Lock 43 – Swift Rapids | Captain Dustin’s Guide to the Trent-Severn Waterway

Overview — Lock 43 – Swift Rapids

Lock 43 Swift Rapids is on the downstream section of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Vessels are descending toward Georgian Bay. Channel markers remain reversed from the Lake Ontario convention since Lock 36 Kirkfield — heading northbound toward Georgian Bay you are downbound, so red markers are on your PORT hand and green to starboard.

Lock 43 sits at Kilometre 361.2 on the Severn River, deep within the Canadian Shield landscape of the District Municipality of Muskoka. It is the deepest single-chambered lock on the entire Trent-Severn Waterway, dropping vessels 14.3 metres (47 feet) in a single operation as they continue northbound toward Georgian Bay. The lock is also widely regarded as the most isolated station on the waterway — the unpaved access road from Carlyon Road in Severn Township stretches roughly 18 kilometres through dense forest and wetlands, making this a destination reached almost exclusively by boat. The surrounding landscape is rugged Canadian Shield terrain: granite outcrops, mixed hardwood and conifer forest, and the steady rush of the Severn River flowing through the adjacent hydroelectric dam.

Construction on the lock, dam, and powerhouse at Swift Rapids began in 1914 as part of the Severn Division, the final link needed to complete through navigation from Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay. Work was suspended in 1917 due to wartime shortages of labour and materials. A marine railway was built that same year as a temporary measure to allow vessel transit past the dam, and it remained the sole means of passage at Swift Rapids for nearly five decades. The present hydraulic lock was completed in 1965, incorporating modern engineering techniques and replacing the aging railway. At 14.3 metres, it remains the highest single-chamber drop on the system — a distinction the lock has held since its construction.

For cruisers and Great Loop travellers, Swift Rapids is a place of genuine solitude. The lockstation grounds feature picnic tables, barbecue grills, and shade trees along the upper east wall, and Parks Canada provides washrooms, camping, potable water, and shore power for overnighting boaters. Mooring is available above and below the lock on painted blue lines, with the upper walls offering the best access to facilities and space for four to five vessels. The lower walls are more secluded, accommodating six to seven boats on the north side, with an impressive view of the dam spillway. This is a pack-in, pack-out station — there are no garbage facilities, stores, or restaurants at the lock. The nearest provisions are at Severn Falls, approximately 5.6 kilometres downstream. Many skippers use Swift Rapids as an overnight staging point before tackling the Big Chute Marine Railway the following morning, roughly one hour of cruising to the northwest.

Official Name	Lock 43 — Swift Rapids Parks Canada
Lock Number	43
GPS Coordinates	44°51′28.2″N, 79°32′24.6″W Parks Canada
Street Address	19SR 409 Unit 1, Honey Harbour, Ontario Parks Canada
KM Marker	KM 361.2 Mile 224.5 CHS CEN309
Region	Severn
Water Body	Severn River
CHS Nautical Chart	#2029 CHS
Nearest Municipality	Township of Muskoka Lakes, Ontario
Historic Construction	1914 (suspended 1917); marine railway 1917; current lock 1965 Parks Canada
Lock Phone	(705) 756-8177 Parks Canada
Email	trentsevern@pc.gc.ca

Parks Canada — Lock 43 ↗
Parks Canada Hours ↗
Transport Canada ↗
CHS Charts ↗
AGLCA ↗
Waterway Guide ↗

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Navigation Notes — Lock 43 – Swift Rapids

⬆ Upstream Approach — Southbound (Ascending toward Kirkfield)

🚨 CRITICAL — Once lock operation begins, it CANNOT be stopped. Southbound vessels ascending through Lock 43 face the same hydraulic commitment as descending vessels. Once the filling cycle begins, it cannot be interrupted. Crew must be fully ready before the lock cycle starts. Lines rigged, crew in position.

🚨 DO NOT CLEAT LINES — tend lines at all times. During the full 47-foot rise, lines must be hand-tended continuously. As the water rises, lines must be taken in at the same rate to maintain controlled position. A cleated line that goes slack and then suddenly snaps taut can capsize the vessel. Hold lines — do not tie them at any point during the lockage.

⚠ Remote location — limited assistance available. Lock 43 is boat-access only. No road access. No emergency services nearby. Ensure vessel is in full working order before arriving from below.

BELOW LOCK: Blue line staging. Confirm wall and procedure with lock staff.
Lower walls: north side mooring for 6–7 boats. Impressive view of dam spillway.
Max mooring: 2 nights. Potable water, washrooms, camping on-site. No fuel on-site.

⬇ Downstream Approach — Northbound (Descending toward Georgian Bay)

🚨 CRITICAL — Once lock operation begins, it CANNOT be stopped. Lock 43 Swift Rapids is a hydraulic lock operating a 47-foot (14.3 m) descent. Once the cycle begins, the hydraulic system cannot be interrupted. There is no abort. Vessels must be fully prepared — lines rigged, crew in position, engine running — before entering the chamber. Any issue must be resolved before the lock gates close.

🚨 DO NOT CLEAT LINES — tend lines at all times. During the full 47-foot drop, lines must be continuously hand-tended by crew members throughout the entire cycle. As the water drops, lines must be slacked at the same rate. A cleated line that goes taut during a 47-foot descent will capsize the vessel or snap the cleat hardware. No lines are to be made fast inside the chamber. Hold lines — do not tie them. Have sufficient crew on deck before entering to manage all lines simultaneously.

⚠ Remote location — limited assistance available. Lock 43 is accessible only by boat. No road access. No emergency services within reach. Nearest marina: Big Chute (~13 km downstream). Nearest fuel and provisions: Severn Falls (~5.6 km downstream). Ensure vessel is fully operational before entering the lock.

⚠ Deepest single-chamber lock on the TSW — 47 ft (14.3 m) drop. This is not a routine lockage. Brief your crew on the full descent procedure before arrival, not after entering the chamber.

ABOVE LOCK: Blue line staging. Confirm wall and procedure with lock staff before entering.
Upper walls: mooring for 4–5 boats. Shore power available. Potable water, washrooms, camping, picnic area on-site.
Pack-in / pack-out — no garbage disposal. Remove all refuse.
Max mooring: 2 nights.
Next stop downstream: Severn Falls (~5.6 km). Big Chute Marine Railway (Lock 44): ~13 km. Allow time for Big Chute preparation.

⚠ 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	🚨 CRITICAL — Once lock operation begins, it CANNOT be stopped. Lock 43 Swift Rapids is a hydraulic lock with a 47-foot (14.3 m) single-chamber drop. Once the filling or discharge cycle is initiated, the hydraulic system cannot be interrupted or reversed. There is no abort procedure. Vessels are committed to the full 47-foot transit the moment the cycle begins. Crew must be fully ready before the lock gates open. 🚨 DO NOT CLEAT LINES. Tend lines at all times during the full 47-foot operation. Lines must be hand-tended throughout the entire cycle — slacked out as the water drops, maintained taut enough to hold position. A line that is cleated to a cleat and goes tight will snap or capsize the vessel. Under no circumstances should any line be made fast to a cleat inside the chamber. Hold lines, do not tie them. ⚠ Remote location — limited assistance available. Lock 43 is accessible only by boat. No road access. No emergency services within reach. The nearest marina is Big Chute (~13 km downstream). Ensure vessel is in full working order and crew is briefed before arriving.
Wind Exposure	Varies — increasingly exposed in Severn River/Georgian Bay area
Commercial Traffic	None
Peak Congestion	High — Great Loop completion area
Operating Season	Mid-May to mid-October — confirm annually at parks.canada.ca

Lock Technical Details — Lock 43 – Swift Rapids

Parameter	Metric	Imperial
Lock Number	43
Average Lift	14.33 m	47 ft
Chamber Length	36.6 m	120 ft
Chamber Width	9.7 m	32 ft
Maximum Draft System-wide	1.8 m	6 ft
Gate Type	Hydraulic
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) 756-8177

Nearby Anchorages — Lock 43 – Swift Rapids

▲ Above Lock

Sparrow Lake — McLean Bay & Deep Bay › 4–15 ft · ~12 km

▼ Below Lock

Wood Bay & Pretty Channel (Big Chute) › 7–12 ft · ~8 km

Lost Channel — Severn River › 7–25 ft · ~9 km

Parks Canada overnight tie-up also available at Lock 43 – Swift Rapids — maximum 5 nights. See §3 for permit details.

Marina & Fuel Services — Lock 43 – Swift Rapids

No fuel dock is directly at Lock 43 – Swift Rapids. Refer to adjacent lock pages for the nearest fuel source.

▲ Above Lock

Lauderdale Point Marina and Resort — Website ↗

📌 ~17 km from lock

🌊 Depths: 4/5 ft (approach/dock)

📞 (705) 689-8282

Both ⛽ Gas & Diesel Pump‑Out 8 transient

McGregor on the Water — Website ↗

📌 ~20 km from lock

🌊 Depths: 8 ft dockside

📞 (705) 689-9935

Fixed ⛽ Gas & Diesel Pump‑Out

Location Map — Lock 43 – Swift Rapids

📍 GPS: 44.8577°N, 79.5402°W · 19SR 409 Unit 1, Honey Harbour, Ontario, Severn Township, Muskoka, Ontario, ON · Get Directions ↗ · Street View ↗

For navigation, use CHS Chart #2029-1 — this map is for reference only and should not be used for marine navigation.

Nearby Town & Amenities — Lock 43 – Swift Rapids

🚖 Taxi / Transit
☎ Big Chute Marina Water Taxi — (705) 756-2641 — Seasonal water taxi between Lock 43 (Swift Rapids) and Lock 44 (Big Chute). Call marina to arrange pickup. Only motorized transport option from Lock 43. 🔗
☎ Severn Falls Government Dock — ~6 km by water. Overnight dockage with water and shore power (fee). Walk to Riverhouse Restaurant and River Emporium from dock.
No road taxi, rideshare, or public transit available. Lock 43 is accessible ONLY by boat — one of two TSW locks with no land access (the other is Lock 30 — Lovesick).

Boater Orientation Notes:

Lock 43 is the MOST ISOLATED lock on the entire TSW — zero walkable commercial amenities. The unpaved access road is ~18 km long and impractical for vehicles.
All services are accessible ONLY by boat: Severn Falls (~6 km downstream) and Big Chute Marina at Lock 44 (~13 km downstream).
Pack-in / pack-out station — no garbage disposal. No showers, no potable water, no power hookups at the lock. Max mooring: 2 nights.
The Waubic Restaurant (~6 km by water) is an iconic TSW destination since 1913 — famous for fish and chips. Reserve docking online in advance.
All businesses in this area are seasonal (May—Thanksgiving). Confirm hours before making the trip by boat.

🛒 Grocery

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Big Chute Marina Store 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 756-2641	⭐ 4.2	~13 km by water	Boat Only
North River General Store	Let’s Go!	(705) 812-2312	⭐ N/A	~13 km by water	Boat Only
The River Emporium 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 686-3900	⭐ 4.4	~6 km by water	Boat Only

🍴 Restaurants

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Big Chute Marina Restaurant 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 756-2641	⭐ 4.2	~13 km by water	Boat Only
Riverhouse Restaurant 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 686-7850	⭐ 4.2	~6 km by water	Boat Only
The Waubic Restaurant 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 756-0817	⭐ 4.5	~6 km by water	Boat Only

🏛 Local Interests

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Swift Rapids Dam and Generating Station	Let’s Go!	N/A	⭐ N/A	On-site	Walkable
Swift Rapids Road Trail	Let’s Go!	N/A	⭐ N/A	On-site	Walkable
Big Chute Marine Railway (Lock 44) 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 756-8177	⭐ 4.7	~13 km by water	Boat Only

🔧 Support & Services

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Big Chute Marina (Marine Services) 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 756-2641	⭐ 4.2	~13 km by water	Boat Only

Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Captain Dustin’s Tips — Lock 43 – Swift Rapids

🧭 Skipper Intelligence Pending

Captain Dustin’s on-the-water cruising intelligence for Lock 43 – Swift Rapids 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 43 – Swift Rapids

⚠ 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 #2029-1 before transiting. CHS CEN309

⚠ Site-Specific Hazards Pending

Shoal locations, rock hazards, and current data for Lock 43 – Swift Rapids 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 43 – Swift Rapids

📍 Centered on: 44.8577°N, 79.5402°W
🌞 Default layer: Wind (ECMWF model)
🌡 Toggle temperature, rain, and radar via the layer selector (top right)
🔍 Zoom level: 11 (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 43 – Swift Rapids

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Lock 43 — Lock 43 – Swift Rapids

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🛒 Grocery

🍴 Restaurants

🏛 Local Interests

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