The Trent Severn Waterway is the biggest inland waterway on the planet. Most individuals who navigate it both personal their very own boats or have outrageously priced cottages on the water. Nonetheless, there’s a enjoyable and reasonably priced method to pattern a style of the Trent Severn. Le Boat gives self-drive, luxurious houseboats to lease for a few days to a few weeks, permitting you to discover the Trent anyplace you need.
Concerning the Trent Severn Waterway
The Trent-Severn Waterway is a Nationwide Historic Website that stretches 386 kilometers from Lake Ontario’s Bay of Quinte in Trenton to Georgian Bay in Port Severn. Accomplished in 1920, the waterway options 44 locks, together with the world’s highest hydraulic carry lock in Peterborough, which raises boats 19.8 meters in buckets. When driving a Le Boat by the Trent Severn waterway, you get to move by this unimaginable lock.
Summer season Financial savings with Le Boat
- 2025 Early Reserving Supply – Save as much as 25%: Benefit from Le Boat’s Early Reserving provide and save as much as 25% on finances, consolation, and Consolation Plus boat leases throughout Europe. Get 15% off Le Boat’s Horizon Fleet obtainable for journey in Canada, France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany. Guide earlier than September 1, 2024, and safe your trip with only a 25% deposit on the time of reserving.
- Le Boat’s 2025 Lowest Value Assure: Guide your 2025 boat rental trip in Europe or Canada with confidence. If the worth drops after you’ve booked, Le Boat will refund the distinction. They assure the bottom worth as much as 90 days earlier than departure. Early Reserving gives for the 2025 season, go to https://www.leboat.ca/en/new-season or name 1-800-734-5491.
Rent A Captain with Le Boat
To make boating even simpler for first-time cruisers, Le Boat, the chief in personal boating holidays in Europe and Canada, pronounces the launch of its progressive Skipper for Rent program.
Accessible completely alongside the picturesque Canal du Midi in France beginning within the 2025 season and priced at simply US$199 per day, vacationers can enlist the experience of a seasoned Le Boat skipper to accompany them on their maiden voyage. On the primary full day of the voyage, the appointed skipper supplies visitors with hands-on instruction on boat operation, navigation strategies, and maneuvering by locks. This personalised steering instills confidence, empowering visitors to navigate independently for the rest of their tour.
For extra details about Le Boat’s Skipper for Rent program go to https://www.leboat.ca/en/new-season or name 1-800-734-5491.
Le Boat’s Horizon 2+ Boat
This was our fifth Le Boat journey so we felt very snug within the captain’s chair of our Horizon 2+ luxurious houseboat. My brother and sister-in-law Jim and Janice joined us for this journey, and the boat comfortably sleeps 4 individuals. There are two bedrooms and two loos, a full kitchen with a full-size fridge, oven, range, and barbecue on the highest deck. Dishes and cookware are provided together with washcloths and a brush and mop.
Whereas the boat sleeps 4 individuals, you possibly can simply drive this boat with two individuals, however it’s actually much more enjoyable to have further assist with ropes when going by locks and mooring for the night time.
Watch our video to be taught what to pack, how simple it’s to drive the boat, and what to anticipate when renting a Le Boat Houseboat on the Trent.
Trent Severn Waterway With Le Boat
We took a seven-day cruise from the Le Boat marina simply south of Peterborough to Bobcaygeon. Throughout our journey, we went by 13 locks and had an unimaginable journey on one of many world’s most stunning waterways.
The boats are very nicely geared up with sheets, duvets, and pillows. Bathtub and Hand Towels are provided, as are all cooking utensils. There’s a large water tank on board, and we have now not often wanted to refill our tank throughout a Le Boat journey. Nonetheless, you possibly can fill it on the marinas. When taking showers, preserve it quick and candy so that you received’t should preserve refilling the tank.
We propose bringing seaside towels, further dish towels, and cleansing towels for a seven-day journey. We additionally packed shampoo, cleaning soap, and additional bathroom paper. Nonetheless, you should utilize the bogs on the locks every night time, and they’re very clear. We suggest utilizing the general public bogs as a lot as attainable, that method you received’t have to fret about emptying your tanks or filling up water throughout your seven day journey. Should you do want a pump out, there’s an additional price, however they’re supplied at marinas alongside the waterway.
One factor we extremely suggest packing is a few further hangers on your garments. It’s a lot simpler to prepare within the closet with extra hangers.
Day 1-Arrival
We requested an early check-in for 1 pm and spent an hour loading our boat with all our provides. We packed two coolers stuffed with meals for the week and garments for each sizzling and dry climate and funky and moist climate. Canadian summers see all of it.
Le Boat Marina at Horseshoe Bay
After organizing our boat, we met the employees who walked us by every little thing we wanted to know concerning the boat after which took us on the water for a lesson on hour to drive and steer the boat, learn how to use the thrusters, navigate by locks and learn how to park a ship. By 3pm we had been on the water cruising to our first location.
Peterborough
Locks are open till 6 pm (or 6:30, relying on the time of yr), and we had three hours to get to our first vacation spot. This primary day is a brief day, so we advise reserving your first night time on the Peterborough Marina. The mooring charges right here should not included in your Le Boat rental, however staying on the marina lets you get pleasure from time in Peterborough and to eat at our favorite restaurant The Lightouse Bar And Grill.
Canadian Canoe Museum
Situated at Lock 20, the Canadian Canoe Museum is the latest attraction on the Trent Severn Waterway. This fascinating museum homes the world’s largest assortment of canoes, kayaks, and watercraft. We spent about an hour having fun with its reveals that showcase the Indigenous origins of the canoe, the function of the fur commerce in these waters, and the evolution of leisure paddling. There are interactive shows and hands-on actions making it enjoyable for all ages.
The Canadian Canoe Museum is open every day from 10 am to 5pm. We propose spending the night time within the Peterborough marina after which making your method again to the lock station within the morning to benefit from the museum earlier than heading up the Trent Severn Waterway.
Should you don’t wish to pay for an evening on the Peterborough Marina, all Le Boats embody free docking at any of the locks on the Trent Waterway. You possibly can keep at Lock 20 without spending a dime and stroll the 5 minutes to the Canadian Canoe Museum within the morning, or you may also drive on to the Peterborough carry lock and keep there. It’s a simple taxi or Uber trip into city, or you possibly can merely keep on the boat and benefit from the views.
Day 2 – Peterborough to Younger’s Level
Peterborough Elevate Lock
Day two is a good day to spend 4 or 5 hours on the waterway. There’s a lot to see on this present day, starting along with your journey by the world’s highest carry lock. The Peterborough Elevate Lock is a lot enjoyable to undergo. Boats drive into an enormous bucket, and as an alternative of ready for the lock to refill with water to take you to the subsequent stage, boats are lifted by a pully system in an enormous swimming pool-like bucket, taking boats up 150 ft in a mere 58 seconds.
After attending to the highest it’s a stunning day alongside the canal going by farmland, forests, golf programs, and wonderful cottage nation.
Stopping at Youngs Level for the night time makes for a wonderful night. Right here, there’s a restaurant, store, and ice cream parlor. It’s a scenic spot with waterfalls, fowl life, and lovely sundown views. We selected to eat on the boat utilizing the barbecue and benefit from the prime deck to chill out with cocktails.
Day 3 – Younger’s Level to Buckhorn
At the moment is a protracted, scenic day driving by spectacular lakes and the Canadian Defend. The islands of Stony Lake are stunning, with multimillion-dollar cottages spanning its shores.
You possibly can cease for lunch on Love Sick Island, a novel lock situated on an island in the midst of the lake. It’s a historic vacation spot with mountaineering trails (they’re very rugged, although), picnic tables, and hearth pits. Some individuals select to remain in a single day on this island for a quieter night.
When you attain Buckhorn, it’s a big dock with a number of parking spots on the lock. You should buy energy for round $10 if you wish to use the air-con, kitchen, or some other electronics. There’s a liquor retailer, waterfront restaurant, and native retailer to buy any provides, ice, and water. It is a actually sensible choice to spend the night time.
Day 4 – Buckhorn to Bobcaygeon
At the moment, you wish to get going as early as attainable as a result of parking is restricted in Bobcaygeon. Nonetheless, you don’t wish to miss spending the night time on this well-known Canadian city. The Tragically Hip wrote about Bobcaygeon, and so they took benefit of their fame by promoting T-shirts with the lyrics on them. Sure, we purchased the T-shirt.
That is the place to buy groceries with a number of shops promoting clothes, footwear, and souvenirs. There are many eating places to select from and there are bars, patios and microbreweries.
We ate at Gaz, which had a incredible ambiance and scrumptious meals. It was only a quick stroll from the dock overlooking the canal.
Day 5 – Bobcaygeon to Burleigh Falls
If in case you have longer, you possibly can go to Fenlan Falls, however with solely two days left in our itinerary, we started the journey again. After having breakfast and ice cream in Bobcaygeon, we made our method slowly south to Burleigh Falls. Burleigh Falls is a wonderful waterfall the place locals swim within the waves of the speeding water.
That is extra of a wild tenting night with not a variety of facilities, however that’s the smartest thing about taking a Le Boat trip. The boat is totally stocked with every little thing you want. Tonight is an efficient night time to have a barbecue on deck, play some playing cards or sit across the picnic desk. If you wish to stroll to the Burleigh Inn, you possibly can go there for dinner. It’s only a 5 minute stroll and there’s a nation retailer close to there as nicely.
Day 6 – Burleigh Falls to Lakefield
The rivers run on this path, so the journey dwelling was a lot quicker. With solely two stops on the way in which again, we made a good time from Bobcaygeon to Lakefield close to Burleigh Falls.
It is a charming city to spend the night time in, with a stunning downtown stuffed with eating places, pubs, and retailers. Ensure that to cease within the Chocolate Rabbit to select up artisanal goodies. If in case you have bicycles or paddle boards (two items of drugs that you would be able to lease from Le Boat), this can be a good place to strive them out. The water is calm, and there are biking trails close by.
Day 7 Lakefield to Le Boat
At the moment is your ultimate day on the Trent Severn Waterway, so take your time and cease in any respect the locks and locations you missed between right here and Horseshoe Bay at Le Boat. Cease and have a picnic lunch, pop into Peterborough, lay on the seaside at lock 20 or just chill out on the waters.
You have to to be by the final lock by 6 pm so you may get to the Le Boat marina to remain in a single day because the 9 am take a look at comes early. However you might have the night to pack up and cargo your automobile, make your ultimate meal on the barbecue, and discuss with different Le Boaters to see how their journeys went. It really is an incredible week on the water.
How Tough Are Le Boats to Drive?
The Horizon boats by Le Boat are extraordinarily simple houseboats to drive.
You’ve gotten two choices for the place to steer the boat. You possibly can steer it both from the highest flybridge or beneath within the cabin. It’s a simple shift to flip the steering from beneath to above, and the Le Boat employees will present you ways to try this.
Up prime offers you the very best view and management. So in case you can drive from there, more often than not, except it’s inclement climate,
The precise management of the boat is tremendous simple. The boats include each bow and stern hydraulic thrusters, which let you maneuver the entrance of the boat and the again of the boat, mainly aspect to aspect, which actually helps in docking and even going into the locks themselves.
One factor about renting with Le Boat is that y you don’t want a ship license to drive one among these. Earlier than leaving the dock, you’ll have an concerned lesson to find out about learn how to deal with the boat. They educate you to show the boat, steer it, park it and run you thru all the protection options.
There are limiters on the boat as nicely, so you possibly can solely go 10 km an hour (possibly 11 or 12 in case you have the wind and present behind you. So, in case you comply with the buoys and markers, it’s simple to remain in management.
Planning your Trent Severn Waterway Itinerary
From the Le Boat docks, you possibly can select to go south to Trenton or north to Peterborough and past. If you find yourself planning out your route, simply do not forget that you’re solely doing 10 kilometers an hour at full velocity. So while you’re planning the place to go from at some point to the subsequent, it would be best to take into consideration the timing.
Through the excessive season, you possibly can spend an hour or so on the lock ready for boats to undergo. So our greatest recommendation is to ask the lock masters how busy the locks are forward of you and the way far they assume it is possible for you to to get. They know these waters nicely.
Lock Etiquette
Boating the Trent Severn Waterway is a novel expertise. All locks are operated by Parks Canada, so there’s at all times somebody on the lock stations to ask for recommendation. They carry a wealth of details about the historical past of the locks and the native space and waters.
So, how does going by the locks work? It’s simple, and in case you are uncertain, make sure that to ask the employees earlier than leaving the marina. Nonetheless, we’re right here to assist. Listed here are the steps of what to do when approaching a lock.
Drive as much as the blue line and look forward to the pink gentle to show inexperienced.
They lock employees will name you in if there isn’t any pink gentle or if the lock is already open. When driving in, use your thrusters to keep up management.
These boats are tremendous simple to deal with to enter the lock. Simply drive sluggish, use your thrusters and ensure to flip it into reverse to cease.
With 4 individuals on the boat, there will likely be one particular person dealing with the ropes on the again and one other on the entrance. When the boat will get into place, all they should do is loop the ropes on the lengthy cables hooked up to the lock that can assist to maintain the boat regular because the water rushes in.
You may be within the lock with different boats, so be respectful of their area and enter and depart in an orderly vogue. Whoever is within the entrance will depart first, after which that aspect will comply with earlier than the opposite aspect exits.
If in case you have any questions, ask the lock grasp; they are going to have the ability to let you know the place to go.
Cruising the Trent Severn Water is without doubt one of the best boat journeys on earth. It’s a large portion of the Nice Loop Tour that boaters placed on their bucket lists to take a yr cruising from Florida. We suggest anybody (whether or not you’re a boater or not) spend seven days cruising this stunning a part of Canada. As Dave mentioned, phrases and images can not seize the great thing about the Trent. It’s by seeing it with your individual eyes that you just really respect how particular the Trent Severn and Kawarthas really are. So, begin planning your journey immediately!
