Lock 35 – Rosedale | Captain Dustin’s Guide to the Trent-Severn Waterway

Overview — Lock 35 – Rosedale

Lock 35 Rosedale occupies a pivotal position on the Trent-Severn Waterway at KM 252.9, situated in the narrow Trent Canal that links Cameron Lake to Balsam Lake in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes region. This is the final lock in the upbound journey from Lake Ontario — and the shallowest lift on the entire waterway at just 1.2 m (4 ft). Beyond the lock and the highway bridge at Rosedale, the canal opens into Balsam Lake, the summit of the Trent-Severn system at 256.3 m (841 ft) above mean sea level. Lock 36 Kirkfield Lift Lock, which marks the dramatic descent toward Georgian Bay, lies approximately 20 km ahead.

The original lock at Rosedale was constructed in 1873 under a provincial contract awarded to W. Whiteside, who also built the accompanying dam, timber slide, and bridge — all designed to facilitate navigation between the Kawartha Lakes and the rail link at Coboconk. After the waterway was transferred to the Federal Government, the wooden lock was replaced with a concrete dam and lock that remains in service today. Traffic signal lights are fitted at each end of the lock, and the highway bridge crossing the canal at Rosedale presents a controlling vertical clearance of 6.7 m (22 ft).

The approach channel to Lock 35 passes along Dewey’s Island and is notably narrow — boaters should proceed well below the posted speed limit, especially when opposing traffic has just been released from the lock. Mooring walls are available both below and above the lock, with overnight stays permitted for up to two nights. The lockstation grounds feature washrooms, showers, and potable water at the lockmaster’s office, while Parks Canada operates oTENTik accommodations and a rustic cabin on Dewey’s Island for those looking to camp alongside the canal. The village of Rosedale lies a short distance west and offers two marinas, while the towns of Fenelon Falls and Coboconk each provide full services roughly ten minutes away by car.

Official Name	Lock 35 — Rosedale Parks Canada
Lock Number	35
GPS Coordinates	44°34.309’N, 078°46.688’W Waterway Guide
Street Address	Trent Canal Rd, Rosedale, ON K0M 2B0 [VERIFY — Parks Canada]
KM Marker	KM 252.9 Mile 157.1 CHS CEN309
Region	Kawartha Lakes
Water Body	Trent Canal (Cameron Lake — Balsam Lake)
CHS Nautical Chart	#2025 CHS
Nearest Municipality	City of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Historic Construction	1873 (original wooden lock by W. Whiteside); concrete rebuild date [VERIFY — Parks Canada]
Lock Phone	(705) 887-3120 Parks Canada
Email	trentsevern@pc.gc.ca

Parks Canada — Lock 35 ↗
Parks Canada Hours ↗
Transport Canada ↗
CHS Charts ↗
AGLCA ↗
Waterway Guide ↗

⚠ Report a Data Error on this page ↗

Navigation Notes — Lock 35 – Rosedale

⬆ Upstream Approach — Northbound (Ascending toward Kirkfield)

⚠ Narrow channel — reduce speed and watch for opposing traffic. The northbound approach along Dewey’s Island is one of the more constricted canal sections on the TSW. Proceed well below the posted speed limit from the moment you enter this reach. The channel allows little room for error and even less for two vessels passing at speed. Stay to your starboard side throughout.

⚠ Heavy traffic possible immediately after lock cycle. Lock 35 is the last upbound lock before Balsam Lake and sees steady two-way traffic during peak season. When the lock has just completed a southbound cycle, vessels exiting downbound will be entering the same narrow channel you are navigating northbound. Be prepared to hold position and yield.

⚠ Rosedale highway bridge — 22 ft (6.7 m) clearance. Fixed bridge spans the canal south of the lock. Confirm air draft before entering the lock approach from below. Traffic signal lights control entry at each end of the lock.

Summit context: beyond this lock, the canal opens into Balsam Lake — the highest point on the TSW at 256.3 m (841 ft) above sea level. This is the final ascending lock. Lock 36 Kirkfield Lift Lock, which begins the 260 ft descent toward Georgian Bay, lies approximately 20 km ahead.

BELOW LOCK: Blue line on north wall. One additional boat may moor beyond the blue line. Entire south wall also available.
Above lock: Blue line on south wall. Both walls available for mooring.
Max mooring: 2 nights. No shore power. Potable water, washrooms, showers on-site.
Rosedale Marina (~900 m west): fuel, repairs, haulout (vessels to 34 ft).

⬇ Downstream Approach — Southbound (Descending toward Lake Ontario)

⚠ Narrow channel — reduce speed and watch for opposing traffic. Southbound vessels leaving Balsam Lake and descending through Lock 35 enter the same narrow Dewey’s Island canal reach on departure. Reduce speed immediately after clearing the lock and maintain slow speed through the entire confined section. Northbound vessels staging below will be entering this reach as you exit.

⚠ Heavy traffic possible immediately after lock cycle. After the lock completes a northbound cycle, departing upbound vessels are entering the Balsam Lake approach at the same time southbound traffic may be staging below. Hold speed and proceed with caution in both directions.

⚠ Rosedale highway bridge — 22 ft (6.7 m) clearance. Fixed bridge is south of the lock. Southbound vessels transit this bridge on departure. Confirm air draft before proceeding.

ABOVE LOCK: Blue line on south wall. Both walls available for mooring above lock.
Max mooring: 2 nights. No shore power. Potable water, washrooms, showers on-site.
Southbound continues to Lock 34 Fenelon Falls (~8 km south via Cameron Lake).
Rosedale Marina (~900 m west): fuel, repairs, haulout if needed before proceeding.

Current Hazard	⚠ Narrow channel — reduce speed and watch for opposing traffic. The approach to Lock 35 runs along Dewey’s Island through a notably constricted canal section. Proceed well below the posted speed limit in both directions. When the lock has just completed a cycle, vessels exiting in the opposite direction will be entering this same narrow reach — hold to your side and be prepared to stop. ⚠ Heavy traffic possible immediately after lock cycle. Lock 35 sits just before the summit level — Balsam Lake is a busy recreational lake and traffic funnels through this single lock in both directions. After each lockage, a wave of departing vessels enters the narrow approach reach. Do not proceed at speed immediately after the lock gates open. ⚠ Rosedale highway bridge — 22 ft (6.7 m) clearance. Fixed vertical clearance. Confirm air draft before approaching the lock from below.
Wind Exposure	Varies by location
Commercial Traffic	None
Peak Congestion	Moderate during peak summer
Operating Season	Mid-May to mid-October — confirm annually at parks.canada.ca

Lock Technical Details — Lock 35 – Rosedale

Parameter	Metric	Imperial
Lock Number	35
Average Lift	1.22 m	4 ft
Chamber Length	47.7 m	150 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	2 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	(705) 887-3120

Nearby Anchorages — Lock 35 – Rosedale

▲ Above Lock

Balsam Lake › 6–15 ft · ~26 km

▼ Below Lock

Cameron Lake — Cranberry Bay & Sackett Bay › 4–18 ft · ~5 km

Parks Canada overnight tie-up also available at Lock 35 – Rosedale — maximum 2 nights. See §3 for permit details.

Marina & Fuel Services — Lock 35 – Rosedale

No fuel dock is directly at Lock 35 – Rosedale. Refer to adjacent lock pages for the nearest fuel source.

▲ Above Lock

Rosedale Marina — Website ↗

📌 Adjacent from lock

🌊 Depths: 5/4 ft (approach/dock)

📞 (705) 887-6921

Fixed ⛽ Gas Pump‑Out

▼ Below Lock

Fenelon Falls Marina — Website ↗

📌 ~5 km from lock

🌊 Depths: 3/6 ft (approach/dock)

📞 (705) 887-6921

Pump‑Out 20 transient

Location Map — Lock 35 – Rosedale

📍 GPS: 44.5691°N, 78.768°W · Rosedale, Fenelon Township, ON K0M 1N0, 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.

Nearby Town & Amenities — Lock 35 – Rosedale

🚖 Taxi / Transit
☎ Kawartha Lakes Taxi — (705) 878-0001 — Covers Rosedale, Fenelon Falls, Coboconk, Lindsay. Also does deliveries. Call to arrange pickup from lock. 🔗
☎ Poppa Ed’s Taxi — (705) 878-4343 — Lindsay-based; covers City of Kawartha Lakes. May require advance booking for Rosedale pickup.
No local in-village taxi or public transit. Uber availability sporadic in rural Kawarthas.

Boater Orientation Notes:

Lock 35 is the highest point on the TSW at 598 ft elevation with the smallest lift on the system (4 ft). Expansive lawns, showers, fire pits, and campsites.
Kawartha Trading Post (~800 m) is the only walkable restaurant and general store — seasonal hours, verify before walking.
Fenelon Falls (~8 km south) has full grocery, LCBO, restaurants, pharmacy, and hardware — requires taxi.
Pride of Balsam Lake Marina (~1.2 km) has a full chandlery, fuel dock, and ice. Rosedale Marina (~900 m) has gas, repairs, and haulout.
Dewey’s Island Nature Reserve (adjacent to lock) has 3 km of trails plus oTENTik glamping and a rustic cabin.

🛒 Grocery

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Kawartha Trading Post General Store	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-3116	⭐ N/A	~800 m	Walkable
LCBO (Fenelon Falls) 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-3220	⭐ 4.3	~8 km	Short Drive
Sobeys (Fenelon Falls) 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-3611	⭐ 3.4	~8 km	Short Drive

🍴 Restaurants

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Kawartha Trading Post Restaurant	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-3116	⭐ N/A	~800 m	Walkable
Cow and Sow Eatery	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-5111	⭐ 4.0	~8 km	Short Drive
Fenelon Falls Brewing Co.	Let’s Go!	(705) 215-9898	⭐ 4.4	~8 km	Short Drive
Murphy’s Lockside Pub and Patio	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-1100	⭐ 4.0	~8 km	Short Drive
The Locker at the Falls 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-6211	⭐ 4.3	~8 km	Short Drive
Ziraldo’s Italian Restaurant 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-3322	⭐ 4.5	~8 km	Short Drive

🏛 Local Interests

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Dewey’s Island Nature Reserve and Trails 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-3120	⭐ N/A	On-site	Walkable
Lock 35 — Rosedale Lockstation (Parks Canada) 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-3120	⭐ 4.5	On-site	Walkable
Rosedale Parkette and Boat Launch 🔗	Let’s Go!	N/A	⭐ N/A	~750 m	Walkable
Balsam Lake Provincial Park 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 454-2591	⭐ 4.1	~12 km	Short Drive

🔧 Support & Services

Name	Directions	Phone	Rating	Distance	Access
Norris Mobile Marine Service	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-1442	⭐ 4.9	~1.7 km	Walkable
Pride of Balsam Lake Marina (Chandlery) 🔗	Let’s Go!	(800) 991-3006	⭐ 4.2	~1.2 km	Walkable
Rosedale Marina	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-6921	⭐ 4.5	~900 m	Walkable
Canadian Tire (Fenelon Falls) 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-3310	⭐ 4.1	~8 km	Short Drive
Pharmasave (Fenelon Falls) 🔗	Let’s Go!	(705) 887-2320	⭐ 5.0	~8 km	Short Drive

Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Captain Dustin’s Tips — Lock 35 – Rosedale

🧭 Skipper Intelligence Pending

Captain Dustin’s on-the-water cruising intelligence for Lock 35 – Rosedale is being compiled from first-hand experience and verified field sources. Expect docking strategy, overnight notes, congestion timing, and local supply intelligence. Check back soon.

Hazard Warnings — Lock 35 – Rosedale

⚠ Site-Specific Hazards Pending

Shoal locations, rock hazards, and current data for Lock 35 – Rosedale are being compiled from CHS CEN309 and current Notices to Mariners. Check notmar.gc.ca for active advisories. CHS

Always verify active Notices to Mariners at notmar.gc.ca before transiting this area. High water conditions reduce all clearance values — confirm with Parks Canada lock staff during elevated water periods.

Live Weather — Lock 35 – Rosedale

📍 Centered on: 44.5691°N, 78.768°W
🌞 Default layer: Wind (ECMWF model)
🌡 Toggle temperature, rain, and radar via the layer selector (top right)
🔍 Zoom level: 12 (regional waterway view)
📡 Data source: Windy.com / ECMWF forecast model

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 ↗

Video Guide — Lock 35 – Rosedale

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Lock 35 — Lock 35 – Rosedale

▲ Above Lock

▼ Below Lock

▲ Above Lock

▼ Below Lock

🛒 Grocery

🍴 Restaurants

🏛 Local Interests

🔧 Support & Services