Heading out Big Bob Channel as you depart Bobcaygeon, you will have to maintain a no-wake speed until you are past Cottage Point, where you can pick up the pace as you head into Sturgeon Lake.
Passing Birch Point, the water opens up and you cruise down the lake aided by a few markers up to McConnell Island. Passing Sturgeon Point at Mile 148, the main small craft route swings north heading for Fenelon Falls where a series of green buoys will guide you safely to mile 152 just south of Fenelon Falls. Just past this point, the lake narrows and a series of port and starboard markers lead you into the Fenelon River.
As you approach the sharp turn to port in the river, identified by the green day beacon, make sure you keep to starboard to avoid downbound boats.
As the cliff gets higher and the cottages drop away, the river bends again and Fenelon Falls and the approach to the lock come into view. As you clear the last cliff to your left, the beautiful falls and control dam appear. If you’re lucky, you can find a place on the lower wall to tie up and enjoy some time in town, but space can be rare at this very popular stop.
As you proceed through this large Lock 34 – Fenelon Falls, with a lift of 24 feet, be prepared to be the centre of attention.With lots of shops and services close by, you’ll find everything in town – groceries, hardware, liquor and beer.As well, just steps away from the lock, the downtown area has unique shops, restaurants, and bars, and, of course, ice cream. So stop and enjoy since this is the last opportunity until you get to Lake Simcoe.
As you leave Fenelon Falls, proceed carefully until you have cleared the concrete parapets, the old abandoned railway swing bridge and the breakwaters out into Cameron Lake. If you need fuel, service or a dock for the night before heading across the lake, turn to port as you clear the breakwalls and head for Fenelon Falls Marina.
Most boaters clear the marker at Deihl Point and head directly across Cameron Lake to Lighthouse Point and the entrance to the Trent Canal. Passing through the marshes up the manmade canal, you’ll eventually reach Lock 35 – Rosedale, an isolated lock with well-maintained grounds and a park-like setting that attracts many boaters for an overnight stay. After a quick lock through and a short, slow cruise, you come into Rosedale, where you will find marina services.
As you exit the canal and enter into Balsam Lake, you will clear a series of markers through the shallows. Directly ahead is marker NC, a red/green/red bifurcation buoy that indicates where the small craft route splits.The alternate route heads north to Coboconk while the main route follows the Waterway across the lake around Grand Island and back into the canal to Lake Simcoe.
For boaters wanting to while away some time on Balsam Lake, there is a great spot to drop a hook on the south shore of the lake, tucked in behind Daniels Point. Another popular anchorage is found just past the point and marker N64 on the western tip of the island. Depending on wind direction, boaters can anchor on either side of the small, unnamed island.
From Grand Island, the Waterway heads northwest past Long Point, where you will find markers to keep you clear of the shallows off the point and into West Bay. Once in West Bay, you will pick up the red/green/red bifurcation buoy where the alternate route from Coboconk rejoins the main route. Head for the markers just off Laidlaw Point and the green and red day beacons on the port breakwall that guard the entrance to the canal.
Five conventional locks and the Kirkfield Lift Lock link Balsam Lake and Lake Simcoe.
The passage from Balsam Lake is quite easy to navigate, but it does deserve a few cautions. The canal and the route through the two small lakes is quite narrow, so you must be aware of approaching boats as you may not be able to pass in some areas. As well, you must stay in the marked channel to avoid rocks and deadheads.
Mitchell Lake is shallow and marshy, but the route is clearly marked. A causeway crosses some shallows, where you will pass under a bridge and out past several low-lying islands. The entrance to the canal, marked with day beacons, is located on the west side of Mitchell Lake.
You must once again transit a narrow manmade canal for approximately two miles until you reach Lock 36 – Kirkfield Lift Lock. At the top of the lock, you will find plenty of mooring space on both walls. The upper walls have a great sunset view, but the lower walls are better protected from wind and weather with the washrooms close at hand.
As you approach the lift lock, a green light and an arrow will direct you to the upper chamber, where you can loop your lines around the handrail to hold your boat in position.
As you enter the upper chamber, note the important sign reminding boaters the markers reverse below the lock since you are now heading downriver.
After a short stint in the narrow canal you’ll enter Canal Lake, which is shallow, weedy and full of deadheads, so stay in the marked route.
At the end of Canal Lake, you will enter a manmade canal to the north of the Talbot River clearly marked with a red day beacon and a green buoy. The swing bridge is the first of two bridges that open on demand during lock operating hours. As you clear the second swing bridge, you’ll see Lock 37 – Bolsover and the control dam dead ahead, with the lock approach to port.
Bolsover is one of five locks over five miles lowering boaters down to Lake Simcoe, so the lockmasters will keep you grouped together as you travel this section. Lock 38 – Talbot, Lock 39 – Portage and Lock 40 – Thorah are all quiet and pleasant spots to spend the night, especially if you don’t have enough time to clear the last lock into Lake Simcoe before the locks close.
Lock 41 – Gamebridge is the last lock on the east side of Lake Simcoe. Although it boasts a great park setting, the proximity to the Highway 12 bridge doesn’t make for a quiet stop. Below the lock, the narrow canal heads straight for just over a mile before entering Lake Simcoe.
You can tie up just past the bridge, but it is only prudent to do so in calm weather.When the prevailing westerly winds pick up they cause very rough conditions in the basin and on the walls.