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Statistics of the Rideau Canal
For all you number hounds out there, here are the statistics on the Rideau Canal System. Please note that these statistics do not include the Tay Canal* which goes from Lower Rideau Lake to Perth. On this page you will find information about general Rideau Canal Statistics, information about Rideau Route Statistics, and information about 2011 and 2010 Vessel Passage Statistics.

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Rideau Canal Statistics

Lock Dimensions (1)	41 metres/134 feet long by 10 metres/33 feet wide
Available Water Depth (2)	1.5 metres/5.0 feet (minimum)
Minimum Bridge Clearance (3)	6.7 metres/22.0 feet (minimum)
Total Locks (Kingston - Ottawa)	45 (47 including the 2 locks on the Tay Canal)
Total Lockstations	23 (24 including Beveridges on the Tay Canal)        See "How the Locks Are Counted" below
Total Distance (Kingston - Ottawa) (4)	202 kilometres/125.6 miles
Total Distance of Artificial Channels	19 kilometres/12 miles
Lift - ascending Ottawa to Upper Rideau Lake	83.8 metres/275 feet (in 31 locks)
Lift - descending Upper Rideau to Kingston	50.6 metres/166.2 feet (in 14 locks)
Maximum Size of Vessel (5)	27.4 m/90 ft. length, 7.9m/26 ft. width, 6.7m/22ft height
Transit Time (one way)	4 to 6 days
Maximum Depth of Water	100.3 metres (329 feet)

(1) This is the full length of the lock from the point of the upper sill to the point of the lower sill. The lock is actually 124 feet (37.8 m) long in the chamber, measured from the point of the lower sill to the face of the breastwork. The lower gates require 13 feet (4.0 m) of room for their swing, so a vessel must be less than 111 feet (33.8 m) long. Since the walls of the lock slope inwards, the internal width at the lower navigation water level in the locks is 31.5 feet (9.6 m).

(2) Normally the locks are maintained with a draught of 1.7 metres (5.5 feet). However even the 5 foot minimum is subject to water availability and all vessels with a draught of over 1.2 metres (4 feet) should contact the Rideau Canal Office prior to traversing the canal.

(3) This is the minimum fixed bridge clearance on the Rideau Canal proper. On the Tay Canal, the Craig Street fixed bridge, at 2.1 metres/7 feet limits boats going right into downtown Perth (larger boats can tie up at Last Duel Park near downtown).

(4) Distances reflect the Rideau Canal proper. The Tay Canal, which is connected to the Rideau, extends from Lower Rideau Lake to Perth, a distance of 10.0 kilometres (6.2 miles). Two locks (Beveridges #33 & Beveridges #34) raise boats a total of 7.0 metres (22.9 feet) into the Tay Canal.

(5) The Canal used to allow boats with a length of 33.5 metres (110 feet) and a width of 9.1 metres (30 feet) width to traverse the system. If your vessel is less than these dimensions, but greater than the maximum shown in the chart, contact the Rideau Canal Office .

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How the Locks Are Counted

When the canal was opened in May, 1832, there were 47 masonry locks that provided navigation from Kingston to Ottawa. In reality, only 46 locks actually provided the navigation since one of the two locks at Hogs Back was (and still is) a guard lock (a flood guard, it normally doesn't provide any lift). But that is picking nits, so we'll leave the count at 47. In the late 1880s, two locks (Beveridges) were constructed at the entrance to the Tay Canal. Although not part of the Rideau Canal proper, they are administered by the Rideau Canal Office - so although the number of locks required for Kingston to Ottawa navigation didn't change, administratively, 2 more locks were added (total 49). In the 1970s, a new single lock (29a) replaced the flight of 3 Smiths Falls Combined locks. This reduced the actual number of Kingston to Ottawa navigation locks to 45 and the total locks administered by the Rideau Canal Office to 47. This is the situation today.

In terms of Lockstations, the present day Kingston to Ottawa navigation lockstations number 23 - they are: Ottawa (8 locks in flight), Hartwells (2 locks in flight), Hogs Back (1 lift lock, 1 guard lock), Black Rapids (1 lock), Long Island (3 locks in flight), Burritts Rapids (1 lock), Nicholsons (2 detached locks), Clowes (1 lock), Merrickville (3 detached locks), Kilmarnock (1 lock), Edmunds (1 lock), Old Slys (2 locks in flight), Smiths Falls Combined (1 lock), Smiths Falls Detached (1 lock), Poonamalie (1 lock), Narrows (1 lock), Newboro (1 lock), Chaffeys (1 lock), Davis (1 lock), Jones Falls (3 locks in flight, 1 detached), Upper Brewers (2 locks in flight), Lower Brewers (1 lock), Kingston Mills (3 locks in flight, 1 detached). The lift statistics for those locks can be seen in the next section.

Parks Canada quotes 24 lockstations since they are counting in the Beveridges Lockstation (2 detached locks) of the Tay Canal.

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Rideau Canal - Route Statistics

The distances shown are following the marked navigation channel (shown on Charts 1512 and 1513).

Distance km (miles) from OTTAWA	Distance km (miles) from KINGSTON	Description	Lock Lift metres (feet)	Bridge Clearance metres (feet)	Chart	Boat Launch
0 (0)	202.1 (125.6)	Ottawa River, Ottawa	level=40.8m (134 ft)
0 (0)	202.1 (125.6)	Ottawa Locks #1-8 (in flight)	24.1 (79.1)		1512 #1
0.3 (0.2)	201.8 (125.4)	Bridge - Plaza - Fixed		7.9 (25.6)
0.6 (0.4)	201.5 (125.4)	Bridge - Mackenzie King - Fixed		8.2 (26.6)
0.9 (0.5)	201.2 (125.0)	Bridge - Laurier Ave - Fixed		8.2 (26.6)
1.6 (1.0)	200.5 (124.6)	Bridge - Corktown Foot Bridge - Fixed		8.2 (26.6)
2.4 (1.5)	199.7 (124.1)	Bridge - Queensway - Fixed		7.1 (23)
2.6 (1.6)	199.5 (124.0)	Bridge 1 - Pretoria Ave - Vertical Lift		3 (10) closed - 7 (22.7) open
4.5 (2.8)	197.6 (122.8)	Bridge - Bank St. - Fixed		8.8 (28.5)
5.5 (3.4)	196.6 (122.2)	Bridge - Bronson Ave - Fixed		6.7 (22.0)
6.7 (4.2)	195.4 (121.4)	Hartwells Locks #9-10 (in flight)	6.5 (21.5)
8.2 (5.1)	193.9 (120.5)	Bridge - Heron Rd - Fixed		8.5 (27.6)
8.4 (5.2)	193.7 (120.4)	Hogs Back Locks #11-12 (1 lift, 1 guard)	4.2 (13.8)			X
8.4 (5.2)	193.7 (120.4)	Bridge 4 - Hogs Back - Swing		2.9 (9.4)
11.9 (7.4)	190.2 (118.2)	Bridge - CNR High Level - Fixed		9.5 (30.8)
13.5 (8.4)	188.6 (117.2)	Bridge - Hunt Club - Fixed		>16.0 (>50)
15.0 (9.3)	187.1 (116.3)	Black Rapids Lock #13	2.9 (9.5)
16.0 (10.0)	186.1 (115.6)	Park - Echo Lands				X
23.3 (14.5)	178.8 (111.1)	Long Island Locks #14-16 (in flight)	7.6 (24.9)		1512 #2
23.5 (14.6)	178.6 (111.0)	Bridge 5 - Long Island - Swing		1.1 (3.6)
26.0 (16.2)	176.1 (109.4)	Bridge - Manotick High Level - Fixed		6.7 (22)
36.5 (22.7)	165.6 (102.9)	Bridge - Kars High Level - Fixed		6.7 (22)
37.4 (23.3)	164.7 (102.3)	Kars Public Wharf				X
39.9 (24.8)	162.2 (100.8)	Park - W.A. Taylor Conservation Area				X
44.6 (27.7)	157.5 (97.9)	Park - Baxter Conservation Area
46.7 (29.0)	155.4 (96.6)	Bridge - Hwy 416 High Level - Fixed		6.7 (22)
49.9 (31.0)	152.2 (94.6)	Channel to Kemptville**		3.4 (11)**
50.9 (31.6)	151.2 (94.0)	Park - Rideau River Provincial				X
52.1 (32.4)	150.0 (93.2)	Bridge - Becketts High Level - Fixed		6.7 (22.0)
64.0 (39.8)	138.1 (85.8)	Burritts Rapids Lock #17	3.2 (10.5)		1512 #3
65.1 (40.5)	137.0 (85.1)	Bridge 9 - Burritts Rapids - Swing		3.2 (10.4)
69.4 (43.1)	132.7 (82.5)	Lower Nicholsons Lock #18	2.0 (6.5)
69.7 (43.3)	132.4 (82.3)	Upper Nicholsons Lock #19	2.3 (7.6)
69.7 (43.3)	132.4 (82.3)	Bridge 10 - Upper Nicholsons - Swing		3.6 (11.7)
70.5 (43.8)	131.6 (81.8)	Clowes Lock #20	2.3 (7.6)
73.2 (45.5)	128.9 (80.1)	Bridge - Merrickville - C.P.R. - Fixed		11.9 (39)
73.8 (45.9)	128.3 (79.7)	Merrickville Lock #21	2.6 (8.7)
74.0 (46.0)	128.1 (79.6)	Merrickville Lock #22	3.0 (10)
74.2 (46.1)	127.9 (79.5)	Merrickville Lock #23	2.0 (6.2)
74.2 (46.1)	127.9 (79.5)	Bridge 11 - Merrickville - Swing		2.9 (9.5)
74.7 (46.4)	127.4 (79.2)	Lion's Park - Merrickville				X
86.7 (53.9)	115.4 (71.7)	Kilmarnock Lock #24	0.7 (2.3)
86.7 (53.9)	115.4 (71.7)	Bridge 13 - Kilmarnock - Swing		2.9 (9.5)
92.7 (57.6)	109.4 (68.0)	Edmunds Lock #25	2.8 (9.2)			X
95.4 (59.3)	106.7 (66.3)	Bridge - C.P.R. Railway - Fixed		9.1 (30)
95.4 (59.3)	106.7 (66.3)	Old Slys Locks #26-27 (in flight)	4.9 (16.1)
95.6 (59.4)	106.5 (66.2)	Bridge 15 - Olds Slys - Swing		2.2 (7.1)
96.8 (60.2)	105.3 (65.4)	Bridge - Beckwith Street - Fixed		7.9 (26)
96.8 (60.2)	105.3 (65.4)	Smiths Falls Combined Lock #29a	7.6 (25.6)	Replaces old locks 28-30
97.0 (60.3)	105.1 (65.3)	Victoria Park - Smiths Falls
97.4 (60.5)	104.7 (65.1)	Bridge 19 - Abbot Street - Swing		1.9 (6.2)
97.4 (60.5)	104.7 (65.1)	Smiths Falls Detached Lock #31	2.6 (8.5)			X
97.5 (60.6)	104.6 (65.0)	Bridge - C.N.R. - Bascule		Permanently open
101.1 (62.8)	101.0 (62.8)	Poonamalie Lock #32	2.2 (7.2)		1513 #1	X
103.0 (64.0)	99.1 (61.6)	Entrance to Lower Rideau Lake
107.5 (66.8)	94.6 (58.8)	Diversion to Tay Canal	To Perth = Tay Canal = 10.0 km
110.4 (68.6)	91.7 (57.0)	Tay Canal Entrance - Lower Rideau Lake
Tay 0.3 (0.2)	Tay 0.3 (0.2)	Lower Beveridges Lock #33 (Tay Canal)	3.6 (12)			X
Tay 0.5 (0.3)	Tay 0.5 (0.3)	Bridge - Beveridges - Fixed		6.7 (22)
Tay 0.9 (0.6)	Tay 0.9 (0.6)	Upper Beveridges Lock #34 (Tay Canal)	3.3 (10.9)
Tay 9.2 (5.7)	Tay 9.2 (5.7)	Last Duel Park, Wharf - Perth
Tay 9.3 (5.8)	Tay 9.3 (5.8)	Bridge - Craig Street, Perth - Fixed		2.1 (7)
Tay 9.8 (6.1)	Tay 9.8 (6.1)	Bridge - Beckwith Street, Perth - Swing		1.6 (5.2)
Tay 9.8 (6.1)	Tay 9.8 (6.1)	Bridge - Drummond Street, Perth - Fixed		2.9 (9.5)
Tay 10.0 (6.2)	Tay 10.0 (6.2)	Perth Basin - Public Wharf
Tay 10.1 (6.3)	Tay 10.1 (6.3)	Bridge - Gore Street, Perth - Fixed		2.7 (9)
110.6 (68.7)	91.5 (56.9)	Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area				X
111.7 (69.4)	90.6 (56.3)	Bridge 26 - Rideau Ferry - Fixed		8.0 (26.0)
119.4 (74.2)	82.7 (51.4)	Park - Murphy's Point Provincial Park				X
123.1 (76.5)	79.0 (49.1)	Diversion to Portland			1513 #2
126.8 (78.8)	75.3 (46.8)	Colonel By Island (Livingston Island)
133.6 (83.0)	68.5 (42.6)	Portland Public Wharf
133.6 (83.0)	68.5 (42.6)	Park - John McKenzie, Portland				X
132.4 (82.3)	69.7 (43.3)	Narrows Lock #35	0.8 (2.6)
132.4 (82.3)	69.7 (43.3)	Bridge 27 - The Narrows - Swing		1.2 (3.9)
133.9 (83.2)	68.2 (42.4)	Diversion to Westport			1513 #2,3
140.8 (87.5)	61.3 (38.1)	Westport Public Wharf
140.2 (87.1)	61.9 (38.5)	Bridge - Newboro High Level - Fixed		8.2 (27)
140.8 (87.5)	61.3 (38.1)	Newboro Lock #36	2.7 (8.9)
140.7 (87.4)	61.4 (38.2)	Newboro Public Wharf				X
146.0 (90.7)	56.1 (34.9)	Ferry - cable (auto/foot)			1513 #3
148.2 (92.1)	53.9 (33.5)	Bridge - C.N.R. High Level - Fixed		9.1 (29.5)
148.7 (92.4)	53.4 (33.2)	Chaffeys Lock #37	3.4 (11.2)			X
148.7 (92.4)	53.4 (33.2)	Bridge 30 - Chaffeys - Swing		1.8 (5.9)
152.0 (94.5)	50.1 (31.1)	Davis Lock #38	2.7 (8.9)
158.4 (98.4)	43.7 (27.2)	Bridge - Officers Quarters - Fixed		7.0 (22.7)
159.0 (98.8)	43.1 (26.8)	Jones Falls Lock #39	4.2 (13.7)		1513 #4
159.2 (98.9)	42.9 (26.7)	Jones Falls Locks #40-42, in flight	13.2 (43.4)
161.4 (100.3)	40.7 (25.3)	Diversion to Morton
165.6 (102.9)	36.5 (22.7)	Morton Dam
166.2 (103.3)	35.9 (22.3)	Diversion to Seeley's Bay
167.2 (103.9)	34.9 (21.7)	Seeley's Bay Public Wharf				X
170.0 (105.6)	32.1 (19.9)	Bridge 36 - Brass Point - Swing		1.2 (3.9)
176.5 (109.7)	25.6 (15.9)	Upper Brewers Locks #43-44 (in flight)	5.9 (19.4)
177.0 (110.0)	25.1 (15.6)	Bridge - Sunbury Rd. - Fixed		6.7 (22.0)
179.3 (111.4)	22.8 (14.2)	Bridge 39 - Lower Brewers - Swing		1.3 (4.2)
179.3 (111.4)	22.8 (14.2)	Lower Brewers (Washburn) Lock #45	4.0 (13.1)
195.0 (121.2)	7.1 (4.4)	Bridge 41 - Kingston Mills - Swing		2.3 (7.5)
195.2 (121.3)	7.1 (4.4)	Kingston Mills Lock #46	3.0 (9.8)
195.2 (121.3)	6.9 (4.3)	Kingston Mills Locks #47-49 (in flight)	10.7 (35.2)
195.2 (121.3)	6.9 (4.3)	Bridge - C.N.R. High Level - Fixed		8.2 (26.6)
196.0 (121.8)	6.1 (3.8)	Bridge - Hwy 401 - Fixed		6.7 (22.0)
202.1 (125.6)	0 (0)	Kingston Lasalle Causeway***		4.3 (14)***
202.1 (125.6)	0 (0)	Kingston Lasalle Causeway - Bascule Lift Bridge***		0.6 (2.0)***
	km (mi)	Lake Ontario		elevation: 74m (242.8 ft)
Distance km (miles) from OTTAWA	Distance km (miles) from KINGSTON	Description	Lock Lift metres (feet)	Bridge Clearance metres (feet)	Chart	Boat Launch

* Additional boat launch ramps can be found at private marinas.
** Kemptville Creek is shallow (4 - 5 feet); Kemptville bridge clearance 2.1 m (6.8 ft)
*** Small craft under 4.3 m (14 ft) vertical clearance may pass through La Salle Causeway by using boat channels at its eastern end.

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Rideau Canal - Locking Statistics

Canal traffic in 2012 was down 3.2% compared to 2011 with a total of 64,010 vessel passages recorded through the locks, compared to 66,113 vessel passages in 2011. These numbers represent the cumulative total of vessels passing through the locks.

The table below shows statistics for some selected locks along the canal:

Lockstation	Number of Vessel Passages			Origin
				Ontario			Québec			US
	2012	2011		2012	2011		2012	2011		2012	2011
Ottawa	1402	1487		362	447		954	960		73	71
Hogs Back	1911	1922		1052	869		750	938		105	115
Black Rapids	2083	2174		1223	1467		772	609		88	88
Clowes	2094	2204		1358	1383		636	710		83	98
Merrickville	1942	2054		1170	1183		652	764		103	107
Smiths Falls Combined	2080	2098		1328	1327		616	621		122	143
Narrows	6189	6224		5057	5183		736	749		353	277
Newboro	5196	5196		3979	4036		623	644		564	502
Chaffeys	4410	4407		3305	3266		596	594		474	547
Davis	3677	3957		2757	2786		474	560		385	461
Jones Falls	2131	2379		1409	1621		419	489		285	264
Kingston Mills	1977	1922		1133	1141		454	479		275	287
TOTALS (all locks)	64,010	66,113		43,017	44,211		15,233	16,096		5,253	5,475

In total during 2012, 67.2% of the boats were from Ontario, 23.8% from Québec, 8.2% from the United States and 0.8% "Other".

Moorings decreased by 3.8% in 2012, with 10,880 moorings compared to 11,360 in 2011.

The chart above shows yearly vessel passages from 1980 to 2012. The big jump in 1982 was due to publicity surrounding the Rideau 150 celebrations. That same level of publicity wasn't achieved for Rideau 175 which saw a much more modest increase in boaters. The large declines appear to be mostly due to closures of part or all of the canal. In 1983, the Ottawa locks were closed for repairs. In 1991 and 2004 the union went on strike, closing the canal. Fee increases have a negative impact, but these tend to be much smaller than the effect of canal closures.