Lock 25 — Lock 25 – Sawyer Creek

Lock 25 — Sawer Creek sits on the Otonabee River at kilometre 156.6 (mile 97.3), roughly 2.2 kilometres south of the village of Lakefield in the Township of Douro-Dummer. It is the fourth in a chain of slow-operating valve-gate locks that lift boats upstream between Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes. What makes Lock 25 stand out among the waterway’s 44 lockstations is its shower facilities — it is the only lock on the entire Trent-Severn system where boaters can access showers, one installed in each restroom. The surrounding landscape is rural and quietly wooded, with the Otonabee threading between low, green banks on its way toward Katchewanooka Lake.

Construction of Lock 25 began in 1895 as part of the Otonabee River division of the canal. The original engineering survey, completed by Nicol Hugh Baird in 1833, called for 14 locks to manage the elevation change between Peterborough and Chemong Lake. By the time construction commenced more than sixty years later, advances in hydraulic engineering allowed chief engineer R.B. Rogers to accomplish the same elevation gain with just 11 locks. The chamber provides a modest 3-metre (10-foot) lift through its slow-operating valve gates. In 2016, Parks Canada undertook a significant rehabilitation of Lock 25, including concrete repairs within the chamber and full replacement of the lower approach wall — work that ensures the century-old structure can continue serving the waterway for decades to come.

Boaters approaching Lock 25 should be alert to prevailing westerly winds, which can gust through the river corridor and complicate the final approach. Current below the lock can turn turbulent during periods of higher flow, so tend your lines carefully. Mooring is available on the east wall both above and below the lock, with additional space above on the west wall where picnic tables invite a leisurely stop. The maximum overnight tie-up is two nights, and the grounds include camping, potable water, washrooms with showers, and a picnic area. Lakefield — a charming resort village known as the Gateway to the Kawartha Lakes — lies about 2.2 kilometres upstream and offers grocery stores, restaurants, a post office, and a pharmacy, all reachable by a short drive or one more lock transit northward through Lock 26.

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▲ Above Lock

📍 GPS: 44.4007°N, 78.265°W · [VERIFY — Parks Canada], Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield Township, Peterborough County, Ontario, ON · Get Directions ↗ · Street View ↗

For navigation, use CHS Chart #2023 — this map is for reference only and should not be used for marine navigation.

Boater Orientation Notes:

• Lock 25 is rural — no businesses within walking distance. All amenities in Lakefield (~3.5 km north, ~5—7 min drive).
• Only TSW lockhouse with showers (one per washroom). Also has picnic tables, grills, and green space.
• Lakefield village has a full range of services on Queen St — grocery, restaurants, LCBO, pharmacy, hardware, and laundromat.
• Consider transiting to Lock 26 and docking at Lakefield Marina for direct walking access to the village.
• Paris Marine (2.5 km south) and Toth Marine (3.8 km in Lakefield) are the closest marine repair options.

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Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Cute little place. Not much going on here — this lock is really just setting you up for the run on up to Lakefield. Push through to Lakefield if you can. Lakefield can get busy, but it’s worth the extra few kilometres because there’s nothing at Sawyer Creek. APPROACH: this lock can be turbulent on the bottom side. There have been many reports of turbulence on the lower approach over the years, so do some looking around and approach cautiously. Don’t come in casual. HEADS UP AT THE TOP: once you reach the upper side, you can get gusty winds — the lock is open to the west, so prevailing weather hits you as soon as you clear the chamber.

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 ↗