Lock 39 — Lock 39 – Portage

Lock 39 Portage sits at Kilometre 289.1 (Mile 179.6) on the Trent Canal, the narrow man-made channel that links Canal Lake to Lake Simcoe. Positioned in the Simcoe Region within the Township of Brock, this lock drops northbound vessels 4.0 metres (13 feet) as they continue their descent toward Georgian Bay. The lockstation is one of the most isolated on the entire waterway — there is no nearby road traffic, and the grounds have a quiet, park-like character with mature shade trees and picnic areas. Parks Canada describes an iconic view west from atop the lock gates, where boaters can see the entire canal corridor stretching through Locks 39, 40, and 41 all the way to Lake Simcoe.

Lock 39 was constructed as part of the Lake Simcoe–Balsam Lake section of the Trent-Severn Waterway, built between 1900 and 1907 under the direction of the Department of Railways and Canals. This section of the waterway is recognized by Parks Canada for its high number of surviving unmodified structures from the original construction period. The lock operates as a slow-operating valve gate, the same mechanism used at neighbouring Locks 37 through 41 on this stretch of the Trent Canal. Just upstream of the lock, the Talbot Dam creates a small bay where the Talbot River diverges from the canal — a junction that reflects decades of debate over the optimal navigation route through this region. [VERIFY — Parks Canada: specific construction year for Lock 39]

Boaters arriving at Lock 39 will find painted blue line mooring above the lock on the north wall with room for a few boats, additional mooring on the south wall for several boats, and a blue line below the lock on the south wall. The lockstation offers overnight mooring for up to two nights, potable water, washrooms, a picnic area, and a reasonably large boater camping area — but no shore power. There are no restaurants or provisioning within walking distance; the nearest services are in Beaverton, approximately 8 kilometres to the south. From here, Lock 40 Thorah is only half a mile downstream, followed quickly by Lock 41 Gamebridge, after which the canal enters Lake Simcoe for the largest open-water crossing on the Trent-Severn.

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📍 GPS: 44.4987°N, 79.1334°W · 33245 Region Road #50, Beaverton, Ontario, Township of Brock, Durham Region, Ontario, ON · Get Directions ↗ · Street View ↗

For navigation, use CHS Chart #2026 — this map is for reference only and should not be used for marine navigation.

Boater Orientation Notes:

• Lock 39 is isolated from road traffic with no public road access directly to the lock — nothing walkable within 1 km except Talbot Dam (~600 m, popular fishing spot).
• Downtown Beaverton (~10 km south) has full grocery, LCBO, restaurants, pharmacy, hardware, and laundromat — all require a short drive or taxi.
• Value Propane Inc. (~2.2 km on Regional Rd 50) is the closest commercial establishment to the lock.
• Lock 40 (Thorah) is only 0.5 mi upstream; Lock 41 (Gamebridge) is 1 mi upstream and closer to Hwy 12 services. Consider provisioning there.
• Lock has camping, picnic tables, shade trees, and washrooms. Max mooring: 2 nights.

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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 ↗