Lock 05 sits one stop below Frankford, and northbound Loopers will find this the first natural opportunity to stretch their legs ashore — the road bridge immediately above the lock puts Frankford village just a few minutes’ walk away. Five locks into the Trent-Severn, the TSW rhythm is setting in: quieter, greener, and noticeably less commercial than the American canals behind you. The 1936 red brick lockmaster’s house is one of the more photogenic structures on the lower system and a favourite for Looper crew photos. For TSW cruising intelligence and voyage planning on the Canadian section, the Atlantic Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA) is the go-to resource for this stretch of the route.
Lock 05 — officially known as Trent Lock — sits on the canalised Trent River at KM 10.4(Mile 6.5), positioned between Lock 04 Batawa to the south and Lock 06 Frankford approximately 1.3 km(0.8 mi) upstream. The lock sits just south of the Village of Frankford within the Quinte West administrative region of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Mature deciduous trees line the grounds on both sides, providing exceptional shade that makes this one of the more agreeable stops in the lower Trent section during peak summer heat. The setting is rural and unhurried — a noticeable contrast to the busier Lock 01 approach near Trenton.
The Ontario–Rice Lake division of the Trent-Severn Waterway, which encompasses this section of the waterway, was built under contract by the firm Rogers & Dennon. The firm’s principal, R.B. Rogers, had previously served as Canal Superintendent during construction of the Peterborough Lift Lock and is credited by Parks Canada with pioneering the use of concrete in Canadian canal construction on this section of the waterway. The handsome red brick and stone lockmaster’s house visible at the lockstation today was completed in 1936 and continues to serve a working purpose — it houses the Parks Canada lock office and public washrooms for visiting boaters. No capital works notices affecting Lock 05 were identified in current Transport Canada Notices to Mariners at time of research (March 2026 — verify at notmar.gc.ca before the current season).
For northbound cruisers working up from Trenton, Lock 05 Trent offers a welcoming overnight tie-up with mooring walls on both sides of the chamber and a painted blue line on each approach. Potable water is available on-site. Electricity is not available at Lock 05 — the first shore power on the northbound run is at Lock 06 Frankford, one lock upstream. The road bridge immediately above the lock provides walking access to Frankford Village (approximately 1 km), where grocery, pharmacy, bank, and restaurant services are available. The maximum overnight mooring period is 5 nights per Parks Canada policy.
| Official Name | Lock 05 — Trent Parks Canada |
| Lock Number | 05 |
| GPS Coordinates | [VERIFY — Parks Canada] |
| Street Address | [VERIFY — Parks Canada] |
| KM Marker | 10.4 km (Mile 6.5) from Veterans Skyway Bridge CHS CEN309 |
| Region | Quinte West |
| Water Body | Trent River (canalised section) |
| CHS Nautical Chart | #2021 CHS CEN309 |
| Nearest Municipality | Quinte West (Frankford), Ontario |
| Historic Construction | Ontario–Rice Lake Division, Rogers & Dennon — lockmaster’s house 1936 Parks Canada |
| Lock Phone | [VERIFY — Parks Canada] |
| trentsevern@pc.gc.ca |
| Parameter | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Lock Number | 05 | |
| Average Lift | 5.49 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 None | |
| Operating Season Parks Canada | Mid-May to mid-October | |
| Max Mooring Period Parks Canada | 5 nights | |
| 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) 398-7018 | |
📍 GPS: 44.1852363°N, 77.593925°W · 42 Hannah Ln, Frankford, Ontario, Quinte West (Frankford), 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 Quinte West — (613) 392-3525 — 24/7 live dispatch, 30+ years in business. In-city meter starts at $7; flat rate to Trenton ~$20—$25; flat rate to Belleville ~$25—$30. Cash, debit, credit, e-transfer accepted. No Uber/Lyft confirmed in Frankford.
Boater Orientation Notes:
- Frankford village is walkable from Lock 5 — most services within 300—750 m of the dock.
- LCBO is closed Mondays — stock up Fridays for extended hours (open until 8 pm).
- Rose Home Hardware (7 N Trent St) offers propane fill — a convenient walk from the dock.
- Riverside Restaurant has been reported to deliver to boats at Lock 6 — call ahead to confirm delivery to Lock 5.
- Several businesses operate reduced hours or close outside the May—October season — always call ahead.
🛒 Grocery
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Foodland 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 398-7879 | ⭐ N/A | ~500 m | Walkable |
| LCBO 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 398-6160 | ⭐ N/A | ~750 m | Walkable |
🍴 Restaurants
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Old Bank Café 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 398-9052 | ⭐ 4.8 | ~300 m | Walkable |
| Riverside Restaurant 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 398-8818 | ⭐ 4.4 | ~500 m | Walkable |
| Subway 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 398-9102 | ⭐ 4.3 | ~300 m | Walkable |
| The 3 Jacks Steak Restaurant 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 743-5690 | ⭐ 4.2 | ~400 m | Walkable |
🏛 Local Interests
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Bleasdell Boulder Conservation Area 🔗 | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | ~2.5 km | Short Drive |
| Frankford Tourist Park 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 392-2841 | ⭐ N/A | ~400 m | Walkable |
| Frankford Municipal Golf Course | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | ~500 m | Walkable |
🔧 Support & Services
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Frankford Laundromat & Variety | Let’s Go! | (613) 398-6424 | ⭐ N/A | ~450 m | Walkable |
| Madill’s IDA Pharmacy 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 398-6261 | ⭐ N/A | ~350 m | Walkable |
| Rose Home Hardware 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (613) 398-6618 | ⭐ 4.8 | ~400 m | Walkable |
Last Updated: March 18, 2026
Mostly drama-free lock. The dam sits well upstream of the lock entrance, so you don’t get the current or turbulence you saw at Batawa — entry shouldn’t be a problem. Winds haven’t been an issue here either in my experience. The top side of the lock is actually quite nice. There’s a walkway that crosses back over the dam and runs into town. It’s a bit of a walk and there’s not much over there, but the option is there if you want it. Good spot to let the dog off and stretch.
Shoal locations, rock hazards, and current data for Lock 05 – Trent 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 ↗
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