Lock 37 – Bolsover | Captain Dustin’s Guide to the Trent-Severn Waterway

Overview — Lock 37 – Bolsover

Vessels passing Lock 37 Bolsover are now on the downstream section of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Channel marker convention has reversed since Lock 36 Kirkfield — heading northbound toward Georgian Bay you are downbound, so red markers are now on your PORT hand and green to starboard. Boaters trained on the Lake Ontario convention must adjust before proceeding.

Lock 37 Bolsover sits on the Talbot River and Trent Canal at KM 284.9, approximately 3.2 km (2 mi) downstream of Canal Lake in the Township of Brock, Ontario. It is the first lock of the downstream descent from the height of land at Kirkfield and holds the distinction of being the deepest manual lock on the entire Trent-Severn Waterway, with a drop of 6.6 m (22 ft). The community of Bolsover lies roughly 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northeast of the lockstation. CHS CEN309 §219

Lock 37 was constructed as part of the Balsam–Simcoe Division of the Trent-Severn Waterway, a section engineered between 1900 and 1907 to connect Canal Lake to Lake Simcoe through a combination of man-made canal, natural waterway, locks, and dams. The lock operates as a slow-valve-gate lock and is manually operated by Parks Canada staff during the navigation season. Two swing bridges near Bolsover — one at KM 282 and another near KM 284.5 — each have a closed vertical clearance of just 1.5 m (5 ft) and open on request during operating hours. [VERIFY — Parks Canada: exact construction year] Parks Canada

Mooring at Lock 37 is available above and below the chamber, with painted blue lines designating tie-up zones on multiple walls. Overnight stays of up to two nights are permitted, and the lockstation grounds include camping, potable water, washrooms, showers, and a picnic area — making it a comfortable overnight stop. Shore power is not available. The town of Bolsover offers a small grocery store and a handful of restaurants, roughly a two-mile walk from the lock. Sunset Cove Marina, located upstream near KM 284, provides transient slips, fuel, and services for boaters preparing for the five-lock descent to Lake Simcoe. Parks Canada TSW Database

Official Name	Lock 37 — Bolsover Parks Canada
Lock Number	37
GPS Coordinates	44°30’59.5”N 79°05’24.8”W Parks Canada
Street Address	[VERIFY — Parks Canada]
KM Marker	KM 284.9 (Mile 177.0) CHS CEN309
Region	Balsam–Simcoe Division, Township of Brock, Durham Region
Water Body	Talbot River & Trent Canal CHS CEN309
CHS Nautical Chart	#2025-3 CHS
Nearest Municipality	Bolsover, Ontario
Historic Construction	Balsam–Simcoe Division, c. 1900–1907 [VERIFY — Parks Canada]
Lock Phone	(705) 426-9681 Parks Canada
Email	trentsevern@pc.gc.ca

Parks Canada — Lock 37 ↗
Parks Canada Hours ↗
Transport Canada ↗
CHS Charts ↗
AGLCA ↗
Waterway Guide ↗

⚠ Report a Data Error on this page ↗

Navigation Notes — Lock 37 – Bolsover

⬆ Upstream Approach — Southbound (Ascending toward Kirkfield)

Southbound (returning toward Lake Ontario) — ascending through Lock 37. Southbound vessels arrive from below (Talbot Lake side) and stage at the blue line on the west wall. The lock rises 22 ft — the deepest manual lock on the entire TSW. Wait for the signal from lock staff before entering.

⚠ Two swing bridges — 5 ft clearance when closed. On the southbound approach from below, two swing bridges cross the canal near Bolsover (KM 282 and KM 284.5). Both have only 5 ft clearance when closed. Both open on signal during operating hours. Confirm each bridge is fully open before proceeding through.

BELOW LOCK: Blue line on west wall. Staging for southbound (ascending) lockage.
North wall below: ample mooring. Some turbulence from lock operation possible.
Max mooring: 2 nights. No shore power. Potable water, washrooms, showers on-site.
Sunset Cove Marina (~1.5 km upstream): transient slips to 75 ft, fuel, services.

⬇ Downstream Approach — Northbound (Descending toward Georgian Bay)

⚠ First downstream lock after Kirkfield — review crew procedures before arrival. This is the first conventional descending lock on the Georgian Bay side. Northbound vessels enter from ABOVE the lock and are lowered 22 ft. This is the opposite direction to every lock from Trenton to Kirkfield. Crew must understand the procedure: arrive at the top, enter the chamber, descend, exit at the bottom. Lock staff will assist but ensure the crew is prepared.

⚠ Do not cleat lines during descent. On descent, lines must be slackened and tended by hand as the water level drops. Do not let lines snag on the lock hardware, particularly the wooden block at the top of the gate — a caught line during descent creates a serious capsize risk. Tend lines throughout the full 22 ft drop.

⚠ Two swing bridges — 5 ft (1.5 m) clearance when closed. Two swing bridges cross the canal near Bolsover: one at KM 282 and another near KM 284.5. Both open on signal during operating hours. Clearance when closed is only 5 ft — do not attempt passage until each bridge is fully open. Signal the bridge operator well in advance on approach.

⚠ Buoy reversal in effect. Red markers are to PORT, green to STARBOARD heading northbound toward Georgian Bay. Confirm on chartplotter. See Lock 36 Kirkfield for full reversal details.

ABOVE LOCK: Blue line on north wall near dam. Staging for northbound (descending) lockage.
South wall above: mooring for several boats.
Max mooring: 2 nights. No shore power. Potable water, washrooms, showers, camping on-site.
Sunset Cove Marina (~1.5 km upstream): last fuel and services before the five-lock descent to Lake Simcoe.

⚠ Channel Markers Reversed: Post-Kirkfield locks — red and green buoys are on opposite sides compared to Locks 1–35. Northbound is now downstream. This catches experienced boaters off guard.

Current Hazard	⚠ First downstream lock — review crew procedures before arrival. Lock 37 Bolsover is the first conventional descending lock after the Kirkfield Lift Lock. Northbound vessels now enter from ABOVE (top of lock) and are lowered down. This is the reverse of every lock from Trenton to Kirkfield. Ensure crew understands the procedure before arriving: stage at the blue line above, enter at the top, descend 22 ft, exit at the bottom. ⚠ Two swing bridges — 5 ft (1.5 m) clearance when closed. Two swing bridges cross the canal near Bolsover: one at KM 282 and another near KM 284.5. Both have only 5 ft vertical clearance when closed. Both open on signal during operating hours. Do not approach either bridge at speed and confirm they are fully open before proceeding. ⚠ Buoy reversal in effect. Since Kirkfield, red markers are to PORT and green markers are to STARBOARD heading northbound toward Georgian Bay. This is opposite to the upstream convention.
Wind Exposure	Varies — increasingly exposed in Severn River/Georgian Bay area
Commercial Traffic	None
Peak Congestion	Moderate during peak summer
Operating Season	Mid-May to mid-October — confirm annually at parks.canada.ca

Lock Technical Details — Lock 37 – Bolsover

Parameter	Metric	Imperial
Lock Number	37
Average Lift	6.71 m	22 ft
Chamber Length	36.6 m	120 ft
Chamber Width	9.7 m	32 ft
Maximum Draft System-wide	1.8 m	6 ft
Bridge Clearance CHS	1.5 m	5 ft
Gate Type	Slow valve gate (downstream section)
VHF Channel	Channel None
Operating Season Parks Canada	Mid-May to mid-October
Max Mooring Period Parks Canada	2 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) 426-9681

Nearby Anchorages — Lock 37 – Bolsover

▲ Above Lock

Canal Lake › 10–11 ft · ~4 km

▼ Below Lock

Talbot River › 9–18 ft · Adjacent

Parks Canada overnight tie-up also available at Lock 37 – Bolsover — maximum 2 nights. See §3 for permit details.

Marina & Fuel Services — Lock 37 – Bolsover

No fuel dock is directly at Lock 37 – Bolsover. Refer to adjacent lock pages for the nearest fuel source.

▲ Above Lock

Trent Talbot Marina — Website ↗

📌 ~3 km from lock

🌊 Depths: 5/5.5 ft (approach/dock)

📞 (705) 426-7343

Fixed ⛽ Gas Pump‑Out

▼ Below Lock

Sunset Cove Marina — Website ↗

📌 ~8 km from lock

🌊 Depths: 18/5 ft (approach/dock)

📞 (705) 426-5221

Fixed ⛽ Gas Pump‑Out 4 transient

Location Map — Lock 37 – Bolsover

📍 GPS: 44.5159°N, 79.0894°W · Bolsover, ON L0K 1B0, Township of Ramara, Simcoe County, Ontario, ON · Get Directions ↗ · Street View ↗

For navigation, use CHS Chart #2026 — this map is for reference only and should not be used for marine navigation.

Nearby Town & Amenities — Lock 37 – Bolsover

🚖 Taxi / Transit
☎ Durham Region Transit (DRT) On-Demand — (905) 668-7711 — Covers Brock Township. Must book trips in advance (starting midnight the day before). Contact DRT directly to confirm pickup availability near the lock. 🔗
No confirmed local taxi company currently operating. DRT Route 618 does NOT stop near Lock 37. On-Demand is the only transit option.

Boater Orientation Notes:

Lock 37 is in a very rural, isolated setting — almost no walkable commercial amenities within 1 km. The immediate area is canal, farmland, and cottages.
Deepest manual lock on the TSW (22 ft / 6.6 m lift). First traditional downstream lock heading north — review locking procedure with crew.
Parks Canada provides free overnight mooring (max 2 nights), camping, washrooms with showers (recently renovated), potable water, picnic area with BBQ.
Naturipe Food Market (~3.5 km, LCBO outlet) is the only nearby store for provisioning — stock up here.
Sunset Cove Marina (~1.5 km) is a recommended stop before the five-lock descent to Lake Simcoe. Kayak and paddleboard rentals available.

🛒 Grocery

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Naturipe Food Market Inc (LCBO Convenience Outlet)	Let’s Go!	(705) 426-5324	⭐ 4.5	~3.5 km	Short Drive

🍴 Restaurants

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Western Trent Golf Club (Clubhouse Restaurant)	Let’s Go!	(705) 426-9940	⭐ 4.5	~3 km	Short Drive

🏛 Local Interests

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Lock 37 — Bolsover Lockstation (Parks Canada) 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 426-9681	⭐ N/A	On-site	Walkable
Sunset Cove Marina	Let’s Go!	(705) 426-5221	⭐ 4.5	~1.5 km	Walkable

🔧 Support & Services

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Port of Call Marina and Storage	Let’s Go!	(705) 426-2600	⭐ 4.6	~1 km	Walkable

Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Captain Dustin’s Tips — Lock 37 – Bolsover

🧭 Skipper Intelligence Pending

Captain Dustin’s on-the-water cruising intelligence for Lock 37 – Bolsover is being compiled from first-hand experience and verified field sources. Expect docking strategy, overnight notes, congestion timing, and local supply intelligence. Check back soon.

Hazard Warnings — Lock 37 – Bolsover

⚠ Channel Markers Reversed

Post-Kirkfield: red and green channel buoys are on opposite sides from the lower system. Red-right returning applies southbound, not northbound. Verify with CHS Chart #2026 before transiting. CHS CEN309

⚠ Site-Specific Hazards Pending

Shoal locations, rock hazards, and current data for Lock 37 – Bolsover are being compiled from CHS CEN309 and current Notices to Mariners. Check notmar.gc.ca for active advisories. CHS

Always verify active Notices to Mariners at notmar.gc.ca before transiting this area. High water conditions reduce all clearance values — confirm with Parks Canada lock staff during elevated water periods.

Live Weather — Lock 37 – Bolsover

📍 Centered on: 44.5159°N, 79.0894°W
🌞 Default layer: Wind (ECMWF model)
🌡 Toggle temperature, rain, and radar via the layer selector (top right)
🔍 Zoom level: 12 (regional waterway view)
📡 Data source: Windy.com / ECMWF forecast model

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 ↗

Video Guide — Lock 37 – Bolsover

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Lock 37 — Lock 37 – Bolsover

▲ Above Lock

▼ Below Lock

▲ Above Lock

▼ Below Lock

🛒 Grocery

🍴 Restaurants

🏛 Local Interests

🔧 Support & Services