Trent Severn Lock 26 - Lakefield
The Trent Severn Waterway extends from Lake Ontario to the Bay of Quinte, joining many lakes along the way. Lock 26 is located just below Lakefield and is one of 7 locks between Peterborough and Lakefield.
The Trent Severn Waterway is one of the great advantages to owning cottage property in the Kawarthas as it allows boaters to travel from one lake to another throughout the canal system.
Construction on the Trent Severn Waterway started in about 1820 and took over 87 years to complete. The full waterway opened for navigation in 1920 running from the Bay of Quinte to Lake Ontario. The first lock was built in Bobcaygeon and the canal grew out from there.
Lock 26 in Lakefield has one of the largest drops along the river portion of the Trent system. It has a change in level of 16’, and is one of the last manually operated locks still in use.
As you travel the Trent Severn you will experience an array of landscapes from the lush Trent Valley, through drumlins and into the exposed rocky Canadian shield of Stoney Lake, and some of the northern lakes in the system.
As a cottage owner on the Trent system, you are not limited to just your lake, but can travel from lake to lake through the locks. A day trip can often let you travel to 3 or 4 lakes and make it safely back before the locks close for the evening. It is also easy to rent a boat at one of the local marinas and explore the lakes and the area.