Starting the Trent-Severn, Our Final Segment
- hmastevens
- 9 hours ago
- 10 min read
Belleville to Trenton, ON @ Trent Port Marina
It was a peaceful morning at the marina, with the docks unusually lacking in activity. It seemed like most people were recovering from a late night of celebrating Canada Day. After breakfast, we noticed someone at the Looper boat we had seen the day before, so we walked over to say hello. We had never met but we had chatted with them in Florida on the Nebo app. We soon discovered that the boat, ChipMonk, had completed its Great Loop journey in Trenton and was now up for sale. The owners told us to reach out to them when we arrived in Campbellford where they are the Harbour Hosts and they would give us some tips. After our chat, we cast off our lines and set out for Trenton on a short and glassy stretch of water. Cam took advantage of the still water to work down below as we cruised.
As we approached Trent Port Marina, Jim and Lisa from Misty Maiden hailed us over the radio. They were preparing to head toward the first lock by dinghy and chose to wait for us while we docked. We quickly lowered our dinghy and got ready to join them. It was nice to get some fresh water running through our dinghy engine, and nice to get a look at the first lock. We had fun on our approach to what would be the final leg of our Great Loop. At the lock, we purchased our lock pass and chatted with the lock master, who was full of helpful information. Inside the lock station, we spotted a wall covered in boat cards from vessels that had passed through, many of which belonged to friends we had met along the way.
On our way back, we stopped to refuel the dinghy before heading to the marina office to register. The marina was lovely, but the sea grass was so thick that Cam had to stop and clear the prop twice. On the way back to our boat Cam paddled out to avoid having to clear the sea grass a third time.
After lunch, Cam hunkered down to work while Heather took a walk to the nearby Metro grocery store. It was a treat to find familiar gluten-free products, so she stocked up on a few staples. The marina staff had offered to return shopping carts to the store, so she was able to push the cart with the groceries back to the marina making the trip much easier.
Later, we searched for a place to have dinner and found a Swiss Chalet online. Thinking our American friends should experience the classic Canadian food chain, we made plans to go. However, just as we were about to leave, our Looper friends on Volition arrived—on only one engine. We helped them dock, and were surprised to learn that not only had they just crossed their wake, but they were at the exact slip they had departed from, marking the completion of their own Great Loop journey. We enjoyed the moment with them as we could almost touch our own Gold Flag which would be at the end of our Trent-Severn Waterway journey!
When we finally reconnected with Jim and Lisa, we tried booking an Uber to go to Swiss Chalet, only to discover it had permanently closed! Our backup plan was a fish and chips restaurant, but upon arrival, we found that it had closed early. Just when we thought we might go hungry, Lisa found a place called Tiger Chicken and Ribs that was still open and the food was pretty good. Success! As we explored the town, we found a beautiful set of angel wings on a wall that was painted by a local artist, Melissa Brant. We each took a turn having our photos taken.
With full bellies and plans set for the morning, we called it a night, ready to start the next and final segment of our adventure.
Trenton to Glen Ross, ON
The forecast predicted rain all day, but it seemed to be skirting us to the south, so we decided it was safe to venture out. Although we didn't take advantage of the free laundry at Trent Port Marina, Heather indulged in the luxury of the marina's excellent showers—and it truly was luxurious! We cast off at 9:00 AM, stopping briefly for a pump-out and diesel before heading toward the first lock.
Navigating the Trent-Severn Waterway requires more than just basic boating skills; it's essential to study your charts and understand the locking process before you begin. We witnessed this firsthand when the boat ahead of us passed on the wrong side of the red marker and headed for the bottom side of the dam. As they got close to the dam, they realized their mistake, and turned around but then made another error by pulling right up to the closed lock doors instead of waiting on the blue line. This is a dangerous move—when the lock lowers, water gushes from the gates with tremendous force, making it nearly impossible to hold your position. The blue line is painted on the shore where you can safely tie up. Being on the blue line is a signal to the lock attendants that you wish to lock through. You can also assume that the blue line is on the side of the lock where you will tie in the lock.
Fortunately, the knowledgeable and helpful lock staff at the Trent-Severn keep a close eye on boaters. The first lock is the only one that has VHF radio for communication and they hailed the boat on VHF. We kept our distance until the boat moved back to the blue line, and then we pulled in behind with Misty Maiden falling in behind us. One of the lock staff came down to speak with all three boats. We preferred to lock through with Misty Maiden, so the first boat paired with a newly arrived vessel. When it was our turn, they called Misty Maiden in first, guiding her to the front of the lock. We followed, tied up securely, and waited as the lock staff checked our positions before starting the lift. This became our routine for the rest of the day.
Our journey took us through seven locks, each with its own unique lift:
Lock 1 – Trenton: 18-foot lift
Lock 2 – Sidney: 20-foot lift
Lock 3 – Glen Miller: 27-foot lift (the tallest regular lock on the Trent-Severn)
Lock 4 – Batawa: 18-foot lift
Lock 5 – Trent: 18-foot lift
Lock 6 – Frankford: 16-foot lift
Lock 7 – Glen Ross: 10-foot lift
In total, we locked up 127 feet. One charming feature of these historic locks is that the gates are opened and closed manually. The lock staff push a heavy turnstile 10 to 15 times to open or close the gates. There are two sets of turnstiles, with one on either side for each of the upper and lower gates. Cam and I each took a turn, and the staff were happy to let us help—especially on such a hot day when any break was welcome.
At the top of Lock 7 - Glen Ross, we tied up just past the blue line for down bound vessels. Securing our boat to the large bollards proved challenging, with most of our lines ending up on the same bollard. The heat was intense, so we cooled off with a refreshing swim in the canal before strolling into town for ice cream. The local shop sells Kawartha Dairy ice cream, including a delicious dairy-free sorbet. We enjoyed it at a picnic table by the lock; a refreshing summer treat.
Later, we joined Jim and Lisa for drinks and a pleasant visit aboard their boat. As the evening unfolded, we returned to our own vessel for supper and watched local teenagers climb the old rail swing bridge, daringly leaping into the water below. We worried the noise might continue into the night, but as the sun set, the revellers disappeared, leaving us in the peaceful embrace of the Trent-Severn evening.
Glen Ross to Campbellford, ON
We got underway the next morning at 7:30 AM, aiming to reach Lock 8 by 9:00 AM when it opened. The journey was beautiful, filled with sightings of graceful swans, a solitary loon, and even a muskrat. However, with several slow sections along the way, we arrived later than expected, around 9:20 AM.
Locks 9 and 10 were spaced just 1 to 1.5 miles apart. A few miles later, we could see the impressive Ranney Falls Suspension Bridge to the right. It is suspended roughly 30 feet above the water, depending on the water level, and spans an incredible 301 feet! We turned to port to reach the flight of Locks 11 and 12. In this double lock, you enter Lock 11 and rise 24 feet before the gates open directly into Lock 12 for another 24-foot lift, totalling 48 feet. It is possible that you might encounter another boat locking down at the half way point but our boats were too big for that so there were no down bound boats.
Our lock progression for the day included:
Lock 8 – Percy Reach: 20-foot lift
Lock 9 – Myers Lock: 16-foot lift
Lock 10 – Hagues Reach: 24-foot lift
Locks 11 & 12 – Ranney Falls Flight Locks: 48-foot combined lift
This amounted to a total climb of 108 feet for the day.
Upon arrival at our reserved spot on the wall in Campbellford, we were greeted by a representative from the Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce. That was a first! After settling in, we made our way to the bank to deposit some US cash into our account, then stopped at the LCBO before heading to the famous Dooher's Bakery where we picked up our phone order. Renowned as Canada’s best bakery, we couldn’t resist enjoying a butter tart and a doughnut at one of their outdoor tables before heading back to our boat. Delicious!
After lunch, we got our bikes down and cycled back to the Ranney Falls flight locks to view them from above. We continued to the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge, a sturdy pedestrian bridge with a thrilling view of the rushing water below through the metal grate. Cam ventured to the middle of the bridge for the full experience, while Heather opted for a cautious peek from partway across.
We then crossed the vehicle bridge at the lock and headed to see the giant Toonie monument. Standing 20 feet tall, it honours the artist who designed the Toonie, Brent Townsend, who hails from Trent Hills. On our way, Cam noticed a Canadian Tire and a sign for strawberries. We were in the market for potted herbs as we got rid of ours before crossing the border. We checked Canadian Tire for herbs without success but we were
intrigued by the sign promising fresh strawberries. Following the strawberry sign led us well out of town. After a long ride, another sign announced "2 kilometres to go." When we finally arrived, we discovered they were sold out—and it was the last day of the season!Nevertheless, they convinced us to pick our own strawberries in the sweltering heat. Fifteen to twenty minutes later, we had two quarts of fresh berries.
While chatting with the farmer and his friends, we learned the farmer had once worked in the trade show industry in London and knew Cam’s business. It really is a small world! They told us to take a different route back, so we biked back into town and went to the World's Finest Chocolate store, indulging in chocolate swirls, chocolate bars, chocolate covered almonds, and cherry cordial chocolates.
Finally, back on the boat, we enjoyed a visit with Jim and Lisa. After showers and dinner, a rainstorm rolled through, but it didn't dampen our spirits as we wrapped up the day with a game night aboard Misty Maiden.
Campbellford to Hastings, ON @ Hastings Village Marina
Campbellford was bustling with boats, and we were concerned about potential delays at the first lock if all those boats were to get ahead of us. To avoid this, we pulled away from the wall at 6:50 AM and were the first to arrive at the lock which would open at 9 AM. We tied up at the blue line and began breakfast. Cam treated us to delicious French toast and bacon! Before the lock opened, four more boats arrived. When the gates opened, Misty Maiden entered first, followed by us. As the gates were about to close, the lock staff decided to let in Idaho Red, telling them to raft to us.
We travelled with the same three boats throughout the day, but the journey proved more complex than previous legs. Our route included:
Lock 13 – Campbellford: 23-foot lift, port side tie
Lock 14 – Crowe Bay: 26-foot lift, starboard side tie
Lock 15 – Healey Falls: 22-foot lift, port side tie
Locks 16 & 17 – Healey Falls Flight Locks: Two consecutive 27-foot lifts, both port ties, with no rafting allowed
Lock 18 – Hastings Lock: 9-foot lift, starboard side tie
Heather kept busy switching our big ball fenders from the port side to the starboard side and back again for the first three locks. During the flight locks, Misty Maiden and our boat tied to the port side, while Idaho Red tied to starboard. After the flight, we had to swap fenders again, but with 15 miles to the next lock, we finally had a chance to catch our breath. Heather, exhausted from all the fender swapping, even closed her eyes for a short rest during this long stretch.
As we approached Lock 18 - Hastings, the town's church steeple and old water tower came into view. We followed Misty Maiden into the lock, with Idaho Red rafting to us once again. Out of nowhere, another boat attempted to follow Idaho Red into the lock, but the lock staff quickly shooed them away. They would have to wait their turn as there was not enough room. This final lock provided a modest 9-foot lift, bringing our total climb for the day to 134 feet.
With the marina in sight, we were happy to tie up quickly for the night. The relentless heat made it another gruelling day, so we mostly stayed on the boat, enjoying the air conditioning and a quiet, restful evening.
Click on the photos below to view the images in slideshow mode. You can also watch our videos on the area including Beginning Canada's Trent-Severn Waterway and Will Heather Conquer Her Fear of Heights While Travelling the Trent-Severn Waterway? Next up, we have friends come aboard as we rise up on what was the world's highest hydraulic lift lock.
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