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SMITHS FALLS, Ontario – May 19, 2023 – Parks Canada is pleased to welcome all new and returning visitors for the opening of the 191st navigation season on the Rideau Canal National Historic Site.

Following a record year for overnight mooring along the Ontario Waterways in 2022 and a surge in popularity among international guests, travellers are encouraged to book their preferred travel windows, accommodations, and lock passes early to reserve the best experience on Ontario’s historic canals.

The Rideau Canal holds designations as a Canadian National Historic Site, a Canadian Heritage River, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 49 locks between Kingston and Ottawa’s National Capital Region connect more than one million visitors annually with incredible beauty, natural heritage, and modern Canadian memories. Parks Canada offers 450,000 km2 of stories nationally, and the Rideau Canal has experiences for everyone.

Our one-of-a-kind overnight stays at oTENTiks, Lockmaster’s Houses, and reservable camping sites are unique and popular experiences, which can be booked online at reservations.pc.gc.ca.

This year, canoers and kayakers will continue to enjoy 50% off their seasonal lockage and mooring passes for all paddlers, all season-long and returning this year will be the ever-popular free program at Hartwells Lock in Ottawa, “Learn-to Paddle,” scheduled to start on June 1, 2023. We are still in the planning stages, but interested individuals should watch our website and social media channels as we gear up to present this ever-popular course. What is “Learn-to Paddle”? Find more by visiting our website here.

The safety of our visitors and staff continues to be of the utmost importance to Parks Canada. Boaters, paddlers, and swimmers are reminded that all reaches continue to have higher-than-average flows and are asked to exercise caution. Floating debris may be present, and aids to navigation may be off-station as we continue to monitor the navigation channels. Boaters are also advised to watch their wake and wash near shorelines to avoid damage to docks, boats and property.