Rideau Canal Waterway - Newboro Lock 36


		Newboro Lock 36

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(history) NEWBORO Lock 36 (water map) (road map)
Number of locks: 1	Total Lift: 2.4m ( 7.7 ft.)	Lock Through Time: 15 min.*
Chart No: 1513 (Sheet 3)	GPS:¹ N 44^o 38.750' W 76^o 19.270'
Chart Sales: Yes	Lockstation Tel: (613) 272-2575
Washrooms: Yes²	Drinking Water: Yes³	Day Use Docking: Yes
Overnight Mooring: Yes	Docking⁴ Upstream: 128m/420'	Docking⁴ Downstream: 146m/480'
Ice: Yes	Power: Yes	Boater Camping:⁵ Yes
Boat Launch: Yes	Picnic Tables: Yes	BBQ Grills: Yes
Parking: Yes	Public Telephone: Yes	Self Guided Trail: No
Hwy Access: off Hwy. 42 in Newboro	Lock Connects: Newboro Lake to Upper Rideau Lake

Special Notes: To ensure passage, boaters must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing. Note that Newboro represents the "home port" for the Rideau. It is upstream from Ottawa to Newboro, and upstream from Kingston to Newboro (Upper Rideau Lake is the highest elevation on the Rideau). Therefore the marker buoys change sides at Newboro. This is clearly shown on the charts.

Of Interest: This spot, originally called the Isthmus, marks the watershed divide between the Rideau River watershed and the Cataraqui/Gananoque rivers watersheds. The original plan was to build two locks at Chaffeys and simply have a canal cut through this neck of land, creating a huge summit reservoir (from Chaffeys to Poonamalie). But flooding concerns meant a change of plans, one of the Chaffey’s locks was moved to Newboro. When hard bedrock was unexpectedly encountered, a third lock had to be built at Narrows. Newboro was converted to electric/hydraulic operation in 1966-67, the first of only two locks (the other being Black Rapids) to be changed from manual to electric operation. The Old Presbyterian Cemetery was used to bury those who died during canal construction at this site, including about half of the 22 Sappers and Miners that died during the construction of the canal. The original wooden grave markers have long since rotted away, leaving just a few field stones marking the graves. Newboro also features one of the four blockhouses built for the defence of the Rideau Canal.

Notes: Gas is available at Stirling Lodge in Newboro. Newboro offers full services (groceries, hardware, restaurants, etc.)

* 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.

Newboro Lock looking NorthwestNewboro marks the watershed divide for the Rideau. All water south of here flows down the Cataraqui to Lake Ontario, water to the north flows down the Rideau River to the Ottawa River. Newboro is the "home port" for the Rideau so a navigation note is that the "hand" of the buoys changes at Newboro. This is well marked on the charts. The peaceful passage through the canal cut between Newboro Lake and Upper Rideau Lake belies the incredible difficulty encountered while building this section of the canal, the men battling hard rock with only the aid of picks and black blasting powder while at the same time being ravaged by malaria.

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