Rideau Canal Waterway - Hogs Back


		Hogs Back Locks 11-12

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(history) HOGS BACK Locks 11-12 (water map) (road map)
Number of locks: 1*	Total Lift: 4.4m ( 14.5 ft.)	Lock Through Time: 15 minutes*
Chart No: 1512 (Sheet 1)	GPS:¹ N 45^o 22.210' W 75^o 41.940'
Chart Sales: Yes	Lockstation Tel: (613) 224-5033
Washrooms: Yes²	Drinking Water: Yes³	Day Use Docking: Yes
Overnight Mooring: Yes	Docking⁴ Upstream: 66m/217'	Docking⁴ Downstream: 61m/200'
Ice: No	Power: No	Boater Camping:⁵ Yes
Boat Launch: Yes	Picnic Tables: Yes	BBQ Grills: Yes
Parking: Yes	Public Telephone: No	Self Guided Trail: Yes
Hwy Access: at 795 Hogs Back Rd.	Locks Connect: Rideau Canal Cut to Rideau River

Special Notes: * Although there are two locks at Hogs Back, only the downstream lock is a lift lock, the upstream lock is a flood guard lock. To ensure passage, boaters must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing. There is a swing bridge with a clearance of 2.9m (9.4 ft). The bridge swings on demand except on Mondays to Fridays (excluding holidays) when it will NOT operate between the hours of 08:30 - 09:00h,; 12:30 - 13:15h; and 15:30 - 17:30h..

Of Interest: Hogs Back is the spot where the canal leaves the Rideau River and heads overland to the Ottawa Locks. A large dam, the second highest on the Rideau system (next to Jones Falls) was needed to provide the required lift of water. Originally intended to be a stone-arch dam, it failed three times during construction. In his report on the third failure, Colonel By wrote “I felt a motion like an earthquake … the Stones falling from under my feet as I moved off.” The dam was re-designed as a timber crib earthen dam which still holds back the water today. Walking trails lead around the locks and dam. Hogs Back also features the only guard lock (a non-lift lock) on the entire Rideau system, put in place here to protect the main lock from spring flooding.

Notes:

* Time to actually go through the locks. Allow at least twice this time when trip planning. See Schedule Caveats.
1) GPS data should not be used for navigation. See the GPS page.
2) Washrooms are wheel chair accessible.
3) Check with lockstation staff for potability of water.
4) Includes both blueline and greyline docking - see Lockstation Docking Page.
5) Allows tent camping for those arriving by water and also for cyclists and hikers.

Hogs Back Locks looking NorthThis is where the artificial channel of the Rideau Canal in Ottawa departs from the natural channel of the Rideau River. The canal from here to the Ottawa River is man-made. The river continues to flow as it always has, to the Rideau Falls and into the Ottawa River.

The top lock at Hogs Back is a "guard lock" - it isn't used for lifting, but rather was put in place as protection, particularly from spring flooding of the main lift lock. Although several were planned, this was the only guard lock built on the canal.

photo by Parks Canada Agency (the signboard at Hogs Back)

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