Trent-Severn Waterway opening on Friday morning as scheduled

The Trent-Severn Waterway season is scheduled to open at 9 a.m. Friday, marking the first time since prior to the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 that the waterway opened in time for Victoria Day weekend.

Normally, the boating season opens on the Friday of the Victoria Day long weekend but in 2020 — just three months into the pandemic — the waterway opened June 1 on a limited basis. Boating was available, but camping facilities remained closed until late June, for COVID-19 safety reasons.

In 2021, Parks Canada delayed that start of the season until May 28, a week after the COVID-19 stayat-home lockdown ended.

Now, the waterway system is reopening on time with no delays expected due to water levels.

The Trent-Severn Waterway is a 386-kilometre route that runs between Port Severn on Georgian Bay

and Trenton on the Bay of Quinte.

Lockage hours from Friday until June 19:

■ Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

■ Friday to Sunday and Victoria Day (Monday): 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Then the hours change from June 20 to Sept. 5:

■ Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

■ Friday to Sunday and Canada Day (July 1), civic holiday (Aug. 1), Labour Day (Sept. 5): 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

From Sept. 6 to Oct. 10, these hours apply:

■ Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

■ Saturday to Sunday, and Oct. 10: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Camping

Camping is available this year at certain locks, but Parks Canada advises there will be no drive-up service this year. Camping will be available by reservation only.

Reservations can be made by phone for camping along the Trent-Severn Waterway at 1877-3783 or online at reservation.pc.gc.ca/Trent-SevernWaterway.

Here are the locks near Peterborough where camping is available from May 20 to Oct. 9:

■ Douro Lock 24 has four oTENTik sites.

■ Rosedale Lock 35 (near Fenelon Falls) has oTENTik and walk-in tent camping.

■ Percy Reach Lock 8 (near Campbellford) also has walk-in tent camping.

■ Meyers Lock 9 ( near Campbellford) has Oasis sites (which Parks Canada describes as similar to oTENTik, but shaped like water droplets)

■ Hagues Reach Lock 10 (also near Campbellford) has Oasis sites.