Lock 27 — Lock 27 – Youngs Point

Lock 27 sits at the north end of Katchewanooka Lake in the small village of Youngs Point, Ontario, at kilometre 168.1 (mile 104.5) of the Trent-Severn Waterway. This is a significant threshold on the northbound journey: below the lock lies Katchewanooka, the first of the Kawartha Lakes, and above it opens Clear Lake, gateway to the rocky, island-studded waters of the Canadian Shield. The lock provides a modest 2.1 m (7 ft) lift, but its position at the landscape transition from soft limestone farmland to rugged granite makes it one of the waterway’s most memorable stops.

The original lock was built by the Ontario Government in the 1870s as a simple wooden crib construction. When the waterway was transferred to federal jurisdiction in 1906, a new concrete lock and dam were constructed during the 1920s — the structure that remains in service today. The lockstation commemorates the Young family: Francis Young and his nine children emigrated from County Tipperary, Ireland in August 1825, settling here where Young built a dam and grist mill. Later generations established the Stoney Lake Navigation Company, operating steamboats for cargo and passenger service on the lakes. A cairn near Lock 27 marks the site of the original Young family homestead. The notable twin-span bridge immediately west of the lock, with 6.7 m (22 ft) fixed vertical clearance over a 15.2 m (50 ft) wide span, is recognized as a distinctive example of early 20th-century bridge engineering.

Youngs Point is one of the waterway’s most popular overnight stops, and Parks Canada permits mooring for up to two nights. Below the lock, the painted blue line is on the east wall with additional mooring space on the west wall, though Highway 28 passes close to these walls and road noise can be intrusive. Above the lock, the blue line is on the west wall with ample room; mooring on the shorter east wall provides closer access to washrooms. The Youngs Point General Store — in business for over a century — sits a short walk north of the lock and serves as post office, grocery, fishing tackle shop, and canoe rental centre. The Lockside Trading Company occupies one of the historic Young family buildings beside the lock. Plan to arrive early, as the lock walls fill by mid-afternoon during peak season.

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▲ Above Lock

▼ Below Lock

▲ Above Lock

▼ Below Lock

📍 GPS: 44.4882°N, 78.2329°W · 12th Concession, Lot 37, Youngs Point, Ontario, Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield Township, Peterborough County, Ontario, ON · Get Directions ↗ · Street View ↗

For navigation, use CHS Chart #2024 — this map is for reference only and should not be used for marine navigation.

Boater Orientation Notes:

• Youngs Point is a small hamlet with very limited services — a general store (with LCBO agency), two restaurants, and a gift shop/ice cream cafe at the lock.
• No showers or shore power at Lock 27. Washrooms are basic (Parks Canada). Max mooring: 2 nights.
• Young’s Point General Store (~350 m) is a boater essential — over 100 years in business, carries fresh groceries, LCBO, bait, ATM, and canoe rentals.
• Lakefield (~7 km south) has hardware, pharmacy, and additional dining — requires a taxi.
• Most businesses are seasonal (May—October). Provision before arriving or plan a taxi run to Lakefield.

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🍴 Restaurants

🏛 Local Interests

🔧 Support & Services

Last Updated: March 18, 2026

APPROACH HAZARD: as you approach Young’s Point, you pass under a highway bridge. Reported air draft around 23 feet — verify with charts and current water level before you commit. First thing to contend with on the way in. In the lock itself, you can get some turbulence on approach, but nothing to be too concerned about. Routine chamber. Coming out the top is one of my favorite places on the entire system. Immediately on your port side as you exit is the Lock 27 Tap and Grill — great spot for a day stop. BE CAREFUL TYING UP OVER THERE: there’s not much water. Alternative: anchor around the corner and come back in the dinghy. Young’s Point Marina is also right there and good for walking the dog. The run north from Young’s Point through Clear Lake is one of the most interesting stretches of the whole waterway — and one of the most complicated. Once you cross Clear Lake and reach the northern end, around where the collapsed railroad bridge shows on the charts, you enter the Canadian Shield. The terrain transition is dramatic — heavily treed deciduous country gives way to almost scraped-clean granite by the time you get up to McCracken’s Landing and the Big Island Reef Lighthouse area. NAVIGATION IS UNFORGIVING THROUGH HERE. A lot of boats have gone aground. It’s easy to miss a marker. Specific watch point near Stoney Lake: you’ll be running straight up the middle of the lake threading between rocks, and what looks like a continued straight-ahead course is actually a hard port turn. Don’t miss the lefty — eyes on the markers, eyes on the chart.

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 ↗