Lock 03 — Lock 03 – Glen Miller

Lock 03 Glen Miller sits on the Trent River at KM 6.2, the third ascending step northbound from Lake Ontario toward Kirkfield. Positioned between Lock 02 Sidney (KM 3.9) and Lock 04 Batawa (KM 8.3), Glen Miller holds the distinction of being the highest single-chamber lift in the entire southern section of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Its 8.2-metre27-foot rise is exceeded among single locks only by Swift Rapids (Lock 43) near the Georgian Bay end of the system.

Lock 03 was constructed between 1908 and 1912 as part of the Ontario–Rice Lake division of the waterway, which was divided into seven construction sections. Work at Glen Miller was complicated by the presence of an existing paper mill and dam, which required the government to acquire water rights before construction could proceed. The adjacent Glen Miller Dam, originally built in 1910, underwent a complete replacement by Parks Canada between 2020 and 2021. That project included full demolition and reconstruction of the dam immediately below the original structure, along with embankment rehabilitation on the east bank adjacent to the lock, improving water management capacity for the reach.

Arriving at Lock 03, boaters will find well-maintained grounds with a spacious picnic area, potable water, washroom facilities, and visitor information — though no shore power is available (the first electricity on the TSW is at Lock 06 Frankford). Thanks to an innovative valve system, the rise and fall through the chamber is notably smooth despite the substantial 8.2 m27 ft lift. The upper mooring area is open to prevailing breezes, making overnight stays comfortable on warm summer nights. The lock entrance is to starboard (east side), with favoured overnight mooring above the lock on the west wall; additional space and parkland are available on the east side above the chamber.

📍 GPS: 44.1550178°N, 77.587308°W · 559 Glen Miller Rd, Quinte West, Ontario, Quinte West, Ontario, ON · Get Directions ↗ · Street View ↗

For navigation, use CHS Chart #2021 — this map is for reference only and should not be used for marine navigation.

Boater Orientation Notes:

• Lock 3 sits in a rural setting on Glen Miller Rd — no walkable commercial services (restaurants, grocery, stores) within 1 km.
• All food, grocery, pharmacy, and support services require a taxi ride to Trenton (~3—7 km south, ~5—8 min drive).
• Three walkable nature attractions: Lower Trent Trail (<100 m), Glen Miller Conservation Area (~600 m), and Bleasdell Boulder (~1 km).
• G’s Place (2 km south) is the nearest restaurant but open Thu—Sun only — verify hours before visiting.
• No shore power at this lock. Maximum overnight mooring: 5 nights.

🛒 Grocery

🍴 Restaurants

🏛 Local Interests

🔧 Support & Services

Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Third lock heading upstream. HAZARD on approach: after you pass under the Glen Miller Bridge, there’s a small breakwater on the port side that sits just at or below the waterline. You can see it through the water, but it would be easy to get pushed onto or hit if you’re not watching. It runs from the Glen Miller Bridge all the way up to where the actual pier for the lock begins. Not sure if it’s exposed at different water levels, but assume it’s there and stay clear of the port side on the run-in from the bridge to the lock wall. Other than that breakwater, no major drama at Glen Miller. You’ll see the same pattern from Locks 01 and 02 during the shoulder seasons — same crew working with you, same boats locking through with you. This is why picking your group well at Lock 01 matters so much: who you got grouped with there is who you’re moving through the first six locks with. If you’re with good operators, you’re making good time. Straightforward lock once you’re past that submerged breakwater.

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 ↗