The Trent Severn Waterway is the biggest inland waterway on this 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 reasonably priced option to pattern a style of the Trent Severn. Le Boat affords self-drive, luxurious houseboats to hire for a few days to a few weeks, permitting you to discover the Trent anyplace 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 elevate lock in Peterborough, which raises boats 19.8 meters in buckets. When driving a Le Boat by way of the Trent Severn waterway, you get to go by way of 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 funds, consolation, and Consolation Plus boat leases throughout Europe. Get 15% off Le Boat’s Horizon Fleet accessible 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 value drops after you’ve booked, Le Boat will refund the distinction. They assure the bottom value as much as 90 days earlier than departure. Early Reserving affords 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 modern 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 offers visitors with hands-on instruction on boat operation, navigation strategies, and maneuvering by way of locks. This customized 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 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 bogs, 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’ll be able to simply drive this boat with two individuals, however it’s definitely much more enjoyable to have additional assist with ropes when going by way 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 way of 13 locks and had an unimaginable journey on one of many world’s most lovely waterways.

The boats are very effectively geared up with sheets, duvets, and pillows. Tub and Hand Towels are provided, as are all cooking utensils. There’s a enormous water tank on board, and now we have not often wanted to refill our tank throughout a Le Boat journey. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to fill it on the marinas. When taking showers, maintain it brief and candy so that you gained’t need to maintain refilling the tank.

We advise bringing seashore towels, additional dish towels, and cleansing towels for a seven-day journey. We additionally packed shampoo, cleaning soap, and additional rest room 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 attainable, that means you gained’t have to fret about emptying your tanks or filling up water throughout your seven day journey. If you happen to do want a pump out, there’s an additional price, 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 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 workers who walked us by way of all the things we wanted to know in regards to the boat after which took us on the water for a lesson on hour to drive and steer the boat, the right way to use the thrusters, navigate by way of locks and the right way to park a ship. By 3pm we have 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 evening on the Peterborough Marina. The mooring charges right here aren’t included in your Le Boat rental, however staying on the marina lets you take pleasure in 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 position 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 each day from 10 am to 5pm. We advise spending the evening within the Peterborough marina after which making your means again to the lock station within the morning to benefit from the museum earlier than heading up the Trent Severn Waterway.

If you happen to 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 at no cost and stroll the 5 minutes to the Canadian Canoe Museum within the morning, or you can even drive on to the Peterborough elevate lock and keep there. It’s a straightforward taxi or Uber journey into city, or you’ll be able to merely keep on the boat and benefit from the views.

Day 2 – Peterborough to Younger’s Level

Peterborough Raise 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 way of the world’s highest elevate lock. The Peterborough Raise Lock is a lot enjoyable to undergo. Boats drive into an enormous bucket, and as a substitute of ready for the lock to refill with water to take you to the following degree, boats are lifted by a pully system in a large swimming pool-like bucket, taking boats up 150 ft in a mere 58 seconds.

After attending to the highest it’s a lovely day alongside the canal going by way of farmland, forests, golf programs, and beautiful cottage nation.

Stopping at Youngs Level for the evening makes for a gorgeous night. Right here, there’s a restaurant, store, and ice cream parlor. It’s a scenic spot with waterfalls, chook life, and beautiful sundown views. We selected to eat on the boat utilizing the barbecue and benefit from the prime deck to loosen up with cocktails.

Day 3 – Younger’s Level to Buckhorn

At this time is an extended, scenic day driving by way of spectacular lakes and the Canadian Defend. 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 novel lock situated on an island in the course of the lake. It’s a historic vacation spot with mountain climbing 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 purchase energy for round $10 if you wish to use the air-con, kitchen, or every 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

At this time, you wish to get going as early as attainable as a result of parking is proscribed in Bobcaygeon. Nevertheless, you don’t wish to miss spending the evening 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 implausible environment and scrumptious meals. It was only a brief stroll from the dock overlooking the canal.

Day 5 – Bobcaygeon to Burleigh Falls

In case you have longer, you’ll be able to 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 means slowly south to Burleigh Falls. Burleigh Falls is a gorgeous waterfall the place locals swim within the waves of the speeding water.

That is extra of a wild tenting night with not lots of facilities, however that’s the smartest thing about taking a Le Boat trip. The boat is absolutely stocked with all the things you want. Tonight is an efficient 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’ll be able to 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 residence 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.

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 choose up artisanal candies. In case you have bicycles or paddle boards (two items of substances that you may hire 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 this time 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 seashore at lock 20 or just loosen up on the waters.

You will have to be by way of 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’ve gotten 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 actually is a tremendous week on the water.

How Troublesome Are Le Boats to Drive?

The Horizon boats by Le Boat are extraordinarily simple houseboats to drive.

You’ve got two choices for the place to steer the boat. You possibly can steer it both from the highest flybridge or under within the cabin. It’s a straightforward shift to flip the steering from under to above, and the Le Boat workers will present you the way to do this.

Up prime offers you one of the best view and management. So for those who 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’ll have an concerned lesson to find out about the right way to deal with the boat. They educate you to show the boat, steer it, park it and run you thru all the security options.

There are limiters on the boat as effectively, so you’ll be able to solely go 10 km an hour (perhaps 11 or 12 if in case you have the wind and present behind you. So, for those who 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’ll be able to select to go south to Trenton or north to Peterborough and past. When you’re planning out your route, simply keep in mind that you’re solely doing 10 kilometers an hour at full pace. So once you’re planning the place to go from someday to the following, it would be best to take into consideration the timing.

Throughout the excessive season, you’ll be able to 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 novel 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 way 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 here are the steps of what to do when approaching a lock.

Drive as much as the blue line and look forward to the crimson gentle to show inexperienced.

They lock workers will name you in if there isn’t a crimson gentle 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 individuals 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 need to do is loop the ropes on the lengthy cables hooked up to the lock that may 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 house 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.

In case you have any questions, ask the lock grasp; they may be capable to let you know the place to go.

Cruising the Trent Severn Water is among the biggest boat journeys on earth. It’s a enormous 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 lovely a part of Canada. As Dave stated, phrases and photographs can’t seize the great thing about the Trent. It’s by seeing it with your personal eyes that you just actually respect how particular the Trent Severn and Kawarthas actually are. So, begin planning your journey right this moment!