Clare Cove is a secluded pocket just off the Otonabee River south of Peterborough, around mile marker 68.6. The cove offers 10 to 13 feet of water with good holding in mud bottom — a reassuring combination on a river system where many anchorages run shallow and weedy.
The entrance transitions to deep water quickly once you are inside, and the all-around protection from wind and wake makes this one of the more secure stops on the Otonabee River section. The cove is genuinely tucked away — you leave the river channel and enter a separate, quiet body of water that feels removed from the through-traffic.
This stretch of the Otonabee runs between Rice Lake and Peterborough through mature tree-lined banks with moderate residential development. The river has several long, peaceful reaches here, and Clare Cove sits in one of the quieter sections where the development is set well back from the water.
| GPS Coordinates | 44.1568°N, 78.2393°W ⚠ Unverified |
| Water Body | Otonabee River — Clare Cove |
| Region | Kawartha Lakes |
| Mile Marker | MM 68.6 (from Veterans Skyway Bridge) |
| Depth Range | 3.0–4.0 m 10–13 ft — Waterway Guide |
| Bottom Type | Mud |
| Holding Quality | Good |
| Nearest Lock | Lock 19 — Scott's Mills (~3 km south) |
| Overnight | ⚠ Conditional |
All-around protection from both wind and wake. Clare Cove is a self-contained pocket off the main river channel, and its enclosed geometry eliminates exposure from every direction. River wake from passing boats does not penetrate into the cove. This is one of the most naturally sheltered anchorages on the Otonabee River section.
| Dinghy Access | ✗ No |
| Shore Access | No formal public shore access at the anchorage. The surrounding shoreline is a mix of private residential properties and natural riverbank. Access by dinghy to the river is straightforward, but there are no public landing points or trails at this location. |
| Pet Friendly | No votes yet |
Nearest provisioning: Limited provisioning in the immediate area. Peterborough is the nearest full-service centre, located several locks upstream. For immediate needs, the Lock 19 area at Scotts Mills is approximately 3 km upstream but offers limited services. Plan to provision in Peterborough or at Rice Lake before anchoring here.
Scenic notes: A secluded, wooded cove with the character of a private pond. Mature trees overhang the water along the margins, and the enclosed setting provides a genuine sense of isolation from the river corridor. The scenery is quiet and natural rather than dramatic — the appeal is privacy and peacefulness rather than sweeping views.
Clare Cove is positioned on the Otonabee River between Rice Lake and Peterborough. This section of the waterway is characterized by a meandering river corridor lined with mature trees and moderate cottage and residential development set back from the banks. The river has long, straight reaches interspersed with gentle bends — pleasant cruising country without the navigational complexity of the upper system.
Lock 19 at Scotts Mills lies approximately 3 km upstream, with a lift of 5.5 metres (18 feet). Downstream, the river continues south toward Rice Lake. Upstream from Lock 19, the Otonabee continues through several more locks before reaching Peterborough and the famous Peterborough Lift Lock (Lock 21), which lifts boats 19.8 metres (65 feet).
| Lock | Name | Direction | Distance | Lift |
| #19 | Scotts Mills | Upstream | ~32 km | 2.44 m8 ft |
| #18 | Hastings | Downstream | ~28 km | 2.74 m9 ft |
Clare Cove is the kind of anchorage you hope to find on a river system — deep enough to be comfortable, well protected, and genuinely secluded. The 10 to 13 feet of water over mud bottom means your anchor will set reliably on the first try, which is a welcome change from the weedy shallows that characterize many Trent-Severn stops in this region.
The entrance is the one spot that requires attention. The cove opens off the Otonabee River and the transition to deep water happens after you clear the mouth, so take it slow on entry and sound your way in if this is your first visit. Once inside, the depth is consistent and the protection is complete — wind and wake from the river simply do not reach you here.
For boats transiting between Rice Lake and Peterborough, Clare Cove makes an excellent overnight stop. You are roughly 3 km from Lock 19 at Scotts Mills upstream, which positions you well for an early-morning lock-through without the noise and activity of a town wall. The privacy here is genuine — this is not a spot where you will be rafted up with other boats on a busy weekend.
The entrance to the cove may be shallower than the interior — sound your way in on first approach. Once inside, depths are consistent at 10 to 13 feet. Watch for submerged deadfall near the shoreline margins, as this is a tree-lined river environment where fallen timber can accumulate.
Have photos of Clare Cove?
💌 Email captain@trentsevernguide.comAnchored here recently? Help fellow cruisers with a quick report — depth readings, holding quality, wake conditions, and any hazards you noticed.
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