Huycke Island sits at mile marker 49.0 on the Trent River, roughly 4 km downstream of Lock 18 at Hastings. The anchorage lies south of the island, away from the main navigation channel, offering 10 to 14 feet of water with good holding in mud bottom. This is one of the deeper and more reliable anchorages on the Trent River section between Healey Falls and Rice Lake.
To reach the anchorage, you depart the channel at green daymark T343, leaving it to starboard, and work your way south behind the island. The approach is straightforward and the protection is genuine — Huycke Island shields the anchorage from both wind and wake across all directions, making this a dependable stop in settled or unsettled weather alike.
The island is part of a quiet stretch of the Trent River that passes through a mix of wooded shoreline and scattered cottage development. The village of Hastings with its full range of basic services is a short cruise upstream at Lock 18. For boats transiting between Healey Falls and Rice Lake, Huycke Island offers a convenient and well-sheltered overnight stop.
| GPS Coordinates | 44.3301°N, 77.9205°W ⚠ Unverified |
| Water Body | Trent River |
| Region | Trent River |
| Mile Marker | MM 49.0 (from Veterans Skyway Bridge) |
| Depth Range | 3.0–4.3 m 10–14 ft — Waterway Guide |
| Bottom Type | Mud |
| Holding Quality | Good |
| Nearest Lock | Lock 18 — Hastings (~4 km) |
| Overnight | ✓ Overnight OK |
All-around protection from both wind and wake. Huycke Island acts as a natural breakwater on the channel side, while the south shore of the Trent River closes off the remaining exposure. The anchoring area is a sheltered pocket between the island and the riverbank with no meaningful fetch from any direction. This is one of the more comprehensively protected anchorages on the Trent River section.
| Dinghy Access | ✗ No |
| Shore Access | No formal public shore access at the anchorage. Huycke Island has private residential properties. The short cruise upstream to Hastings at Lock 18 provides access to public docks and village services. |
| Pet Friendly | 100% Yes (1 vote) |
Nearest provisioning: Hastings village is located at Lock 18, approximately 4 km upstream. The village has grocery and hardware stores, restaurants, an LCBO, a bank, and a post office. This is a small community — do not expect full provisioning, but essentials are available.
Scenic notes: A pleasant river setting with mature trees along the shoreline and the natural character of Huycke Island adding visual interest. The surrounding landscape is a mix of woodland and scattered cottage properties — attractive without being dramatic. The appeal here is the quiet seclusion of anchoring behind a river island.
Huycke Island is located on the Trent River in the long open reach between Healey Falls and Hastings. This section of the waterway passes through a landscape of mixed woodland and agricultural country, with scattered cottage properties along the shoreline.
Lock 18 at Hastings lies approximately 4 km upstream and is the last lock before the waterway enters Rice Lake. Downstream, the next locks are the Healey Falls flight locks (Locks 16/17), roughly 20 km to the east. Hastings village at Lock 18 provides the nearest services including grocery, hardware, restaurants, and a liquor store.
| Lock | Name | Direction | Distance | Lift |
| #18 | Hastings | Upstream | ~4 km | 2.7 m9 ft |
Huycke Island is an easy anchorage to execute. The approach from the channel at green daymark T343 is clearly marked — leave T343 to starboard and work south toward the lee of the island. Depths run 10 to 14 feet over mud bottom, which means your anchor should set firmly on the first attempt without the weed issues that plague many Trent River anchorages in this region.
The all-around protection is the standout feature here. The island blocks wind and wake from the channel side, while the south shore of the river closes off exposure from that direction. You are effectively anchoring in a sheltered pocket between the island and the riverbank. Even in a blow, this spot holds up well — there is simply no fetch for seas to build from any quarter.
One caution worth noting: CHS charts indicate a rock awash near the south edge of the channel off Preston Island, approximately 1.5 km upstream at mile 50. Stay aware of this hazard if you are continuing upstream toward Hastings. Within the anchorage itself, the bottom is clean mud and the depths are consistent. For boats drawing up to 5 feet, there is comfortable margin throughout the anchoring area.
CHS charts indicate a rock awash near the south edge of the channel off Preston Island, approximately 1.5 km upstream near mile 50. While this hazard is outside the anchorage itself, be aware of it when transiting to or from the anchorage. Within the anchoring area, depths are consistent at 10 to 14 feet over clean mud bottom. Watch for submerged deadfall along the shoreline margins.
Have photos of Huycke Island?
💌 Email captain@trentsevernguide.comHuycke Island — Video Guide Coming Soon
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