Paddling — Flatwater.
The Peterborough Lift Lock — Lock 21 of the Trent–Severn Waterway, opened in 1904 — sits a short paddle north of downtown Little Lake, lifting boats 19.8 m between the upper and lower reaches of the Otonabee. Flatwater paddling carries from Beavermead Park's Little Lake launch through the city's urban canal stretch and on into the Kawartha Lakes chain north of Lakefield.
The brief.
The Peterborough stretch of the Trent–Severn comprises Locks 19 (Trent University), 20 (Ashburnham), 21 (the Lift Lock), and 22 (Nassau Mills). Lockage operates on a Parks Canada navigation-season schedule, typically mid-May through mid-October, and locking through requires the published navigation fee — paddlers can lock through with motor traffic.
Beavermead Park and Del Crary Park provide the easiest in-city launches into the canal system. Out-of-city flatwater includes the Indian River through Warsaw Caves Conservation Area in Douro–Dummer Township, where the river runs through karst kettle holes.
The Trent–Severn closes to navigation roughly mid-October through mid-May; ice covers the Otonabee through winter.
4. places.
- 01
Otonabee River through downtown
Flatwater paddling between Locks 19 and 22, with downtown access at Beavermead and Del Crary parks.
- 02
Trent–Severn Waterway through Peterborough (Locks 19–22)
Auburn (Lock 19), Ashburnham (Lock 20), Peterborough Lift Lock (Lock 21), Nassau Mills (Lock 22) — the urban canal stretch.
- 03
Little Lake
Small lake within central Peterborough on the Otonabee/Trent system; Del Crary and Beavermead launches.
- 04
Indian River (Warsaw Caves CA)
Flatwater paddling through karst kettle-hole landscape in adjacent Douro–Dummer Township.
Today's read.
Temperature (4.7°C) below the typical range.