North Shore Cove is a narrow pocket tucked against the north shore of Lower Buckhorn Lake, sitting just below Lock 31 at Buckhorn. The cove lies between the lock approach channel and the highway bridge, offering a practical overnight alternative when the busy lock walls are full — which at Buckhorn happens more often than not during peak season.
Depths here run approximately 3 to 6 feet, putting this firmly in shallow-draft territory. The bottom is a mix of mud and sand with weed patches, typical of this end of Lower Buckhorn Lake where the lake narrows toward the lock. The north shore provides solid protection from prevailing southwest winds, though the open fetch to the southeast across the lake can push some chop in during southerly blows.
Buckhorn marks the halfway point on the 386-km Trent-Severn Waterway and is one of the liveliest lock communities on the system. The village is a short walk from the anchorage, with a Foodland grocery, restaurants, hardware store, LCBO, and other services that make this a convenient provisioning stop.
| GPS Coordinates | 44.5558°N, 78.3475°W PC Verified |
| Water Body | Lower Buckhorn Lake |
| Region | Kawartha Lakes |
| Mile Marker | MM 120.8 (from Veterans Skyway Bridge) |
| Depth Range | 0.9–1.8 m 3–6 ft — Estimated from CHS CEN309 regional data |
| Bottom Type | Mud and sand with patches of weed |
| Holding Quality | Fair |
| Nearest Lock | Lock 31 — Buckhorn (Adjacent) |
| Overnight | ✓ Overnight OK |
| CHS Chart | Estimated from CHS CEN309 regional data ↗ CHS |
The north shore provides good protection from the prevailing westerly and northwesterly winds, and the cove’s position against the shoreline shelters it from northerly weather. The main exposure is to the southeast, where Lower Buckhorn Lake opens up and can build a short, steep chop in southerly or southeasterly conditions. In settled summer weather with typical southwest winds, protection is adequate for an overnight stay.
| Dinghy Access | ✗ No |
| Shore Access | Shore access is available via the Lock 31 lock station, which has a paddle dock, washrooms, potable water, and picnic area; the village of Buckhorn is a short walk north across the highway bridge. |
| Pet Friendly | No votes yet |
Nearest provisioning: Buckhorn village is a short walk from the lock, with a Foodland grocery store on Buckhorn Road for full provisioning. The village also has restaurants, an LCBO, a Home Hardware that carries boat supplies, bait, and tackle, plus a post office and service station.
Scenic notes: A pleasant Kawartha Lakes setting with mature shoreline trees and views across Lower Buckhorn Lake to the south. The nearby lock and bridge add a working-waterway character rather than wilderness feel. The surrounding area is a mix of cottage development and natural shoreline — attractive without being dramatic.
North Shore Cove sits at the western extremity of Lower Buckhorn Lake, where the waterway funnels toward Lock 31 at Buckhorn. This stretch from Burleigh Falls westward through Lovesick Lake and Lower Buckhorn Lake covers approximately 13 km and passes through some of the most scenic sections of the Kawartha Lakes system.
Buckhorn is a well-established resort community and a natural stopping point on the waterway. Lock 31 lifts boats 3.4 metres (11 feet) from Lower Buckhorn Lake up to Buckhorn Lake, continuing the westward route toward Bobcaygeon and beyond. Downstream, Lock 30 at Lovesick provides a modest 1.5-metre (5-foot) lift from Lovesick Lake into Lower Buckhorn Lake, approximately 12 km to the east.
| Lock | Name | Direction | Distance | Lift |
| #31 | Buckhorn | Adjacent | ~0.1 km | 3.4 m11 ft |
| #30 | Lovesick | Downstream | ~12 km | 1.5 m5 ft |
North Shore Cove works best as an overflow option when Lock 31’s walls are full, which is common given that Buckhorn limits overnight stays to a single night due to heavy demand. If the lock staff wave you off the wall, duck into this cove on the north shore rather than hunting for space further out on the lake.
The 3-to-6-foot depth range means this is strictly a shallow-draft stop. If you draw more than 3 feet, sound carefully on approach and work your way in slowly — the bottom shoals unevenly near shore, and weed patches can mask the true depth on a sounder. The mud-and-sand bottom provides fair holding once your anchor bites through the weed layer, but give the hook a solid reverse test before settling in for the night.
Be aware of the submerged power cable that crosses the route near kilometre 193.2 at the west end of Lower Buckhorn Lake — do not anchor in the cable zone. The highway bridge just north of the lock has a vertical clearance of 22 feet. Wake from lock traffic is a reality here, particularly during operating hours.
Depths are shallow and uneven — sound carefully on approach, especially near the shoreline margins where the bottom shoals abruptly. A submerged power cable crosses the waterway near kilometre 193.2 at the west end of Lower Buckhorn Lake; do not anchor in this vicinity. Weed growth increases through the summer and can foul anchors and mask true depth readings on sounders.
Have photos of Below Lock 31 — North Shore Cove?
💌 Email captain@trentsevernguide.comBelow Lock 31 — North Shore Cove — Video Guide Coming Soon
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