On my recent solo trip to Ottawa I visited the Ottawa Locks on the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A series of eight locks allow boats to travel between the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal with a total lift of 79 feet.
Located between Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier Hotel, the Ottawa Locks are an interesting attraction.
The longest continuously operated canal system in North America is the Rideau Canal and the locks are part of this system.
My first full day in Ottawa I walked past the locks while in search of food and beer after taking in a free tour at Parliament Hill.
I made a point to visit again when I walked from Wellington West neighborhood to Dows Lake and along the Rideau Canal to finish up at the Ottawa Locks. It was a wonderful walk.
Open from mid-May to mid-October the Ottawa Locks are still operated by hand, same as when operations began in 1832.
The construction of the Rideau Canal is a direct result of the War of 1812. During the war the Saint Lawrence River, in jeopardy of being used by the United States to invade Canada needed security.
Of course at the time Canada was a British colony known as Upper Canada.
The northern entrance to the Rideau Canal is the Ottawa River and boats can travel 202 km all the way to the shores of Lake Ontario and Kingston, the former national capital of the Province of Canada.
Apparently another war brought about the desire to combine Upper Canada and Lower Canada under the unified name Province of Canada.
The Ottawa Locks is the largest flight of locks on the Rideau Canal. It takes around 1.5 hours for a vessel to lock through all eight locks.
It takes an average of 1.3 million litres (343,000 US gallons) of water for each lock lift, approximately 10 feet.
I didn’t realize it at first but when the lock gate closes you can walk across the top of the lock gate to the other side of the canal. Or just stand atop the gate and watch the water fill the lock chamber.
I walked down to the end of the 8 locks and enjoyed a great view of the Ottawa River. Gatineau Quebec is just across the river.
Before my trip to Ottawa I envisioned walking across the bridge to Gatineau but never got around to it on this trip.
Ottawa Locks on the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site is definitely worth a visit.
Ottawa Locks info
Address
3 Canal Lane, Ottawa
Phone Number
(613)-283-5170
Hours
Hours change depending on season.
Summer hours: Monday – Thursday 9 am – 6 pm and Friday – Sunday 9 am – 7 pm
Admission Cost
FREE
Joy
Wednesday 22nd of October 2014
I love walking by canals, there is always something going on either on the paths or on the water. Amazing flight of locks and interesting history.
Laurie Kazmierczak
Wednesday 22nd of October 2014
Wonderful feat of engineering...lovely series♪
Yogi
Wednesday 22nd of October 2014
Well that is totally cool. I had never heard of such a thing. I would think it would be rather tedious in a canoe though.
ellen b
Tuesday 21st of October 2014
Looks like a great Lock system. We enjoyed the smaller locks in England, too, where we helped open some...
Dave Briggs
Tuesday 21st of October 2014
I didn't realise they were a world heritage site, and would love to visit them now!
Susan Moore
Tuesday 21st of October 2014
The locks are part of the Rideau Canal which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was added in 2007. There are so many interesting sites close to the Ottawa Locks as well - I highly recommend a visit to Ottawa.