Peterborough Lift Lock

One thing I love to do when planning our camping trips, is to also plan “field trips”.

These are short trips we take - in our towed car - after setting up at whatever campground we’re staying at. Less worry about parking issues, more time to explore!

When I was first crippled - and spending all my time confined to the couch - I came up with a LOOOONG list of cool places to check out in Ontario... should my condition ever improve.

It was kind of an impossible bucket list at the time - all were too far from home to be able to drive there and back in the time between our cats’ feeding times.

Buying our RV was a GAME CHANGER. Now we can visit far off places, set up a home base, and explore all the places that were logistically out of reach at the time.

The Peterborough Lift Lock was on that bucket list, because it just sounded so COOL.

Also, I tend to have a really easy time convincing Porter (who hates driving) to do field trips to anything that can be considered an “engineering marvel”. See also: Big Chute Marine Railway.

Anyway, we first visited during a 2024 stay at Emily Provincial Park, and loved it! We were so excited to actually be able to see the lock in action.

When we visited Emily again in the fall of 2025, we HAD to go back. It was the height of fall colour season in the area, and the whole area was gorgeous.

Also: We found out that you can walk behind the lift. We had no idea - and neither did another friend of ours, who was also a huge fan of visiting the lock.

So, we decided it was about time to write up a whole visitor’s guide, so others can easily find out all the cool things about this attraction.

Let’s get right to it!

The Basics:

Location Name: Peterborough Lift Lock
Address: 354 Hunter Street East, Peterborough, Ontario
Website: Lock 21 - Peterborough Lift Lock
Price Free to visit on foot / by car. See Trent-Severn Waterway Passes & Permits for more details on boating permits, etc.
Reservations: N/A for visiting on foot / by car.

Logistics

This is an attraction with a fairly simple setup for those visiting on foot / in a car - which is who this post is for. If you’re looking to boat in or use the lock, that’s a whole other set of logistics that’s out of my wheelhouse AND beyond the scope of this blog.

For those visiting it as a walk around attraction, just show up, find a parking spot, and wander the area as you like. There are no reservations needed - or available - and parking is free.

Parking

As mentioned, parking is free - and abundant. I don’t know when/if the busy season is, but there’s never been more than a couple other cars, whenever we’ve visited.

There are two parking lots, or - I guess more accurately - 2 sections of a parking lot, then some street parking.

The two parking lots are located adjacent to the visitor center. Basically, you drive into the first lot, then loop through the second in order to reach the exit.

There doesn’t seem to be any designated RV / Trailer parking, but that second lot would definitely be a decent place to park one, assuming it’s as “busy” as we’ve ever seen it.

Beyond that, there’s a fair amount of roadside parking on the other side of the water, across from the Visitor Center. These are along the the side of Ashburnham Dr, next close to the Lift Lock.

These parking spaces are probably intended for cars, but they’re not marked with actual parking lines - so you could probably get a longer vehicle in there.

Note: You can cross from one side to the other easily enough, via Hunter st East. It behind the Lift Lock / under the upper waterway, and there is a protected lane for pedestrians.

Washrooms

While the Parks Canada page for this Historic Site mentions washrooms on hand, they must have been in the Visitor Centre - which is usually closed whenever we visit.

The park’s site mentions it being “closed until further notice”, so who knows when it’s actually open.

That said, if you get down to the trail along the water - below the Visitor Centre - and walk about 0.5 km away from the Lift Lock, you’ll come to a baseball field with a portapotty, to the right.

That was the only washroom facility we saw anywhere near the area.

Maps and Signage

There are no maps of the area, nor any directional signage, so far as we saw.

That said, it’s pretty straightforward - You can see the lock from the parking lot, as well as several paths to get there.

We’ll talk more about that in our “Activities” section below - when we get into more details on the trails.

Accessibility

While we can’t speak to the accessibility IN the Visitor Centre itself, we can tell you that it’s a pretty accessible outdoor venue, in general.

There are a couple of designated parking spots in front of the Visitor Center, though they’re not marked well.

From there, you’ll take paved paths to get down to the sidewalk path that runs along the waterway, all the way to the Lift Lock. One thing to note, though: The direction you choose to take from the parking lot makes a big difference!

If you go to the right of the Visitor Center, you’ll go down a relatively steep hill to get down there. I am not experienced with wheelchairs, but I’d imagine you could do it if you have some way of controlling your descent - ideally a person holding you back.

Going to the left around the Visitor Centre is a much better idea for those using wheelchairs, or anyone that has difficulty with steep hills.

It winds down around the back of the building with a much more graduated incline, with two wheelchair accessible paths to get to the lower areas.

The first one is to the right as you pass the building, winding back and forth as an S shaped ramp down.

The other way is to go straight - this might be a little steeper (maybe not?), but is definitely doable. It’s also the more scenic of the two paths, taking you further out from the building, then going back once you reach the lower trail.

The main area of the trail down there is wheelchair accessible - wide, flat, well paved, in good condition. You can get a great view of the Lift Lock.

As you’re getting further away from the Lift Lock - as you pass that main picnic area under the parking lot - the path gets a bit more rough. I think it’s still wheelchair accessible, maybe just not quite as wheelchair FRIENDLY.

Pets

Pets are allowed at the Peterborough Lift Lock, but need to be leashed and attended to at all times.

Owners are required to pick up after their dogs, and properly dispose of the droppings. (There are a few garbage cans on site, but no poop baggie dispensers - so come prepared!)

Also note: It’s illegal to allow your dog to chase any wild animals on National Park property.

Park Store

If there’s a park store, it’ll be in the Visitor Center... so we’ll have to update this when/if it’s ever open, when we’re in the area!

Visitor Centre

There is a Visitor Centre, but we can’t tell you much about it - it’s never been open when we’re there!

Day Use Area

There are picnic tables and bench seating all over the place - on sprawling lawn around the visitor center, and along the water on both sides of the Trent-Severn Waterway.

As a note, I think the view from the roadside picnic spots would actually be better than those on the Visitor Centre side of the water. There’s a treed backdrop to the trail on the visitor center side, which is a nice view from the other side.

When on the Visitor Center side, and looking across, though? You’re just watching traffic! Unfortunately, that side has fewer picnic tables and benches though.

Anyway, I think the nicest spot is probably the one most difficult to get to - a couple of picnic tables on the Ashburnham road side of the water, next to the Lift Lock.

You’ll have to walk up a short - but steep - embankment to get there, but the view is awesome!

Note: the Parks Canada website mentions there being potable water on hand, but we didn’t notice any taps. Not sure where they might be found.

Connectivity

We always have really good cell reception in the whole area of the Peterborough Lift Lock - we’re on Rogers Wireless.

Miscellaneous

There is no camping allowed on site, but they do offer overnight mooring to those using the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Entertainment and Activity

There are a few different things you can see and do in the immediate area of the Peterborough Historic Lift Lock, here’s what you need to know:

The Lift Lock

Not something to DO, so much as SEE, the Lift Lock is obviously the star attraction here.

The lock was originally built in 1904, the first of two built in North America.

(They’re actually both on the Trent-Severn Waterway - the other is Kirkfield Lift Lock. Same general idea, but the lift isn’t as high.)

Anyway, the Peterborough one is the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world, with a lift of 19.8 metres. The lock length is 36.6 metres, and the width is 9.7 metres.

It was also the first lock to be made from concrete, and - at the time - it was the largest structure in the world to be built with unreinforced concrete, at that.

It’s a really cool set up - it doesn’t need any external power, as it uses gravity and counterweight to operate.

There are two lock tubs (caissons) that operate in unison - as one goes up, the other comes down. A valve in a connecting pipe between the two ram shafts is what controls the flow of water that drive the ascension of the lower caisson.

Wikipedia actually has a great write up with all the technical details - you should check it out:Wikipedia - Peterborough Lift Lock.

In the meantime, here’s a photo series showing various stages of the lift in operation:

The Swing Bridge

About 600 m down the trail you'll come across the swing bridge we saw this on a previous trip from the other side decided it's actually located on.

They were working on it at the time of our most recent visit, so we actually got to see it in action!

Hiking

While I wouldn’t consider the trails at the Peterborough Lift Lock to be *hiking* trails, you can definitely get a good walk in, while visiting.

On the Visitor Center side of the canal, you can walk down to the path, turn right, and just keep walking for about 1 km.

Most of it is pretty uniform - trees to the right, canal and road traffic to the left - but it’s a nice, easy walk. The path is wide, flat, and level - no real hills - and either paved or well-packed gravel, depending on where you are.

About 600 metres in, the aforementioned swing bridge will come into view. Around that time, the path disappears and you’ll cross over a short, grassy area before getting to sidewalk and road.

That will take you to a road and a bridge going back over the canal, which is where we turned back.

Walking back along the other side of the canal, there’s sidewalk for a bit, and you can visit the swing bridge up close. Then you’ll need to walk along the shoulder of the road for a bit, before coming to the roadside parking for the lift lock.

... and here’s where things get really interesting.

Behind the Peterborough Lift Lock

We actually continued up the road to pass behind the Lift Lock, but there are stairs to the right of the lock that will take you up to the same place.

Basically, that single lane pass-through under the canal has a safe passageway for walking - with concrete barriers to protect you from the traffic.

Along that tunnel, there are a few little offshoots that let you take a set of stairs down to the base of the lift (one on either end of the tunnel), or watch the action from behind/under the actual lifts - very cool!

Coming out on the other end of that tunnel gives you a few options.

You can take the stairs down (just before exiting the tunnel), which will take you to the pathway at the base of the lock / along the canal.

You can take a path right after the tunnel, to walk along the lawn area just above that canal path.

Finally, you can continue a short way past that path and just walk into the main parking lot, the same way you drove in.

Above the Lock

Another option - as long as you’re OK with a pretty intense stairs workout! - Is to take one of two sets of stairs up, to see the canal above the lock.

These stairs are located on the other side of the tunnel, one on either side. The side closer to the Visitor Center has a bit of a better view, but really... both pale in comparison to everything at and below the lock.

Still, a fun option - especially if you’re looking to feel some burn!

Biking

We saw a few people cycling on the trails on either side of the canal, but didn’t notice any bike racks, etc.

Swimming

Swimming isn’t allowed in navigation channel or within 40 metres of a lock gate or dam on the Trent-Severn Waterway, and it’s prohibited to jump from a bridge, dam, lock gate, or other structure.

Even besides that... this is not a safe or attractive place to swim. Goose poop soup, ugh.

Birding, Wildlife, and Nature

We don’t tend to see a lot of wildlife during our visits to the Peterborough Lift Lock - mostly just Blue Jay and Canada Goose.

About those Canada Geese... be careful where you step, ESPECIALLY on the grassy areas. They tend to be, uh... well fertilized!

Boating

As a lift lock, obviously boating is a big thing in the area. For those looking to go boating themselves, there are a ton of access points and locks to look into - FAR beyond the scope of this blog.

If you’re looking to drop a kayak or canoe in, though, there is a small canoe dock on the Visitor Centre side of the lock, close to the Visitor Centre / the field.

We actually watched a couple of kayakers get taken up over the lock, very cool!

As a note: They don’t recommend using Stand up paddleboards (SUP) on the Trent-Severn Waterway on account of all the boat traffic. Also, SUP are prohibited in all of the locks.

Anyway, if you’re looking to experience the lift lock without your own boat, there are Liftlock Cruises that’ll take you up and over.

Fishing

In general, fishing is allowed on the Trent-Severn Waterway - and at Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic sites - with all Ontario Fishing Rules & Regulations applying.

That said, you can’t fish within 10 metres of a lock or approach wharf, and fishing also isn’t allowed from a bridge over a navigation channel.

As someone who hasn’t done much boating, I’m not sure what all constitutes a “navigation channel”, though...

Miscellaneous

In the winter - assuming it gets cold enough - people skate on the canal, below the lift lock.

Based on signage on the Asburnham Rd side of the lock at the time of our most recent visit, it looks like they indicate the safety by placing indicator flags on the light poles along the road.

Red Flag = No Skating Allowed
Green Flag = Skating Allowed

It also lists the skating hours as “until 10pm daily”, but without a start time.

Niantic Games

There are a bunch of Niantic Game Stops (Pokestops, Ingress Portals, etc) on site, especially on the Visitor Centre side / near the Visitor Centre.

Also, cell reception is really good in the area.

Final Thoughts

We LOVE visiting the Peterborough Lift Bridge, and it feels like every time we do, we see something different, notice something we hadn’t before, etc.

This most recent visit was when we “discovered” the path behind the lift, and now we’re looking forward to checking that whole area out again on future visits. It would be REALLY cool to watch the lift lock in action, from that vantage point!

Even if you don’t happen to time it well for seeing the lock in action, the whole area is beautiful - ESPECIALLY at the height of the fall colour season.

Just a really gorgeous area, with a really cool attraction to check out. As Porter says, “it’s much more than just a rest stop kind of thing, this is an actual DESTINATION for us.”

He really hates driving all over the place, but it’s definitely not difficult to convince him to drive the 25-30 minutes from Emily Provincial Park to go watch the lock in action!

We’ve visited several times - including 2 more times on this most recent visit to the area - and we’ll definitely be making a point of visiting any time we’re in the area, in the future.

More Southwest & Central Ontario Provincial Parks & Places to See

Want to read some more about the parks we've camped and at places we've seen in Southwestern & Central Ontario? Here are some more posts!

Southwest/Central Ontario Campground Reviews:

Awenda Provincial Park
Balsam Lake Provincial Park
Bass Lake Provincial Park
Bronte Creek Provincial Park
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Conestogo Lake Conservation Area
Craigleith Provincial Park
Darlington Provincial Park
Earl Rowe Provincial Park
Elora Gorge Conservation Area
Emily Provincial Park
Falls Reserve Conservation Area
Fifty Point Conservation Area
Inverhuron Provincial Park
Long Point Provincial Park
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Mara Provincial Park
McRae Point Provincial Park
Meaford Memorial Park
Pinery Provincial Park
Point Farms Provincial Park
Port Burwell Provincial Park
Rock Point Provincial Park
Rondeau Provincial Park
Sauble Falls Provincial Park
Selkirk Provincial Park
Sibbald Point Provincial Park
Turkey Point Provincial Park
Valens Lake Conservation Area
Warsaw Caves Conservation Area
Wheatley Provincial Park

Southwest/Central Ontario Places to See:

Big Bay, Ontario
Canada's Dinosaur Park
Cheltenham Badlands
Devil's Monument
Doubes Trestle Bridge
Eugenia Falls Conservation Area
Flowerpot Island
Hogg's Falls
Inglis Falls Conservation Area
Indian Falls Conservation Area
Jones Falls
Keith McLean Conservation Lands
Menesetung Bridge
Mono Cliffs Provincial Park
Petroglyphs Provincial Park
Point Pelee National Park
Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
Spirit Rock Conservation Area
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park

Want to explore beyond Southwest and Central Ontario? Check out our full list of Campground Reviews, Ontario Waterfalls, and other Places to See.

We also have a ton of Camping Recipes to cook up, while on your adventures!