much left I indeed do have to discover…even in the southeastern part I know best!
Best wishes, Daniel
Jun 22nd, 2023, 02:33 AM
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Daniel_Williams
I'm glad you're enjoying the trip report, maybe some of the info will be useful for your future trips.
Travelling is one of the joys of life and Canada has so much to offer.
I've only recently decided to start posting trip reports.
Last year I did a road trip from Ontario to Prince Edward Island, and did a quick stop in Montreal and overnight in Quebec city - really enjoyed the old city, and had some great food.
This year we did an extended trip to Portugal and now we're doing the Trent Severn Waterway road trip.
As the old saying says:
Travel adds to life
Happy travels
I'm glad you're enjoying the trip report, maybe some of the info will be useful for your future trips.
Travelling is one of the joys of life and Canada has so much to offer.
I've only recently decided to start posting trip reports.
Last year I did a road trip from Ontario to Prince Edward Island, and did a quick stop in Montreal and overnight in Quebec city - really enjoyed the old city, and had some great food.
This year we did an extended trip to Portugal and now we're doing the Trent Severn Waterway road trip.
As the old saying says:
Travel adds to life
Happy travels
Jun 22nd, 2023, 07:05 AM
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Orillia
On our way to the next lock stopped in
Orillia for coffee and pastries.
The Mariposa Market has the feel of a bygone era but done very tastefully.
The pastries were delicious and well worth the stop .
Mariposa Market streetfront.
Mariposa Market
The market also has sandwiches and lunch items
The sweets got me
On our way to the next lock stopped in
Orillia for coffee and pastries.
The Mariposa Market has the feel of a bygone era but done very tastefully.
The pastries were delicious and well worth the stop .
Mariposa Market streetfront.
Mariposa Market
The market also has sandwiches and lunch items
The sweets got me
Jun 23rd, 2023, 06:08 AM
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Kirkfield
The Kirkfield lock is quite interesting and different from most locks on the Waterway.
It consists of a lockable water platform that is raised or lowered by a massive piston, same principle on a auto garage lift but on a much bigger scale.
A boat enters the platform, the gate is closed, the platform is raised or lowered by the piston to the next body of water where the gate is opened and the boat continues on its way.
Kirkfield lock platform on highest position
The roofline of the boat inside the platform becomes visible as the platform is lowered.
Piston under the platform is also visible.
Platform at lowest position, gate opened , boat continues on its voyage
The Kirkfield lock is quite interesting and different from most locks on the Waterway.
It consists of a lockable water platform that is raised or lowered by a massive piston, same principle on a auto garage lift but on a much bigger scale.
A boat enters the platform, the gate is closed, the platform is raised or lowered by the piston to the next body of water where the gate is opened and the boat continues on its way.
Kirkfield lock platform on highest position
The roofline of the boat inside the platform becomes visible as the platform is lowered.
Piston under the platform is also visible.
Platform at lowest position, gate opened , boat continues on its voyage
Last edited by aulop; Jun 23rd, 2023 at 06:10 AM.
Jun 25th, 2023, 06:51 AM
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Kawartha Lakes
Because not every town along the Waterway has a hotel we choose Kawartha Lakes as a base to visit some of the nearby locks and explore Kawartha Lakes itself.
Part of the Trans Canada Trail or Great Trail goes through Kawartha Lakes and we took the opportunity to explore a small portion of the trail.
Farm silos in Kawartha Lakes
This silo is gigantic, compare the size with the trailer to the left
Canola (?) field in bloom
Wildflowers in bloom along the trail
Shady forested section of the trail
Ferns on the shady section of the trail
Along side the Scugog river there is a paved path for walking and cycling
Front row seat to nature
The paved path ends at the lock
House boat leaving the lock
Because not every town along the Waterway has a hotel we choose Kawartha Lakes as a base to visit some of the nearby locks and explore Kawartha Lakes itself.
Part of the Trans Canada Trail or Great Trail goes through Kawartha Lakes and we took the opportunity to explore a small portion of the trail.
Farm silos in Kawartha Lakes
This silo is gigantic, compare the size with the trailer to the left
Canola (?) field in bloom
Wildflowers in bloom along the trail
Shady forested section of the trail
Ferns on the shady section of the trail
Along side the Scugog river there is a paved path for walking and cycling
Front row seat to nature
The paved path ends at the lock
House boat leaving the lock
Jun 28th, 2023, 05:24 AM
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Coboconk, Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon
Coboconk has Canada's smallest jail - rumor is that the builder didn't mortar all the stones so prisoners could escape.
Canada's highest navegable water summit is in Coboconk - third highest in the world.
Not to be confused with mountain streams that aren't navegable.
Canada's smallest jail
Canada's highest navegable water summit
Fenelon Falls is another small town along the Waterway
The Falls at Fenelon Falls
The building in the background is a restaurant with a good view of the falls
Section of the lock bridge
Lock gate
Colorful waterfront cottages near the Lock
Butterfly shaped bench in the park at the Lock
Bobcaygeon is not only the name a song by the group Tragically Hip, it is also a small town in cottage country
Bobcaygeon waterfront cottages
Houseboat waiting it's turn to go in the Lock
Approach to the Lock
At this time of the year Canada geese are very visible
Bobcaygeon has a small but nice waterfront trail park
Bobcaygeon beach
Coboconk has Canada's smallest jail - rumor is that the builder didn't mortar all the stones so prisoners could escape.
Canada's highest navegable water summit is in Coboconk - third highest in the world.
Not to be confused with mountain streams that aren't navegable.
Canada's smallest jail
Canada's highest navegable water summit
Fenelon Falls is another small town along the Waterway
The Falls at Fenelon Falls
The building in the background is a restaurant with a good view of the falls
Section of the lock bridge
Lock gate
Colorful waterfront cottages near the Lock
Butterfly shaped bench in the park at the Lock
Bobcaygeon is not only the name a song by the group Tragically Hip, it is also a small town in cottage country
Bobcaygeon waterfront cottages
Houseboat waiting it's turn to go in the Lock
Approach to the Lock
At this time of the year Canada geese are very visible
Bobcaygeon has a small but nice waterfront trail park
Bobcaygeon beach
Jul 2nd, 2023, 06:19 AM
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Peterborough
Peterborough has the highest platform lift lock in the Waterway, similar to Kirkfield lock .
Peterborough is the largest city along the Waterway with all the amenities, hotels , restaurants, shops, traffic, etc.
Peterborough lift lock
View of the lift platform and supporting towers
Inside the lock tunnel
Towers and road tunnel
Mineral deposits from water seeping into the tunnel
Boat on dry dock at the top of the lock. This boat does hour long cruises cruises to view the lock.
Peterborough has the highest platform lift lock in the Waterway, similar to Kirkfield lock .
Peterborough is the largest city along the Waterway with all the amenities, hotels , restaurants, shops, traffic, etc.
Peterborough lift lock
View of the lift platform and supporting towers
Inside the lock tunnel
Towers and road tunnel
Mineral deposits from water seeping into the tunnel
Boat on dry dock at the top of the lock. This boat does hour long cruises cruises to view the lock.
Jul 4th, 2023, 04:15 AM
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Hastings and Campbellford
Hastings is a small village in the Waterway with a side of the road attraction - a realistic sculpture of a fish made of stainless steel.
Stainless steel fish sculpture
Campbellford
In Campbellford we discovered the chocolate factory by chance, took a wrong turn that turned out to be the right turn.
Chocolates used for promotions and fund raising are made here.
Inside the store they sell those and chocolate gift baskets.
Chocolate factory
Chocolate gift baskets
Campbellford waterfront park $2 dollar coin
Suspension bridge over the river. The bridge was built by army engineers. Even though it's a suspension bridge it feels sturdy and solid.
Outside of Campbellford we found Empire cheese, a local cheese co-op.
Empire cheese store
Hastings is a small village in the Waterway with a side of the road attraction - a realistic sculpture of a fish made of stainless steel.
Stainless steel fish sculpture
Campbellford
In Campbellford we discovered the chocolate factory by chance, took a wrong turn that turned out to be the right turn.
Chocolates used for promotions and fund raising are made here.
Inside the store they sell those and chocolate gift baskets.
Chocolate factory
Chocolate gift baskets
Campbellford waterfront park $2 dollar coin
Suspension bridge over the river. The bridge was built by army engineers. Even though it's a suspension bridge it feels sturdy and solid.
Outside of Campbellford we found Empire cheese, a local cheese co-op.
Empire cheese store
Jul 7th, 2023, 06:39 AM
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Trenton Lock1
Because we are doing our trip in reverse order we are ending at the beginning Trenton Lock1.
While in Trenton we went to the airbase to see their museum and the Quinte museum that while small it has some interesting skeletons.
Lock 1 of the Trent Severn Waterway. Some kayakers were using the Lock canal
Houseboats waiting to use the Lock
Airbase museum - this is a Halifax airplane
Rear of the Halifax
The gears on a rotary engine
Airbase museum
Quinte museum, apparently this is the largest TRex skull ever found
Quinte museum
Because we are doing our trip in reverse order we are ending at the beginning Trenton Lock1.
While in Trenton we went to the airbase to see their museum and the Quinte museum that while small it has some interesting skeletons.
Lock 1 of the Trent Severn Waterway. Some kayakers were using the Lock canal
Houseboats waiting to use the Lock
Airbase museum - this is a Halifax airplane
Rear of the Halifax
The gears on a rotary engine
Airbase museum
Quinte museum, apparently this is the largest TRex skull ever found
Quinte museum
Jul 11th, 2023, 06:16 AM
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The Trent Severn Waterway can only accommodate relatively small boats, but we also wanted to see the large ocean-going ships transit through the locks.
We had enough time to go to the Welland Canal in Port Colborne to see them.
The ones we saw only had a few inches to spare on either side of the canal.
Stayed at a beachfront cottage resort Sherkston Shores.
It has two beaches , swimming pool,waterslide, minigolf, restaurant and it's mostly park cottages( trailers) and an area for a small number of RV.
One of the beaches has dunes and the water is shallow - good for children.
Large ship on the canal, only inches to spare on either side. On the background the lift bridge can be seen.
Welland Canal Lock 8 at Port Colborne
Sherkston Shores beachfront cottages
Sherkston Shores beach with dunes
That is the end of our Trent Severn Waterway road trip.
Next will be Michigan to Florida road trip.
We had enough time to go to the Welland Canal in Port Colborne to see them.
The ones we saw only had a few inches to spare on either side of the canal.
Stayed at a beachfront cottage resort Sherkston Shores.
It has two beaches , swimming pool,waterslide, minigolf, restaurant and it's mostly park cottages( trailers) and an area for a small number of RV.
One of the beaches has dunes and the water is shallow - good for children.
Large ship on the canal, only inches to spare on either side. On the background the lift bridge can be seen.
Welland Canal Lock 8 at Port Colborne
Sherkston Shores beachfront cottages
Sherkston Shores beach with dunes
That is the end of our Trent Severn Waterway road trip.
Next will be Michigan to Florida road trip.
