Crowe Bay is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and secluded anchorages on the Trent River section of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Located just downstream of Lock 14, this pocket anchorage sits where the river bends northwest, offering 14 to 15 feet of water in a setting that feels genuinely remote — dense forest, marshland teeming with waterfowl, and virtually no shoreline development beyond a couple of cabins.
To reach the anchorage, depart the main channel at green marker T269 and proceed slightly northwest through deep water until north of red T272. Alter course slightly more west, avoiding the 2-foot shoal on the eastern shore, and anchor in 14 to 15 feet just before the river narrows and becomes unnavigable.
The bass fishing here is exceptional — Ontario fishing licence required. Muskies weighing up to 42 pounds and measuring 6 feet have been taken from these waters. This is a place where you drop the hook, shut down the engine, and listen to nothing but birds and water.
| GPS Coordinates | 44.37339°N, 77.76376°W PC Verified |
| Water Body | Trent River — Crowe Bay |
| Region | Trent River |
| Mile Marker | MM 36.2 (from Veterans Skyway Bridge) |
| Depth Range | 4.3–4.6 m 14–15 ft — TSW Master Intelligence Database (Waterway Guide Ch. 8) |
| Holding Quality | Good |
| Swinging Room | Adequate for multiple boats — open bay before river narrows |
| Max Vessel LOA | 15.2 m 50 ft |
| Nearest Lock | Lock 14 — Crow Bay (~0.5 km upstream) |
| Overnight | ✓ Overnight OK |
Crowe Bay offers good protection from southerly and westerly winds due to the narrowing river valley and surrounding tree line. The bay sits in a pocket off the main channel where the Trent River bends northwest toward Lock 15. Northern and easterly exposures are more open along the river corridor. The anchorage is well removed from channel traffic, tucked into the river's natural curve where current is negligible at normal water levels.
| Swing Room | Adequate for multiple boats — open bay before river narrows |
| Max Vessel LOA | 15.2 m 50 ft |
| Dinghy Access | ✗ No — Limited shore access — mostly undeveloped shoreline with a couple of private cabins |
| Shore Access | Minimal developed shore access. The shoreline is largely undeveloped with dense tree cover. A couple of private cabins are visible but there is no public landing or trail access from the anchorage. |
| Cell Service | Fair |
| Pet Friendly | No votes yet |
Dock notes: Lock 14 tie-up walls available below and above lock — painted blue line on east wall below, west wall above. Mooring on either wall.
Nearest provisioning: Campbellford — ~3 km south. Groceries, services, supplies, coin laundry, library (24/7 WiFi), hospital, specialty shops and restaurants. Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce on waterfront.
Scenic notes: One of the most beautiful and secluded anchorages on the entire Trent River. Surrounded by dense forest with virtually no development. Marshes full of waterfowl line the east side — muskies up to 6 feet and 42 pounds have been caught here. For the most part: you and the birds.
Crowe Bay sits in the heart of the Trent River's most dramatic stretch — the five locks between Lock 13 and Lock 17 that climb 108 feet through what was once a torrent of cascading water. Campbellford, the largest town since Trenton, is approximately 3 km downstream with full provisioning. Upstream, the river continues through increasingly pastoral landscape toward the Healey Falls flight locks (Locks 15-17), which offer a combined 54-foot lift and feature the Trent's biggest dam.
| Lock | Name | Direction | Distance | Lift |
| #13 | Campbellford | Downstream | ~2 km | 7 m23 ft |
| #14 | Crow Bay | Adjacent | ~0.5 km | 5.2 m17 ft |
| #15 | Healey Falls | Upstream | ~4 km | 6.7 m22 ft |
This is the anchorage that makes you glad you chose the TSW over the Welland Canal. Crowe Bay delivers something genuinely rare on an inland waterway — real solitude in good water with enough depth that you won't spend the night worrying about your keel.
The approach is straightforward but deserves attention: the turn off the main channel at green T269 can sneak up on you if you're not watching the chart. Once you commit to the turn, keep trending northwest through the deeper water. The 2-foot shoal on the eastern shore is the one hazard worth marking on your plotter — if the light is right you can see it (trees caught on it are a giveaway), but don't count on visual identification.
Arrive by mid-afternoon if you want to fish. Early morning and dusk are prime time here, and the bass fishing alone justifies an overnight stop. There's no provisioning, no shore access worth mentioning, and no cell signal worth counting on — and that's exactly the point.
If Crowe Bay is full (rare — it can hold several boats), the alternative is to anchor off the camping cabins above Coles Point, where you may be able to get gas (in a can) plus limited groceries and ice. From here it's a 42-mile run to the Otonabee River anchorages.
2-FOOT SHOAL on the eastern shore — avoid when approaching from the east or when swinging at anchor. The river narrows and becomes unnavigable beyond the anchorage to the northwest. The channel into Crowe Bay is well marked by spar buoys, but exercise caution departing at green T269 as the turn off the main channel can be easy to miss if travelling at speed.
Have photos of Crowe Bay?
💌 Email captain@trentsevernguide.comAnchored here recently? Help fellow cruisers with a quick report — depth readings, holding quality, wake conditions, and any hazards you noticed.
Boater reports are currently closed for this anchorage.
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