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. Nevertheless, there’s a enjoyable and inexpensive approach to pattern a style of the Trent Severn. Le Boat presents self-drive, luxurious houseboats to lease for a few days to a few weeks, permitting you to discover the Trent wherever you need.
In regards to the Trent Severn Waterway
The Trent-Severn Waterway is a Nationwide Historic Web site 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 means of the Trent Severn waterway, you get to move by means of this unbelievable lock.
Summer time Financial savings with Le Boat
- 2025 Early Reserving Provide – Save as much as 25%: Make the most of Le Boat’s Early Reserving supply and save as much as 25% on funds, consolation, and Consolation Plus boat leases throughout Europe. Get 15% off Le Boat’s Horizon Fleet out there for journey in Canada, France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany. E book 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: E book 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 presents 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 non-public boating holidays in Europe and Canada, publicizes the launch of its revolutionary Skipper for Rent program.
Out there 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 methods, and maneuvering by means of locks. This personalised steerage 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 comfy 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 folks. 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 folks, you possibly can simply drive this boat with two folks, however it’s definitely much more enjoyable to have additional assist with ropes when going by means of locks and mooring for the evening.
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 means of 13 locks and had an unbelievable journey on one of many world’s most lovely waterways.
The boats are very effectively geared up with sheets, duvets, and pillows. Bathtub and Hand Towels are provided, as are all cooking utensils. There’s a big water tank on board, and we have now not often wanted to refill our tank throughout a Le Boat journey. Nevertheless, you possibly can fill it on the marinas. When taking showers, maintain it brief and candy so that you gained’t should maintain refilling the tank.
We propose bringing seaside towels, additional dish towels, and cleansing towels for a seven-day journey. We additionally packed shampoo, cleaning soap, and further bathroom paper. Nevertheless, you need to use the bathrooms on the locks every evening, and they’re very clear. We suggest utilizing the general public bathrooms as a lot as doable, that approach you gained’t have to fret about emptying your tanks or filling up water throughout your seven day journey. In the event you do want a pump out, there’s an additional payment, however they’re provided at marinas alongside the waterway.
One factor we extremely suggest packing is a few additional hangers to your garments. It’s a lot simpler to arrange 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 scorching 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 workers who walked us by means of every part 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, how one can use the thrusters, navigate by means of locks and how one can 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 12 months), and we had three hours to get to our first vacation spot. This primary day is a brief day, so we propose reserving your first evening on the Peterborough Marina. The mooring charges right here usually are not included in your Le Boat rental, however staying on the marina permits you to get pleasure from time in Peterborough and to eat at our favorite restaurant The Lightouse Bar And Grill.
Canadian Canoe Museum
Positioned 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 displays 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 evening within the Peterborough marina after which making your approach again to the lock station within the morning to benefit from the museum earlier than heading up the Trent Severn Waterway.
In the event you don’t wish to pay for an evening on the Peterborough Marina, all Le Boats embrace free docking at any of the locks on the Trent Waterway. You possibly can keep at Lock 20 free of charge 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 Carry 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 together with your journey by means of the world’s highest carry lock. The Peterborough Carry Lock is a lot enjoyable to undergo. Boats drive into an enormous bucket, and as an alternative of ready for the lock to replenish with water to take you to the following stage, boats are lifted by a pully system in a large swimming pool-like bucket, taking boats up 150 toes in a mere 58 seconds.
After attending to the highest it’s a lovely day alongside the canal going by means of farmland, forests, golf programs, and beautiful cottage nation.
Stopping at Youngs Level for the evening makes for a good looking night. Right here, there’s a restaurant, store, and ice cream parlor. It’s a scenic spot with waterfalls, fowl life, and beautiful sundown views. We selected to eat on the boat utilizing the barbecue and benefit from the high deck to chill out with cocktails.
Day 3 – Younger’s Level to Buckhorn
Right this moment is an extended, scenic day driving by means of spectacular lakes and the Canadian Protect. The islands of Stony Lake are lovely, with multimillion-dollar cottages spanning its shores.
You possibly can cease for lunch on Love Sick Island, a singular lock situated on an island in the midst of the lake. It’s a historic vacation spot with climbing trails (they’re very rugged, although), picnic tables, and hearth pits. Some folks 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. This can be a actually sensible choice to spend the evening.
Day 4 – Buckhorn to Bobcaygeon
Right this moment, you wish to get going as early as doable as a result of parking is restricted in Bobcaygeon. Nevertheless, you don’t wish to miss spending the evening on this well-known Canadian city. The Tragically Hip wrote about Bobcaygeon, they usually 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 brief 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 approach slowly south to Burleigh Falls. Burleigh Falls is a good looking waterfall the place locals swim within the waves of the speeding water.
That is extra of a wild tenting night with not loads of facilities, however that’s the smartest thing about taking a Le Boat trip. The boat is absolutely stocked with every part you want. Tonight is an effective evening 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 effectively.
Day 6 – Burleigh Falls to Lakefield
The rivers run on this course, so the journey dwelling was a lot sooner. With solely two stops on the best way again, we made a good time from Bobcaygeon to Lakefield close to Burleigh Falls.
This can be a charming city to spend the evening in, with a beautiful downtown stuffed with eating places, pubs, and outlets. Be sure that to cease within the Chocolate Rabbit to select up artisanal candies. If in case you have bicycles or paddle boards (two items of substances which you can 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
Right this moment is your last 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 will have to be by means of the final lock by 6 pm so you will get to the Le Boat marina to remain in a single day because the 9 am take a look at comes early. However you will have the night to pack up and cargo your automobile, make your last meal on the barbecue, and speak 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 may have 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 workers will present you ways to do this.
Up high offers you the most effective view and management. So in case you can drive from there, more often than not, until 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, principally 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 certainly one of these. Earlier than leaving the dock, you should have an concerned lesson to find out about how one can 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 effectively, so you possibly can solely go 10 km an hour (perhaps 11 or 12 if 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. When you find yourself planning out your route, simply keep in mind that you’re solely doing 10 kilometers an hour at full velocity. So whenever you’re planning the place to go from sooner or later to the following, it would be best to take into consideration the timing.
In the course of 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 effectively.
Lock Etiquette
Boating the Trent Severn Waterway is a singular expertise. All locks are operated by Parks Canada, so there’s all the time 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 means of the locks work? It’s simple, and in case you are not sure, be certain that to ask the workers earlier than leaving the marina. Nevertheless, we’re right here to assist. Listed below are the steps of what to do when approaching a lock.
Drive as much as the blue line and watch for the pink mild to show inexperienced.
They lock workers will name you in if there isn’t any pink mild or if the lock is already open. When driving in, use your thrusters to take care of management.
These boats are tremendous simple to deal with to enter the lock. Simply drive gradual, use your thrusters and ensure to flip it into reverse to cease.
With 4 folks on the boat, there shall be one individual 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 connected to the lock that can assist to maintain the boat regular because the water rushes in.
You can be within the lock with different boats, so be respectful of their area and enter and go away in an orderly style. Whoever is within the entrance will go away 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’ll 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 big portion of the Nice Loop Tour that boaters placed on their bucket lists to take a 12 months cruising from Florida. We suggest anybody (whether or not you’re a boater or not) spend seven days cruising this lovely 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 personal eyes that you simply really admire how particular the Trent Severn and Kawarthas really are. So, begin planning your journey in the present day!
