Rideau Canal Waterway


		Rideau Canal Statistics

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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 2007 and 2006 Vessel Passage Statistics.

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 .

The minimum fixed bridge clearance on the Rideau Canal is 6.7 metres (22 feet).

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 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), Edmonds (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.

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

Rideau Canal - Route Statistics

Distance km (miles)	Description	Lock Lift metres (feet)	Bridge Clearance metres (feet)	Chart	Boat Launch
0 (0)	Ottawa River, Ottawa	level=40.8m (134 ft)
0 (0)	Ottawa Locks #1-8 (in flight)	24.1 (79.1)		1512 #1
0.3 (0.2)	Bridge - Plaza - Fixed		7.9 (25.6)
0.6 (0.4)	Bridge - Mackenzie King - Fixed		8.2 (26.6)
0.9 (0.5)	Bridge - Laurier Ave - Fixed		8.2 (26.6)
1.6 (1.0)	Bridge - Foot Bridge - Fixed		8.2 (26.6)
2.4 (1.5)	Bridge - Queensway - Fixed		7.1 (23)
2.6 (1.6)	Bridge 1 - Pretoria Ave - Vertical Lift		3 (10) closed - 7 (22.7) open
4.5 (2.8)	Bridge - Bank St. - Fixed		8.8 (28.5)
5.5 (3.4)	Bridge - Bronson Ave - Fixed		6.7 (22.0)
6.7 (4.2)	Hartwells Locks #9-10 (in flight)	6.5 (21.5)
8.2 (5.1)	Bridge - Heron Rd - Fixed		8.5 (27.6)
8.4 (5.2)	Hogs Back Locks #11-12 (1 lift, 1 guard)	4.2 (13.8)			X
8.4 (5.2)	Bridge 4 - Hogs Back - Swing		2.9 (9.4)
11.9 (7.4)	Bridge - CNR High Level - Fixed		9.5 (30.8)
13.5 (8.4)	Bridge - Hunt Club - Fixed		>16.0 (>50)
15.0 (9.3)	Black Rapids Lock #13	2.9 (9.5)
16.0 (10.0)	Park - Echo Lands				X
23.3 (14.5)	Long Island Locks #14-16 (in flight)	7.6 (24.9)		1512 #2
23.5 (14.6)	Bridge - Long Island - Swing		1.1 (3.6)
25.9 (16.1)	Manotic Public Wharf				X
26.0 (16.2)	Bridge - Manotick High Level - Fixed		6.7 (22)
36.5 (22.7)	Bridge - Kars High Level - Fixed		6.7 (22)
37.4 (23.3)	Kars Public Wharf				X
39.9 (24.8)	Park - W.A. Taylor Conservation Area				X
44.6 (27.7)	Park - Baxter Conservation Area
46.7 (29.0)	Bridge - Hwy 416 High Level - Fixed		6.7 (22)
49.9 (31.0)	Channel to Kemptville**		3.4 (11)**
50.9 (31.6)	Park - Rideau River Provincial				X
52.1 (32.4)	Bridge - Beckett's High Level - Fixed		6.7 (22.0)
64.0 (39.8)	Burritts Rapids Lock #17	3.2 (10.5)		1512 #3
65.1 (40.5)	Bridge 9 - Burritts Rapids - Swing		3.2 (10.4)
69.4 (43.1)	Lower Nicholsons Lock #18	2.0 (6.5)
69.7 (43.3)	Upper Nicholsons Lock #19	2.3 (7.6)
69.7 (43.3)	Bridge 10 - Upper Nicholsons - Swing		3.6 (11.7)
70.5 (43.8)	Clowes Lock #20	2.3 (7.6)
73.2 (45.5)	Bridge - Merrickville - C.P.R. - Fixed		11.9 (39)
73.8 (45.9)	Merrickville Lock #21	2.6 (8.7)
74.0 (46.0)	Merrickville Lock #22	3.0 (10)
74.2 (46.1)	Merrickville Lock #23	2.0 (6.2)
74.2 (46.1)	Bridge 11 - Merrickville - Swing		2.9 (9.5)
74.7 (46.4)	Lion's Park - Merrickville				X
86.7 (53.9)	Kilmarnock Lock #24	0.7 (2.3)
86.7 (53.9)	Bridge 13 - Kilmarnock - Swing		2.9 (9.5)
92.7 (57.6)	Edmonds Lock #25	2.8 (9.2)			X
95.4 (59.3)	Bridge - C.P.R. Railway - Fixed		9.1 (30)
95.4 (59.3)	Old Slys Locks #26-27 (in flight)	4.9 (16.1)
95.6 (59.4)	Bridge 15 - Olds Slys - Swing		2.2 (7.1)
96.8 (60.2)	Bridge - Beckwith Street - Fixed		7.9 (26)
96.8 (60.2)	Smiths Falls Combined Lock #29a	7.6 (25.6)	Replaces old locks 28-30
97.0 (60.3)	Victoria Park - Smiths Falls
97.4 (60.5)	Bridge 19 - Abbot Street - Swing		1.9 (6.2)
97.4 (60.5)	Smiths Falls Detached Lock #31	2.6 (8.5)			X
97.5 (60.6)	Bridge - C.N.R. - Bascule		Permanently open
102.2 (62.8)	Poonamalie Lock #32	2.2 (7.2)		1513 #1	X
103.0 (64.0)	Entrance to Lower Rideau Lake
107.5 (66.8)	Diversion to Tay Canal	To Perth = Tay Canal = 10.0 km
110.4 (68.6)	Tay Canal Entrance - Lower Rideau Lake
Tay 0.3 (0.2)	Lower Beveridges Lock #33 (Tay Canal)	3.6 (12)			X
Tay 0.5 (0.3)	Bridge - Beveridges - Fixed		6.7 (22)
Tay 0.9 (0.6)	Upper Beveridges Lock #34 (Tay Canal)	3.3 (10.9)
Tay 9.2 (5.7)	Last Duel Park, Wharf - Perth
Tay 9.3 (5.8)	Bridge - Craig Street, Perth - Fixed		2.1 (7)
Tay 9.8 (6.1)	Bridge - Beckwith Street, Perth - Swing		1.6 (5.2)
Tay 9.8 (6.1)	Bridge - Drummond Street, Perth - Fixed		2.9 (9.5)
Tay 10.0 (6.2)	Perth Basin - Public Wharf
Tay 10.1 (6.3)	Bridge - Gore Street, Perth - Fixed		2.7 (9)
110.6 (68.7)	Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area				X
111.5 (69.3)	Public Dock, Oliver's Landing, Rideau Ferry
111.7 (69.4)	Bridge 26 - Rideau Ferry - Fixed		8.0 (26.0)
119.4 (74.2)	Park - Murphy's Point Provincial Park				X
123.1 (76.5)	Diversion to Portland			1513 #2
126.8 (78.8)	Colonel By Island (Livingston Island)
133.6 (83.0)	Portland Public Wharf
133.6 (83.0)	Park - John McKenzie, Portland				X
132.4 (82.3)	Narrows Lock #35	0.8 (2.6)
132.4 (82.3)	Bridge 27 - The Narrows - Swing		1.2 (3.9)
133.9 (83.2)	Diversion to Westport			1513 #2,3
140.8 (87.5)	Westport Public Wharf
140.2 (87.1)	Bridge - Newboro High Level - Fixed		8.2 (27)
140.8 (87.5)	Newboro Lock #36	2.7 (8.9)
140.7 (87.4)	Newboro Public Wharf				X
146.0 (90.7)	Ferry - cable (auto/foot)			1513 #3
148.2 (92.1)	Bridge - C.N.R. High Level - Fixed		9.1 (29.5)
148.7 (92.4)	Chaffeys Lock #37	3.4 (11.2)			X
148.7 (92.4)	Bridge 30 - Chaffeys - Swing		1.8 (5.9)
152.0 (94.5)	Davis Lock #38	2.7 (8.9)
158.4 (98.4)	Bridge - Officers Quarters - Fixed		7.0 (22.7)
159.0 (98.8)	Jones Falls Lock #39	4.2 (13.7)		1513 #4
159.2 (98.9)	Jones Falls Locks #40-42, in flight	13.2 (43.4)
161.4 (100.3)	Diversion to Morton
165.6 (102.9)	Morton Dam
166.2 (103.3)	Diversion to Seeley's Bay
167.2 (103.9)	Seeley's Bay Public Wharf				X
170.0 (105.6)	Bridge 36 - Brass Point - Swing		1.2 (3.9)
176.5 (109.7)	Upper Brewers Locks #43-44 (in flight)	5.9 (19.4)
177.0 (110.0)	Bridge - Sunbury Rd. - Fixed		6.7 (22.0)
179.3 (111.4)	Bridge 39 - Lower Brewers - Swing		1.3 (4.2)
179.3 (111.4)	Lower Brewers (Washburn) Lock #45	4.0 (13.1)
195.0 (121.2)	Bridge 41 - Kingston Mills - Swing		2.3 (7.5)
195.2 (121.3)	Kingston Mills Lock #46	3.0 (9.8)
195.2 (121.3)	Kingston Mills Locks #47-49 (in flight)	10.7 (35.2)
195.2 (121.3)	Bridge - C.N.R. High Level - Fixed		8.2 (26.6)
196.0 (121.8)	Bridge - Hwy 401 - Fixed		6.7 (22.0)
202.1 (125.6)	Kingston Lasalle Causeway***		4.3 (14)***
202.1 (125.6)	Kingston Lasalle Causeway - Bascule Lift Bridge***		0.6 (2.0)***
	Lake Ontario		elevation: 74m (242.8 ft)

* Additional boat launch ramps can be found at private marinas.
** Kemptville Creek is shallow; 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.

Rideau Canal - Locking Statistics

Canal traffic in 2008 was down 14.6% compared to 2007 with a total of 69,529 vessel passages recorded through the locks, compared to 81,380 vessel passages in 2007. 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
	Number of Vessel Passages		Ontario		Québec		US
	2008	2007	2008	2007	2008	2007	2008	2007
Ottawa	1421	1730	521	591	818	1023	82	116
Hogs Back	2001	2419	1018	1338	859	919	124	147
Black Rapids	2052	2546	1218	1500	702	897	127	103
Clowes	2322	2709	1569	1776	607	768	129	149
Merrickville	2172	2521	1381	1593	647	736	144	191
Smiths Falls Combined	2199	2662	1451	1750	569	700	174	205
Narrows	6142	6835	4968	5511	708	829	455	477
Newboro	5412	6526	4144	4839	574	766	688	921
Chaffeys	4776	5561	3789	4175	482	629	495	757
Davis	4737	5392	3692	4191	465	508	580	691
Jones Falls	2599	3057	1738	1953	493	646	368	458
Kingston Mills	2345	2838	1492	1645	439	635	401	539
TOTALS (all locks)	69,529	81,380	47,538	53,813	14,524	18,076	7,287	9,320

In total during 2008, 68.4% of the boats were from Ontario, 20.9% from Québec, 10.5% from the United States and 0.3% "Other".

Interestingly more U.S. boaters passed through the busy southern locks (Newboro, Chaffeys, Davis) than passed through the Kingston Mills locks, an indication of today's popularity of trailer boating.

Moorings increased by 2.8% in 2008, with 10,893 moorings compared to 10,598 in 2007.

The chart above shows yearly vessel passages from 1980 to 2008. 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.

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