Heritage & Culture.
The Trent–Severn Waterway is a 386 km Parks Canada–managed National Historic Site, and Kawartha Lakes carries the central engineering features inside the municipality — the Kirkfield Lift Lock at Lock 36 (one of two hydraulic lift locks operating on the system, with a lift of 14.9 m), Lock 32 at Bobcaygeon (the first lock built on the waterway, completed in 1833), and Lock 34 at Fenelon Falls beside the falls.
The brief.
Trent–Severn lockstations are staffed during the navigation season (roughly mid-May through mid-October); off-season the lock grounds are typically open for self-guided walking, but locking-through is unavailable. Kirkfield is one of two hydraulic lift locks operating on the system, with the second at Peterborough on Lock 21 — the two are the engineering signatures of the Trent–Severn.
Bobcaygeon's Lock 32 sits in the middle of the village and is the most visited of the central-reach lockstations. Fenelon Falls' Lock 34 is alongside the falls and the village core.
4. places.
- 01
Kirkfield Lift Lock (Lock 36)
One of two hydraulic lift locks operating on the Trent–Severn; lift of 14.9 m; visitor centre and observation area.
- 02
Bobcaygeon Lockstation (Lock 32)
First lock built on the Trent–Severn, completed in 1833; staffed in season.
- 03
Fenelon Falls Lockstation (Lock 34)
Lockstation alongside the Fenelon Falls themselves, between Cameron and Sturgeon lakes.
- 04
Trent–Severn Waterway National Historic Site
386 km navigation channel and National Historic Site; Kawartha Lakes carries the central reach.
Today's read.
Cool but comfortable for layered effort · light winds · clean air.