Northbound Great Loop cruisers reaching Lock 31 Buckhorn have completed roughly half the Trent-Severn transit and are now deep in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes. Behind you lie the steep climbs of the Otonabee River locks and the engineering spectacle of the Peterborough Lift Lock. Ahead, the waterway threads through Buckhorn Lake and Pigeon Lake before reaching Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, and eventually the height-of-land at Kirkfield’s hydraulic lift lock. For cruising resources and community support, visit AGLCA: https://www.greatloop.org/
Parks Canada currently lists the chamber length as 37.8 m (124 ft), while the Parks Canada 2014 Boating Safely brochure records 31.4 m (103 ft). Additionally, Parks Canada states the average lift as 3.5 m (11.5 ft), while CHS Sailing Directions CEN309 records the lift as 3.4 m (11 ft). This guide uses the current Parks Canada figures. Boaters with vessels near the chamber length limit should confirm dimensions directly with Parks Canada at 1-888-773-8888 before transit.
Lock 31 Buckhorn sits at Kilometre 194.2 (Mile 120.7) on the Trent-Severn Waterway, at the western extremity of Lower Buckhorn Lake where the channel rises into Upper Buckhorn Lake. This is the approximate halfway point of the 386-kilometre waterway and one of its busiest stations — in 2022, more than 8,000 vessels locked through here. The lock occupies the geological boundary between the St. Lawrence Lowlands and the Canadian Shield, and the hamlet of Buckhorn — part of Trent Lakes municipality in the Kawartha Lakes region — is just steps from the lock walls. Boaters arriving from the south have navigated through the scenic island-studded waters of Lovesick Lake and Lower Buckhorn Lake to reach this point.
Construction of Lock 31 began in 1883 and the lock opened to traffic in 1888, making it one of the later Kawartha-section locks to be completed. Builders faced exceptional difficulty cutting the chamber from the hard granite of the Canadian Shield — steam drills reportedly broke down frequently during the project. A dam and timber slide had existed at this site since John Hall built the original structures in 1830. The Buckhorn Road Bridge, a fixed structure with 6.7 m (22 ft) vertical clearance, crosses the channel immediately north of the lock. A submerged power cable crosses the route near Kilometre 193.2 at the west end of Lower Buckhorn Lake — boaters are cautioned not to anchor or fish in that vicinity.
Buckhorn is a well-serviced stop with overnight mooring available on both walls above and below the lock. Shore power pedestals are installed along the upper walls, and potable water and washrooms are on site. The maximum mooring period is one night owing to heavy traffic. The Mainstreet Bar & Grill restaurant sits adjacent to the lock’s southwest approach, and a Foodland grocery store is a short walk across the bridge. Buckhorn is known as an arts-and-crafts centre, home to the annual Buckhorn Fine Art Festival each August. The Whetung Ojibwa Centre on nearby Curve Lake First Nation territory and the Gallery on the Lake are both accessible by water. Lock 31 also hosts Music at the Locks — free Tuesday evening concerts through July and August, organized by the Buckhorn District Lions Club.
| Official Name | Lock 31 — Buckhorn Parks Canada |
| Lock Number | 31 |
| GPS Coordinates | 44°33’20.0”N, 78°20’46.2”W Decimal: 44.5556, −78.3462 Parks Canada |
| Street Address | [VERIFY — Parks Canada] |
| KM Marker | 194.2 km (Mile 120.7) Parks Canada |
| Region | Kawartha Lakes, Ontario |
| Water Body | Lower Buckhorn Lake (below) / Upper Buckhorn Lake (above) |
| CHS Nautical Chart | #2024 CHS |
| Nearest Municipality | Buckhorn (Trent Lakes), Ontario |
| Historic Construction | Began 1883, opened 1888 Parks Canada |
| Lock Phone | (705) 657-8725 Parks Canada |
| trentsevern@pc.gc.ca |
| Parameter | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Lock Number | 31 | |
| Average Lift | 3.35 m | 11 ft |
| Chamber Length | 37.8 m | 124 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 | 1 nights | |
| Permit Required | Yes — 1‑888‑773‑8888 or parks.canada.ca | |
| Electricity | ✔ Available | |
| Potable Water | ✗ Not Available — Top up at previous lockstation | |
| Pump-Out | ✗ Not Available | |
| Operator | Parks Canada — Environment and Climate Change Canada | |
| Lock Phone Parks Canada | (705) 657-8725 | |
▲ Above Lock
▼ Below Lock
▲ Above Lock
📌 ~28 km from lock
🌊 Depths: 6/4 ft (approach/dock)
📍 GPS: 44.5556°N, 78.3462°W · 81 Lakehurst Rd, Buckhorn, ON K0L 1J0, Selwyn Township, Peterborough County, Ontario, ON · Get Directions ↗ · Street View ↗
For navigation, use CHS Chart #2023 — this map is for reference only and should not be used for marine navigation.
☎ Kawartha Lakes Taxi — (705) 878-0001 — Based in Lindsay (~40 km). May serve Buckhorn by request — call ahead to confirm availability and fare. Not guaranteed. 🔗
No confirmed local taxi serves Buckhorn directly. Uber availability is sporadic in rural Kawarthas — do not rely on rideshare.
Boater Orientation Notes:
- Lock 31 marks the halfway point of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Shore power available (8 pedestals) but no water hookups. Max mooring: 1 night.
- Buckhorn is a small seasonal village — most businesses have reduced hours or close entirely from late October through April.
- LCBO and Buckhorn General Store are within 250 m of the lock. Foodland and Home Hardware are ~1.3 km (18-min walk uphill).
- No pharmacy or laundromat in Buckhorn village. Nearest pharmacies are in Lakefield (~18 km) or Bridgenorth (~15 km).
- Country Mart Bakery is locally famous for butter tarts and pies — worth the uphill walk.
🛒 Grocery
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Buckhorn General Store | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-8621 | ⭐ N/A | ~250 m | Walkable |
| Country Mart Bakery & Convenience 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-3455 | ⭐ 4.2 | ~1.3 km | Walkable |
| Foodland Buckhorn 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-3311 | ⭐ 3.3 | ~1.3 km | Walkable |
| LCBO 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-3211 | ⭐ N/A | ~200 m | Walkable |
🍴 Restaurants
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Cody Inn Restaurant 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-8812 | ⭐ N/A | ~200 m | Walkable |
| Mainstreet Bar & Grill 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-9094 | ⭐ 3.6 | ~100 m | Walkable |
| Pizza Alloro 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-7575 | ⭐ 4.7 | ~200 m | Walkable |
| The Olde Ice House 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-1131 | ⭐ 4.1 | ~150 m | Walkable |
🏛 Local Interests
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Buckhorn Welcome Centre 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-3288 | ⭐ N/A | ~250 m | Walkable |
| Lock 31 — TSW National Historic Site 🔗 | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | On-site | Walkable |
| Wolf Island Provincial Park 🔗 | Let’s Go! | N/A | ⭐ N/A | ~2 km by water | Walkable |
🔧 Support & Services
| Name | Directions | Phone | Rating | Distance | Access |
| Buckhorn Home Hardware 🔗 | Let’s Go! | (705) 657-8741 | ⭐ 4.5 | ~1.3 km | Walkable |
Last Updated: March 18, 2026
Lock 31 – Buckhorn does not provide potable water on-site. Ensure adequate fresh water supply before arriving. Top up at the previous lockstation. Parks Canada
Shoal locations, rock hazards, and current data for Lock 31 – Buckhorn 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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