5 tips for planning your next boat trip

Look ahead and consult the lock schedule in the historic canals before your next boat trip. Wait times for lock operations can vary depending on traffic and weather conditions. When you approach a canal, contact the lock operator by VHF Channel 68 to find out the wait time.

Consult the Locking through safely guide to learn the steps and safety procedures to follow during your passage through a lock. It's another way to ensure a more efficient use of locks this summer!

To avoid wait lines this summer, experience the historic canals during quieter periods; that is, at the beginning of the season before June 24 and later, after September 4.

And to save time, moor your boat overnight for a low fee at the historic canals of Canada in order to be among the first to transit the locks. Some docks offer services such as electrical hook-ups and bathrooms, in addition to giving you access to a wide variety of restaurants and activities. Learn more about them here.

Located on the major navigation axes of the Ottawa, the Richelieu and the St. Lawrence rivers, and passing through the St. Louis et Des Deux Montagnes lakes, the historic canals give access to large cities such as Montreal, Ottawa and even New York! Parks Canada has certain itinerary suggestions here.

Consult the network map of canals and set out to discover them this summer!