Northbound Loopers reaching Lock 18 at Hastings have cleared seventeen locks and roughly 82 kilometres of the Trent River corridor since entering at Trenton. This is a natural rest stop — the last lock before 60 kilometres of open cruising across Rice Lake and up the Otonabee River toward Peterborough. Stock up on provisions in the village, top off water at the lockstation, and enjoy the small-town pace before the next lockage at Scotts Mills. For voyage planning resources, visit AGLCA.
Lock 18 sits on the north bank of the Trent River at the village of Hastings, kilometre 82.3 of the Trent-Severn Waterway. It is the last lock northbound boaters will encounter before entering Rice Lake, with 60 kilometres of open channel stretching upstream to the next lockstation at Scotts Mills (Lock 19) near Peterborough. The Hastings Swing Bridge, with a closed vertical clearance of just 1.5 metres (5 feet), stands immediately west of the lock chamber and opens in conjunction with each lockage. A conspicuous green water tower on high ground north of the east entrance serves as a useful landmark on approach. Hastings brands itself “The Hub of the Trent” and is one of the friendliest stops on the lower waterway, with a supermarket, restaurants, liquor store, and the municipal Hastings Village Marina all within easy walking distance of the lock walls.
The original masonry lock at this site was built at Crooks Rapids in 1838 at a cost of $25,000, making it one of the earliest structures on the waterway. The settlement was later renamed Hastings in 1852. After fires destroyed the original milling complex and timber dam, Randolph MacDonald & Company won the contract to construct the present concrete lock, dam, and railway piers. [VERIFY — Parks Canada: specific year of concrete lock construction] An overhead power cable crossing the lock provides a vertical clearance of 12.2 metres (40 feet), and additional overhead cables southwest of the village between kilometres 83 and 84 have clearances of 14.3 and 15.2 metres (47 and 50 feet) respectively.
Boaters approaching from below will find the painted blue line on the north wall with mooring room for one or two vessels. The preferred overnight position is above the lock, where the blue line runs along the south wall and seven 40-foot boats can tie along the north wall. Mooring above puts you closer to the village shops and Saturday farmers’ market (seasonal), while mooring below is quieter and nearer to washrooms. Potable water is available at the lockstation. The adjacent Hastings Village Marina, a municipal facility on the south shore upstream, offers floating finger docks with depths to 2.4 metres (8 feet), shore power, water, pump-out, showers, Wi-Fi, and a double-width concrete launch ramp. It is an essential stop for Great Loop cruisers needing to provision or stretch their legs before the long open-water crossing of Rice Lake.
| Official Name | Lock 18 — Hastings Parks Canada |
| Lock Number | 18 |
| GPS Coordinates | 44°18’32.0”N, 77°57’21.1”W Parks Canada |
| Street Address | 4 Bridge St. N, Hastings, Ontario Parks Canada |
| KM Marker | 82.3 km (Mile 51.1) CHS CEN309 |
| Region | Northumberland County |
| Water Body | Trent River |
| CHS Nautical Chart | #2021 CHS |
| Nearest Municipality | Hastings (Trent Hills), Ontario |
| Historic Construction | Original masonry lock 1838; current concrete lock by Randolph MacDonald & Company [VERIFY — Parks Canada] Parks Canada |
| Lock Phone | (705) 696-2864 Parks Canada |
| trentsevern@pc.gc.ca |
| Parameter | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Lock Number | 18 | |
| Average Lift | 2.74 m | 9 ft |
| Chamber Length | 46.9 m | 154 ft |
| Chamber Width | 9.7 m | 32 ft |
| Maximum Draft System-wide | 1.8 m | 6 ft |
| Gate Type | Standard mitre | |
| VHF Channel | Channel None | |
| Operating Season Parks Canada | Mid-May to mid-October | |
| Max Mooring Period Parks Canada | 5 nights | |
| Permit Required | Yes — 1‑888‑773‑8888 or parks.canada.ca | |
| Electricity | ✗ Not Available | |
| Potable Water | ✔ Available | |
| Pump-Out | ✗ Not Available | |
| Operator | Parks Canada — Environment and Climate Change Canada | |
| Lock Phone Parks Canada | (705) 696-2864 | |
▲ Above Lock
▼ Below Lock
▲ Above Lock
📌 ~28 km from lock
🌊 Depths: 15/10 ft (approach/dock)
▼ Below Lock
📌 Adjacent from lock
📍 GPS: 44.3083532°N, 77.9557°W · 4 Bridge St. N, Hastings, Ontario, Trent Hills (Hastings), Ontario, ON · Get Directions ↗ · Street View ↗
For navigation, use CHS Chart #2022 — this map is for reference only and should not be used for marine navigation.
☎ Deal Taxi Ltd. — (705) 778-7979 — CASH ONLY. Serves Hastings, Campbellford, Warkworth, Havelock, Norwood. Summer hours: Mon—Thu 7 AM—midnight, Fri/Sat 7 AM—2:30 AM, Sun 7 AM—11 PM. Also delivers food and alcohol.
☎ Trent Hills Transit — (705) 696-3891 — Limited scheduled community transit connecting Hastings, Campbellford, Warkworth. $4.00/ride. Schedule varies — call ahead. 🔗
No Uber/Lyft confirmed in this area.
Boater Orientation Notes:
- Hastings is a compact, walkable village — nearly all amenities within a 5-minute walk of Lock 18.
- No full-size grocery store in the village — Hasty Market (convenience) is the closest option; nearest supermarket is in Campbellford (~20 min) or Norwood (~15 min).
- No pharmacy in Hastings — nearest is in Campbellford or Norwood.
- Propane exchange and refill available at Hastings Esso (91 Bridge St S, ~700 m south of the lock).
- Hastings is the only place in Ontario where fishing from the bridge is legally permitted — famous for pickerel below the dam.
🛒 Grocery
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Beer Store 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-2871 | ⭐ N/A | 350 m | Walkable |
| Farmers Market (Hastings) 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-2027 | ⭐ N/A | 200 m | Walkable |
| Hasty Market | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | 350 m | Walkable |
| LCBO 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-2291 | ⭐ N/A | 300 m | Walkable |
🍴 Restaurants
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Bridgewater Coffee & Pizza 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-2920 | ⭐ 4.6 | 150 m | Walkable |
| Captain’s Table Restaurant | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-3993 | ⭐ 4.4 | 250 m | Walkable |
| Jiang’s Restaurant | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-1288 | ⭐ 4.5 | 350 m | Walkable |
| Lady B’s Bistro | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-3739 | ⭐ N/A | 100 m | Walkable |
| McGillicafey’s Pub & Eatery 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-3600 | ⭐ 4.4 | 100 m | Walkable |
| Roma’s Pizzeria 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-1414 | ⭐ 4.7 | 200 m | Walkable |
| Subway 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-3636 | ⭐ N/A | 200 m | Walkable |
🏛 Local Interests
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Bridge Street Fishing 🔗 | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | 100 m | Walkable |
| Hastings Village Marina 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-3226 | ⭐ N/A | 400 m | Walkable |
| Hastings Waterfront Park 🔗 | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | 150 m | Walkable |
| Lang-Hastings Rail Trail (Trans Canada Trail) 🔗 | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | 300 m | Walkable |
| Lock 18 Park and Lockstation 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-2864 | ⭐ 4.7 | On-site | Walkable |
🔧 Support & Services
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Hastings Esso Gas Bar & Variety 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-2411 | ⭐ 3.1 | 700 m | Walkable |
| Hastings Home Hardware | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | 250 m | Walkable |
| Hastings Laundromat | Let’s Go! | (705) 696-2596 | ⭐ N/A | 350 m | Walkable |
Last Updated: March 18, 2026
Relatively short lift. On approach to the lower end, the current can have a bit of a swirl, so be ready for it. You also get some wind exposure here — not a high-walled lock, so wind isn’t blocked the way it is in some of the deeper chambers. Manageable, but don’t be surprised by it. BLUE LINE IS ON THE STARBOARD SIDE both entering and exiting going northbound, so no fender-switching drama like you had at Campbellford and Healey 15. Once you come out the top side of the lock, you get a nice view — there’s a public park on the starboard side, and it’s a great place to tie up if you need to let the dog off. Walking-distance amenities include an LCBO and a small pub right there at the dock, plus other services in town if you need them.
Shoal locations, rock hazards, and current data for Lock 18 – Hastings are being compiled from CHS CEN309 and current Notices to Mariners. Check notmar.gc.ca for active advisories. CHS
Weather data for navigation planning purposes only. Always check Environment and Climate Change Canada’s official marine forecast before making operational decisions. weather.gc.ca ↗