McConnell Island on Sturgeon Lake offers protection from southerly winds only. The island blocks the south fetch of the lake, but you are otherwise exposed to the north, east, and west. Good holding and a great location when conditions are right — but this is not an all-weather anchorage. No shore access is available. A submerged power cable crosses from McConnell Island to Ancona Point on the mainland, so anchoring in that specific area should be avoided.
| GPS Coordinates | 44.5078°N, 78.6235°W ⚠ Unverified |
| Water Body | Sturgeon Lake — McConnell Island |
| Region | Kawartha Lakes |
| Mile Marker | MM 142.4 (from Veterans Skyway Bridge) |
| Holding Quality | Good |
| Nearest Lock | Lock 33 — Lindsay (~8 km west) |
| Overnight | ⚠ Conditional |
Southerly wind protection only. The island blocks south winds and waves, but the anchorage is exposed to north, east, and west. Not suitable when winds are from any direction other than south.
| Dinghy Access | ✗ No |
| Shore Access | No shore access. The island is not accessible to boaters. Plan accordingly — all time here will be spent aboard your vessel. |
| Pet Friendly | No votes yet |
Nearest provisioning: Bobcaygeon is approximately 5 km east via the main channel and Lock 32. Full provisioning available in town. Fenelon Falls is further to the northwest via Lock 34. No services at the island itself.
Scenic notes: Sturgeon Lake is a handsome body of water and anchoring behind an island always adds to the sense of solitude. Open water views in most directions with the wooded island close by. Sunsets over the lake to the west can be excellent. The lack of shore access keeps this feeling remote even though Bobcaygeon is only 5 km away.
Sturgeon Lake is one of the larger lakes on the Trent-Severn Waterway, located west of Bobcaygeon. McConnell Island sits in the lake with Ancona Point on the nearby mainland. The lake's size means significant wave action can develop in strong winds. The main TSW route crosses Sturgeon Lake between Bobcaygeon (Lock 32) to the east and Fenelon Falls (Lock 34) to the northwest.
| Lock | Name | Direction | Distance | Lift |
| #34 | Fenelon Falls | Upstream | ~11 km | 7.32 m24 ft |
| #32 | Bobcaygeon | Downstream | ~7 km | 1.52 m5 ft |
Approach McConnell Island from the main Sturgeon Lake channel. Tuck in on the north side of the island for protection from southerly winds. Holding is good. Be aware of the submerged power cable crossing from McConnell Island to Ancona Point — do not anchor over the cable route. Lock 32 at Bobcaygeon is approximately 5 km to the east. Sturgeon Lake is a large body of water with significant fetch, so conditions can deteriorate quickly with a wind shift.
Submerged power cable between McConnell Island and Ancona Point — do not anchor over the cable route. Exposure to north, east, and west winds means conditions can change rapidly on this large lake. Sturgeon Lake builds substantial waves in strong winds. No shore access means you cannot get off the boat if conditions worsen. Have an exit plan toward Bobcaygeon or other shelter.
Have photos of McConnell Island?
💌 Email captain@trentsevernguide.comMcConnell Island — Video Guide Coming Soon
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