Lock 01 Trenton is where Great Loop cruisers officially enter the Canadian inland waterway passage. After crossing Lake Ontario and navigating the Bay of Quinte, this lock marks the true beginning of the 386-kilometre Trent-Severn Waterway — the scenic corridor that carries Loopers northwest through Ontario’s lake country to Georgian Bay. Trenton is also the primary crew-change and provisioning stop for northbound vessels preparing for the journey ahead. Learn more at AGLCA.
Lock 01 Trenton stands at the eastern terminus of the Trent-Severn Waterway, where the Trent River meets the Bay of Quinte at KM 2.9 / Mile 1.8 from the Veterans Skyway Bridge in the City of Quinte West. This is the gateway lock — the first of 44 locks that carry vessels 386 kilometres northwest through Ontario’s interior to Georgian Bay. Lock 01 holds a unique distinction as the only lockstation on the entire Trent-Severn Waterway that monitors and responds to VHF radio, operating on Channel 14. For every northbound cruiser — and particularly for Great Loop vessels arriving from Lake Ontario — this is where the journey through Canada’s historic inland waterway begins.
Constructed between 1908 and 1912 by the firm Larkin & Sangster, Lock 01 was an early component of the federal effort to complete the Trent Canal system. Parks Canada notes that the lock employs innovative wagon valves built into the lock walls for more efficient dewatering — a design feature not found at every lockstation on the system. Construction was notably complicated by the addition of a railway bridge immediately below the lock, requiring careful engineering coordination. The lock provides an average lift of 5.5 m / 18 ft, raising vessels as they begin the northbound climb toward the height of land at Balsam Lake. Parks Canada
Trenton is a full-service town and the primary provisioning hub for boaters entering the waterway. Groceries, fuel, marine supplies, restaurants, and public transportation are all within easy reach of the lockstation. Parks Canada staff at Lock 01 are available to brief first-time canal users on locking procedures and to provide tips for the journey ahead — a valuable service for boaters unfamiliar with the Canadian lock system. Overnight mooring is permitted for up to five nights, with potable water and washroom facilities on-site. There is no shore power at Lock 01. Immediately upstream, the waterway passes beneath Highway 401 and arrives at Lock 02 Sidney within approximately one kilometre, beginning the steady ascent through seven locks and 39.3 m / 129 ft of combined lift en route to Glen Ross.
| Official Name | Lock 01 — Trenton Parks Canada |
| Lock Number | 1 |
| GPS Coordinates | 44°07′14.5″N, 77°35′29.8″W Parks Canada |
| Street Address | 155 Highway 33, Trenton, Ontario Parks Canada |
| KM Marker | KM 2.9 Mile 1.8 CHS CEN309 |
| Region | Quinte West, Hastings County |
| Water Body | Trent River — Bay of Quinte |
| CHS Nautical Chart | #2021 CHS |
| Nearest Municipality | Trenton (Quinte West), Ontario |
| Operator | Parks Canada Parks Canada |
| Historic Construction | 1908–1912 — contractor Larkin & Sangster Parks Canada |
| Lock Phone | (613) 392-3334 Parks Canada |
| trentsevern@pc.gc.ca |
| Parameter | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Lock Number | 01 | |
| Average Lift | 5.5 m | 18 ft |
| Chamber Length | 46.9 m | 154 ft |
| Chamber Width | 9.7 m | 32 ft |
| Maximum Draft System-wide | 1.8 m | 6 ft |
| Gate Type | Standard mitre | |
| VHF Channel | Channel 14 — Only TSW lock with VHF monitoring | |
| Operating Season Parks Canada | Mid-May to mid-October | |
| Permit Required | Yes — 1‑888‑773‑8888 or parks.canada.ca | |
| Electricity | ✗ Not Available | |
| Potable Water | ✔ Available | |
| Pump-Out | ✗ Not Available | |
| Operator | Parks Canada — Environment and Climate Change Canada | |
| Lock Phone Parks Canada | (613) 392-3334 | |
▼ Below Lock
▼ Below Lock
📌 Adjacent from lock
🌊 Depths: 14/8 ft (approach/dock)
📍 GPS: 44.1221°N, 77.5945°W · 155 Highway #33, Trenton, Ontario, Quinte West (Trenton), 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.
☎ ABC Taxi — (613) 392-3525 — 24/7 live dispatch, local & regional
☎ Sidney Taxi — (613) 394-1462 — local service
Boater Orientation Notes:
- Downtown Trenton’s Front Street runs parallel to the canal — most core amenities are a 5–15 minute walk from the lock gates.
- No dedicated marine chandlery within walking distance. Best options: Canadian Tire (~2 km) and Bay Marine (~3 km), both a short taxi ride.
- Trenton Farmers Market is seasonal (May–November), Wed & Sat 7 am–2 pm, directly on Front Street at the canal.
- Canadian Tire stocks propane exchange cylinders and a marine supply section — best one-stop for hardware and boating consumables.
- Gateway Brewing Co. (33 Ontario St) excluded pending operating status verification.
🛒 Grocery
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Beer Store 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-5663 | ⭐ N/A | ~700 m | Walkable |
| FreshCo 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 394-2791 | ⭐ 4.2 | ~650 m | Walkable |
| LCBO — Front & Division 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-3797 | ⭐ N/A | ~700 m | Walkable |
| Metro | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-3511 | ⭐ N/A | ~450 m | Walkable |
| Trenton Farmers Market 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-2841 ext. 4416 | ⭐ N/A | ~300 m | Walkable |
🍴 Restaurants
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| The Counter Restaurant 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 955-7487 | ⭐ N/A | ~350 m | Walkable |
| The Grind and Vine 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 813-0160 | ⭐ 4.3 | ~450 m | Walkable |
| Tomasso’s Italian Grille 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-4333 | ⭐ 4.5 | ~400 m | Walkable |
🏛 Local Interests
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Centennial Park | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-2841 | ⭐ N/A | ~500 m | Walkable |
| Trent Port Museum 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-2841 ext. 7100 | ⭐ N/A | ~600 m | Walkable |
| Trenton Clock Tower | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | ~700 m | Walkable |
| National Air Force Museum of Canada 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 965-7223 | ⭐ N/A | ~4 km | Short Drive |
| Quinte Museum of Natural History 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 955-1802 | ⭐ N/A | ~1.2 km | Short Drive |
🔧 Support & Services
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Bay Marine 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 394-6691 | ⭐ N/A | ~3 km | Short Drive |
| Canadian Tire 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-3500 | ⭐ N/A | ~2 km | Short Drive |
| Home Hardware Building Centre 🔗 | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | ~950 m | Walkable |
| Lava Clean Laundromat & Dry Cleaning 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 394-5282 | ⭐ N/A | ~500 m | Walkable |
| Shoppers Drug Mart 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-1212 | ⭐ N/A | ~850 m | Walkable |
Last Updated: March 18, 2026
All notes assume a northbound passage. On approach to the first lock, watch for a gap in the break wall on the starboard side just before you reach the bottom of the lock — there’s some current swirling through that gap that you need to account for. Once you’re past that, you’ll queue up at the blue line, which is on the east (starboard) side. Depending on timing, you’ll either be waiting or going straight in. The blue line has standard bollards. The most important thing about Trenton isn’t the lock itself — it’s who you end up grouped with. Whoever’s in the chamber with you here, you’re probably going to be with for the next few locks. Pay attention to the other boats and try to position yourself with skippers who can get into a lock cleanly without crashing the wall or taking forever to tie up. The group you get stuck with at Trenton will define how fast you move through the next several locks. That’s the call you need to make here.
Lock 01 – Trenton is the ONLY lock on the entire Trent-Severn Waterway that monitors VHF. Monitor Channel 14 on approach. No other TSW lock monitors VHF. TSW DB
Shoal locations, rock hazards, and current data for Lock 01 – Trenton are being compiled from CHS CEN309 and current Notices to Mariners. Check notmar.gc.ca for active advisories. CHS
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 ↗
Have you transited Lock 01 – Trenton?
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