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2024 Fees and Schedules


In this section you can check Parks Canada's 2024 Hours of Operation for the locks, its Locking and Mooring Fees, its Boat Launching and Parking Fees and the Rideau Canal office Contact Information.


2024 Hours of Operation

DatesDaysHours
May 17 - June 20 Monday - Thursday10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  Friday to Sunday, holidays  9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
   
June 21 - Sept. 2 Monday to Thursday  9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  Friday to Sunday, holidays  9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
   
Sept. 3 - October 14 Monday - Friday10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
 Saturday to Sunday & Thanksgiving  9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Caveats:

  • Times of the first and last lockages of the day, particularly at lockstations with multiple locks, are not guaranteed. They are often affected by heavy boat traffic, water management and other station opening and closing duties of the lock staff.
  • To maximize chances of being locked through late in the day during regular hours, arrive early enough to allow for complete lockages in both directions.
Last Lockage
  • The last lockage of the day begins 30 minutes before closing time.
  • At a lockstation with one lock chamber, boaters must arrive at least 30 minutes before closing.
  • At lockstations with two lock chambers, boaters must arrive at least one hour before closing.
  • At lockstations with three lock chambers, boaters must arrive at least 1.5 hours before closing.
  • At lockstations with four lock chambers, boaters must arrive at least two hours before closing.
  • At Ottawa Locks, boaters must arrive at least 3.5 hours before closing.
  • At swing bridges, boaters must arrive 20 minutes before closing.

Bridge Schedules

Most swing/lift bridges operate on an "on-demand" schedule. However, in some areas, a more rigid schedule is kept:

  • Ottawa: swing/lift bridges (i.e. Pretoria and Hog's Back) remain closed during rush hour traffic from Monday to Friday; 8:30-9:00 am, 12:30-1:15 pm, and 3:30-5:30 pm.

  • Smiths Falls Bridge, operated on-demand through the navigation season.

  • Perth's Beckwith Street Bridge swings on demand (check with Beveridges lock staff first)

  • Kingston's Bascule Bridge open from 6 am to 10 pm and swings hour on the hour except for 8, 12, 4, 5 o'clock on weekdays.

  • Brass Point: this is operated by Parks Canada on exactly the same schedule as the locks (see "Hours of Operation" above).

Maximum Overnight Mooring Period

  • 2 Nights - All lockstations (extensions at the discretion of the Lockmaster)
          Note: Overnight Mooring passes include one free camp site.



2024 Lockage, Mooring and Camping Fees (HST included)
Note: all figures are in $Canadian.

** FREE LOCKAGE ON CANADA DAY - JULY 1 **

Type of Permit
2024 Rates
Single Lockage and Return$1.25/ft
One Day Lockage$2.00/ft
Six Day*$5.75/ft
Transit (one way)$5.75/ft
Seasonal Lockage boats other than canoes & kayaks$10.00/ft
Seasonal Lockage for canoes/kayaks$5.00/ft
Overnight Mooring (incl. Day Mooring)$1.25/ft
Colonel By Island Day Mooring (to 7 pm)$0.75/ft
Colonel By Island Overnight Mooring $1.25/ft
Seasonal Mooring$11.00/ft
Power (per 24 hrs)**$10.75 per night
Camping$5.50 per person
oTENTiks$111.00 per night


* Allows passage through any number of locks on any six days during the navigation season.

** Power is only available at selected lockstations, see the lockstation services chart.

Note: these fees apply to the Rideau Canal and the Trent-Severn Waterway. In addition, the six day permits and seasonal lockage and mooring permits are valid for all the canals run by Parks Canada in Ontario and Quebec (i.e. with a single season permit you could traverse all those canals).

A minimum 12 foot vessel length charge will be made for boats 12 feet and under.

Purchase of a mooring permit includes one free camping site.

Permits are valid only during the year of issue and are not transferable or refundable.

Boaters are limited to 2 nights (48hrs) mooring at a lockstation - extensions are available at the discretion of the lockmaster. Vessels having reached the maximum stay cannot return to the same wharf or wall for 24 hours, unless otherwise directed by the lock staff.


Purchasing a Lock Pass

A Seasonal, transit, or 6-Day Lock Pass and/or a Seasonal Mooring Permit may be purchased:
  • By mail or telephone through the Parks Canada National Information Service (call 1-888-773-8888)


  • Online via the Parks Canada Sales Site

All types of lockpass (seasonal, 6-day, transit, one day, single lockage) and mooring permits may be purchased:
  • At any Rideau lockstation during the navigation season.
Payment at a lockstation can be made by VISA, Mastercard, Amex, personal cheque or cash.



Boat Launching and Parking

Boat Launching
Per Launch (includes parking where applicable) $13.50
Season boat launching $131.75
Available at: Hogs Back, Poonamalie, Edmunds, Smiths Falls Detached, and Beveridges Lockstations

Parking
(only fee parking is listed, other locks are free)
Lockstation Hourly Daily Seasonal
Hogs Back -- $8.50 --
Hartwells $5.25 $15.75 --
Black Rapids $2.25 $8.50 ---
Long Island $2.25 $8.50 ---
Merrickville $2.25 $8.50 ---
Edmunds --- $5.25 --
Newboro --- $4.25
(Township)
$312.50 (Parks Canada)
$233.91 (Township)
Kingston Mills $1.25 $5.25 ---




For more information contact:
Parks Canada Rideau Canal Office
34 Beckwith St. South,
Smiths Falls, Ontario K7A 2A8
Tel: 613-283-5170
Toll Free: 1-888-773-8888
(Parks Canada Call Centre - North America only)
Fax: 613-283-0677
email: RideauCanal-info@pc.gc.ca






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©1996- Ken W. Watson