Lockage and navigation

Rideau Canal National Historic Site

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, call 911 or *OPP (*677). Also call the Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton at 1-800-267-7270 and report your situation.

The Rideau Canal National Historic Site is operated by Parks Canada - an agency of Environment and Climate Change Canada. From May to October, the canal is open as a 202 km-long navigational waterway for boaters and paddlers. This historic lockage system and UNESCO World Heritage Site, consists of 29 individual locks, and facilitates travel up and down the canal through many remote environments and townsites. During Parks Canada's operating season, trained lockmasters and staff open the locks daily to visitors for lockage and navigation, and for land-based visitation in the surrounding green space. When visiting, the friendly lock staff are available to answer your questions, explain lock operations and offer you further assistance with your travels.


Boater information

Hours of Operation

Lockstation open and closing times, plus first and last lockage

Lockstations

Complete list of all locks on the Rideau Canal

Navigation Data

Information about lock lift, bridge clearance and distances

Technical Data

Specifications of Rideau Canal and its water depths

Navigational aids

Learn to spot and understand the directional aids for boaters

Nautical charts

What charts you need and where to buy them

Visitor safety

Search and Rescue - VHF Channel 16

Boating search and rescue operations in Ontario are jointly coordinated by the Ontario Provincial Police, the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Coast Guard and other agencies.

Marine VHF distress channel, Channel 16, is continuously monitored:

  • The distress call, MAYDAY, indicates that the station sending the signal is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance
  • The message, PANPAN, means that the sender requires help on an urgent basis

Locking through safely

Learn how to use the locks

Historic Canals Regulations

Speed limits, no wake zones, and other guidelines

Visitor Guidelines

Information about alcohol, cannabis, fires, drones, and other rules and regulations

Planning your trip

Passes and Permits

Purchase permits for locking and mooring

Overnight mooring

Stay on your boat overnight at a Parks Canada lockstation

Camping and Accommodations

Other options for boaters to stay overnight on the Rideau Canal National Historic Site

Related links

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