Rideau Canal Officially Opens for the 2025 Navigation Season on Friday

Ottawa – The Rideau Canal navigation season officially opens on Friday, May 16th.

“Parks Canada is excited to welcome back boaters to the Rideau Canal as we begin the navigation season from Kingston to Ottawa. As we prepare for the opening of navigation, activities on or near the water and around locks and dams could be hazardous and are not recommended at this time,” said Parks Canada

• The canal will be open from May 16 – June 19, Monday to Thursday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and Friday to Sunday, and Victoria Day (May 19) from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
• Then from June 20 – September 1, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm and Friday to Sunday and Canada Day (July 1), Civic Holiday (Aug. 4), Labour Day (Sept. 1), 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
• Then from September 2 – October 13, Monday to Friday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and Saturday to Sunday and Thanksgiving (Oct. 13), 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

The LaSalle Causeway, Initial Confirmed Schedule of Marine Access is:

• Saturday, May 17, from 9 am to 5 pm
• Saturday, May 31, from 9 am to 5 pm

The Rideau Canal is North America’s best-preserved “slackwater” canal, and the only one from the great 19th-century canal-building era that still operates along its original route with most of its original structures intact. Today, Parks Canada welcomes visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage Site to experience travel along an iconic route. Pleasure boaters and paddlers fill the locks, while other visitors come by land to marvel at the historic locks in action.

For more information: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/rideau