Big Chute to Peterborough
Switch to Peterborough to Big Chute
Passengers board our chartered bus by 6:00 p.m. at the Peterborough Holiday Inn. There is free car parking at the Holiday Inn. Bus arrives at Big Chute by 8:30 p.m. for embarkation on the Kawartha Voyageur which will remain docked for the night at Big Chute.
Day 1 Big Chute to Orillia
After viewing the Big Chute Marine Railway we depart about 9:30 a.m. up the Severn River with its rocky gorges and islands. Our first lock is the highest mitre lock on the system, Swift Rapids. Then through Sparrow Lake, the upper Severn River to the aqua waters of Lake Couchiching, and to Orillia’s lovely downtown waterfront.
Day 2 Orillia to Kirkfield
A morning crossing of beautiful Lake Simcoe places us by noon at the Gamebridge entrance to a series of locks and canals above the level of the adjacent farms. Then on through man-made Canal Lake with its tiny “marble-arch” bridge–a must for photographers as we pass through. We reach our overnight stop at the massive Kirkfield Lift Lock in a tranquil rural setting.
Day 3 Kirkfield to Bobcaygeon
From Kirkfield we journey through several miles of narrow man-made canal to Balsam Lake which is the highest point of the Waterway between Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario. Across Balsam, through Rosedale Lock, and across Cameron Lake we come to Fenelon Falls with its scenic waterfall and rocky gorge. Then on through Sturgeon Lake to Bobcaygeon, the hub of the Kawarthas and a particularly pleasant setting for the night.
Day 4 Bobcaygeon to Lakefield
This day is a progression of beautiful Kawartha Lakes and their joining locks and villages: Pigeon Lake through Gannon Narrows into Buckhorn Lake; Lower Buckhorn Lake into Lovesick Lake with its legend of unrequitted love; Burleigh Falls into Stoney Lake and its thousand islands; Hell’s Gate with its Little Church on the Rock standing guard; then Clear Lake, Young’s Point and finally Lake Katchewanooka to our overnight stop at Lakefield.
Day 5 Lakefield to Peterborough
Our final day is a busy journey down the Otonabee River through a series of seven locks including the great Lift Lock to our base at Peterborough Holiday Inn around 2:00 p.m.
Embarkation starts at 8:00 p.m. behind the Peterborough Holiday Inn. There is free car parking behind the Holiday Inn. The Kawartha Voyageur remains docked at the Holiday Inn for the night.
Day 1 Peterborough to Buckhorn
Departing at breakfast, the Kawartha Voyageur ascends seven locks on the Otonabee River between Peterborough and Lakefield including the great Lift Lock. After lunch, we enter Lake Katchewanooka, the first of the famous Kawartha Lakes and continue upstream through historic Young’s Point, Clear Lake, Hell’s Gate with its lonely Church on the Rock standing guard and Stoney Lake to Burleigh Falls. After Burleigh, we cross Lovesick and Lower Buckhorn Lakes to the village of Buckhorn where we dock for the night.
Day 2 Buckhorn to Kirkfield Lift Lock
Departing Buckhorn at breakfast sets the pace for a relaxing day through another five Kawartha Lakes and the villages of Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls. Our day’s journey ends at the Kirkfield Liftlock following a transit of the man-made Kirkfield channel.
Day 3 Kirkfield to Orillia
From Kirkfield Lift Lock at the summit of the Trent-Severn Waterway, we head downstream through Canal Lake and the Talbot River passing through five locks and several swing bridges before entering Lake Simcoe. A mid afternoon crossing of about 15 miles rewards us with an attractive overnight docking at the port of Orillia.
Day 4 Orillia to Port Stanton
After a morning of shopping or a visit to the Stephen Leacock home, we sail up Lake Couchiching to enter the Severn River at Washago. This section of the Severn down to Sparrow Lake offers a fine display of lovely homes and cottages. Overnight docking is at Port Stanton on Sparrow Lake.
Day 5 Port Stanton to Big Chute
A final spectacular day cruising down the Severn River with its rocky grandeur, through the mighty Swift Rapids lock and then on to our destination at Big Chute Marine Railway. After lunch there is time to view the marine railway before boarding a chartered bus for your return to Peterborough with arrival around 5:00 p.m.
Trenton to Rosedale
Switch to Rosedale to Trenton
Passengers board our chartered bus by 6:00 pm behind the Peterborough Holiday Inn. Free car parking behind the Holiday Inn. The bus will arrive by 7:30 pm for embarkation on the Kawartha Voyageur which will remain docked for the night.
Day 1 Trenton to Campbellford
Our journey begins with six locks in as many miles. We navigate a total of 12 locks today with a final lift of 48 feet in the flight lock at Ranney Falls prior to docking for the night in Campbellford “Home of the Two Dollar Coin”
Day 2 Campbellford to Gore’s Landing
Take time to explore Campbellford after breakfast and then relax as we continue up to the Healey Falls flight lock with its 54 foot lift. A short walk provides a nice view of a cascading waterfall. A 22 km stretch of serene river brings us to our last lock at Hastings before heading out on Rice Lake to dock at Gore’s Landing.
Day 3 Gore’s Landing to Lakefield
From Rice Lake, we enter the Otonabee River which showcases a mix of natural paradise and farmland along its banks. In Peterborough, we enter the massive Lift Lock for an incredible 65 foot lift. Continuing on up the river, we have 5 more locks prior to docking at Lakefield.
Day 4 Lakefield to Bobcaygeon
Leaving Lakefield, we enter the first of many beautiful Kawartha Lakes. Later we cruise through Hell’s Gate and Stoney Lake to reach Burleigh Falls and Lovesick Lake. From the village of Buckhorn, we cross Buckhorn Lake and pass through Gannons Narrows to Pigeon Lake and the engaging town of Bobcaygeon.
Day 5 Bobcaygeon to Rosedale
Sturgeon Lake stretches all the way to Fenelon Falls. A beautiful rocky gorge leads us to the lock adjacent to the falls in the heart of the town. After crossing Cameron Lake, we arrive at Rosedale for our final lockage and docking. Passengers board our bus at 1:30 pm and arrive back to their cars in Peterborough by 3:00 pm
Day 1 Rosedale to Buckhorn
Departing Rosedale, we cross Cameron Lake to Fenelon Falls with its scenic waterfall and rocky gorge. Sturgeon Lake takes us to Bobcaygeon and a stop there to explore the unique shops. After cruising Pigeon and Buckhorn Lakes, we arrive at the village of Buckhorn for the night.
Day 2 Buckhorn to Peterborough
This morning we are in the Canadian Shield passing through Lower Buckhorn, Lovesick, Burleigh Falls and Stoney Lake. Departing through Hell’s Gate, Clear Lake takes us to Youngs Point. From Lake Katchewanooka, we enter the Otonabee River at Lakefield and descend through a series of seven locks including the great Lift Lock at Peterborough.
Day 3 Peterborough to Healey Falls
Pastoral farmland interspersed with tree-lined marshland teeming with bird life greets your eye as we glide down the Otonabee River to Rice Lake. Rolling drumlins and domed islands are evidence of the last ice age. As we approach the village of Hastings, we enter and follow the Trent River to the scenic Healey Falls flight lock.
Day 4 Healey Falls to Glen Ross
A series of picturesque locks and a stop in the town of Campbellford together with the colour of the hardwood forested hills just makes the day!
Day 5 Glen Ross to Trenton Lock 1
After locking through Glenn Ross during breakfast, we will encounter 5 more locks…Frankford, Trent, Batawa, Glenn Miller and Sydney as we move downstream towards Trenton. Our final docking is the topside of Lock 1. Passengers board our bus at 1:30 pm and arrive back to their cars in Peterborough by 3:00 pm