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Merrickville 
Lock 21-23 
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(history)  MERRICKVILLE Locks 21-23  (water map)  (road map)
Number of locks: 3 Total Lift: 7.4m ( 24.7 ft.) Lock Through Time: 45 min.*
Chart No: 1512 (Sheet 3) GPS:1 N 44o 55.000'    W 75o 50.200'
Chart Sales: No Lockstation Tel: (613) 269-4787
Washrooms: Yes2 Drinking Water: Yes3 Day Use Docking: Yes
Overnight Mooring: Yes Docking4 Upstream: 145m/475' Docking4 Downstream: 37m/120'
Ice: No Power: Yes5 Boater Camping:6 Yes
Boat Launch: No Picnic Tables: Yes BBQ Grills: No
Parking: Yes Public Telephone: Yes7 Self Guided Trail: Yes
Hwy Access: beside Main St. Locks Connect: Rideau River to Rideau River
Special Notes: To ensure passage, boaters must arrive at least 1.5 hours prior to closing. Swing bridge at upper lock with clearance of 2.9m (9.5 ft). Swings on demand. Boaters approaching from the upstream side who wish to overnight should head left (north) at buoy NM2 to the greyline docking in the basin rather than heading to the blueline docking at the upper lock. Space is often limited at the blueline docking and the channel is too narrow for larger boats to turn around.
Of Interest: The Merrickville locks are located at the earliest mill site on the Rideau River, that of Roger Stevens, who built a mill here in about 1790. But it was William Mirick, who, a couple of years later, took over the mill and established a community which was thriving by the time of canal construction. The locks bypassed the mills, leaving them intact, allowing Mirick to continue his business. They are spaced out, three detached locks, taking advantage of the natural topography. The largest blockhouse on the Rideau, built here in 1832, is now operated as a museum. Merrickville is known as the “Jewel of the Rideau” and features many beautiful heritage buildings as well as many shops (inluding Friends of the Rideau's "The Depot", located adjacent to the Blockhouse). The Rideau Migratory Bird Sanctuary is located just upstream from Merrickville.
Notes: Gas is available near the lower lock at Ayling's Boatyard. Groceries and supplies are readily available in Merrickville.
* 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 not wheel chair accessible.
3) Check with lockstation staff for potability of water
4) Includes both blueline and greyline docking - see Lockstation Docking Page.
5) Dockside power is available in the basin beside upper lock ("The Pond").
6) Allows tent camping for those arriving by water and also for cyclists and hikers.
7) available nearby.


Merrickville Locks
Merrickville Locks looking West
The three locks in Merrickville are in a canal channel built to bypass the original mills built by William Merrick (located near where Ayling's Marina now sits). Merrickville hosts the largest of four blockhouses built along the Rideau, it is located adjacent to the upper lock. Overnight docking is available at either Ayling's Marina or at the Parks Canada docks in "The Pond."
photo copyright © Canadian Hydrographic Service - used with permission
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