Murray Canal

Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site

Cutting straight through the narrow strip of land connecting Prince Edward County with the north shore of Lake Ontario, the Murray Canal is an 8 kilometre canal cut linking Lake Ontario with the Bay of Quinte. It was constructed between 1882-1889 to provide an alternative shipping route to the treacherous waters surrounding Prince Edward County. Presqu'ile Bay will lead you to the Murray Canal and its two road bridges: Brighton Road Swing Bridge and Carrying Place Swing Bridge.

Operating season*

Date: Victoria Day to Thanksgiving (mid-May to mid-October)

Hours of Operation


*same as Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site

General Information

Contact:
Brighton Road Swing Bridge
Phone number: (613) 475-1299
Carrying Place Swing Bridge
Phone number: (613) 392-8931
Fee:

Fee collected at Brighton Road Swing Bridge.

  • Vessels requiring a bridge swing: $5.25 per passage
  • Seasonal: $56.25
Facilities:

Public washrooms and picnic tables are available at Brighton Bridge

Clearance:

Overhead clearance of closed bridges varies with the water level.

  • Brighton Road Swing Bridge = 2.1 to 2.7 m (7 to 9 ft)
  • Carrying Place Swing Bridge = 1.2 to 1.8 m (4 to 6 ft)
Water Depth:

2.7 m (9') under normal conditions.

Width restriction:

15.2 m (50 ft.) at both bridges.

Overnight Mooring:

Available at both bridges for a maximum of two nights.

VHF Radio:

Murray Canal swing bridges monitor VHF Channel 14 only during navigation season hours of operation.

Speed limit:

There is a 10-km/h speed limit in the canal.

Hazards:
  • Boaters should exercise caution when navigating the canal
  • Winds that typically blow the length of the canal may make the handling of a boat difficult, especially when docking

U.S boaters

United States boaters need to clear Canada Customs if they have not done so. The phone number is 1-888-226-7277.

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