Lock 33 — Lock 33 – Lindsay

Lock 33 stands on the Scugog River in the heart of downtown Lindsay, roughly 4.8 kilometres south of Sturgeon Lake where the branch canal departs from the main Trent-Severn navigation channel. Vessels leaving the main route turn south at the well-buoyed entrance near Pleasant Point on Sturgeon Lake’s east shore and follow the narrow, winding Scugog River upstream through approximately 5 kilometres of cottage-lined waterway before reaching the lock at KM 250.2. The branch canal continues south beyond Lindsay through Lake Scugog to Port Perry, though bridge clearances of just 3.7 metres (12 feet) above Lindsay restrict passage for taller vessels. This is the only lock on the entire Trent-Severn system equipped with a three-gate configuration rather than the conventional two-gate design, and it remains one of just five TSW locks still operated by manual sweeps. Parks Canada CHS CEN309

The site’s history predates the waterway itself. William Purdy settled here in 1825 and began constructing a sawmill and grist mills on the Scugog River, giving the settlement its original name of Purdy’s Mills. A lock was built at Purdy’s Mill during the first phase of Trent-Severn canal construction but was later converted to a timber slide as commercial traffic declined. The Ontario Government rebuilt the lock in the 1870s, and in 1906 the lock and dam were transferred to the federal government. The structure was subsequently rebuilt in concrete and has remained in continuous seasonal operation since. Lindsay itself was incorporated as a town in 1857, prospering alongside the canal, and is now the administrative seat of the City of Kawartha Lakes. Parks Canada CHS CEN309 §125–126

For cruising boaters, the side trip to Lindsay offers a full-service town experience that few lockstations on the TSW can match. The lock sits within easy walking distance of grocery stores, banks, a liquor store, the post office, restaurants, and the Lindsay Gallery. Rivera Park, roughly 1.3 kilometres downstream of the lock, provides 146 metres of public dockage with shore power, a concrete boat ramp, picnic grounds, a playground, and washroom facilities. Additional tie-up space is available at McDonnell Park along the boardwalk between the Wellington Street and Lindsay Street bridges. Boaters should allow approximately 30 to 40 minutes for the transit from Sturgeon Lake to the lock, and must exercise caution for strong currents below the lock when sluices are opened. The maximum mooring period at the lockstation is two nights. Parks Canada CHS CEN309 §132–140 TSW Database

See an error on this page? Report it here →

▼ Below Lock

📍 GPS: 44.3574°N, 78.7374°W · Lindsay, ON K9V 4L9, City of Kawartha Lakes, 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.

Boater Orientation Notes:

• Lindsay is a well-serviced town — downtown Kent St is ~500 m from Lock 33 with restaurants, shops, hardware, pharmacies, and laundromat.
• Lock 33 is a side trip off the main TSW channel to Lake Scugog — one of five manually operated locks (hand-cranked sweeps). Shore power available. Max mooring: 2 nights.
• Kawartha Dairy (~200 m from lock) is a regional institution for ice cream — do not miss it.
• La Mantia’s Country Market (~450 m) is the best walkable grocery with quality produce, deli, meats, cheese, and beer/wine.
• No dedicated marine chandlery in Lindsay — Canadian Tire (1.8 km, taxi recommended) has a marine section and adjacent propane fill.

🛒 Grocery

🍴 Restaurants

🏛 Local Interests

🔧 Support & Services

Last Updated: March 18, 2026

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 ↗