BOATING AND WATERWAYS
Cruise through the waters of the Bay of Quinte, a long, narrow bay on the northern shore of Lake Ontario. Pass through on your way to the Trent-Severn Waterway, drop anchor for a day on the water, or launch from one of the many ramps around the region. This page is your guide to local marinas, rentals, and paddling spots, plus stories from the water to spark your next adventure.
GATEWAY TO THE TRENT SEVERN WATERWAY
The Trent Severn Waterway is a Parks Canada National Historic Site, running 386 km from Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay. It was the only Canadian destination to make the New York Times list of 52 Places to Go in 2025. The first seven of the 44 locks are within Quinte West city limits, making great spots to enjoy a summer picnic, even if you don’t have a boat.
Local operator H2O Getaways has four boutique houseboat rentals available starting from Lock 1, and you can take them up as far as Peterborough and back.
Learn more about the Trent Severn Waterway on Parks Canada’s website.
BOATING RESOURCES
MARINAS
Seasonal or transient slips are available at marinas around the region. Check the marinas below for services like hydro, water hookups, fueling stations and amenities available to boaters.
BOAT LAUNCHES
There are over a dozen boat launches around the region to get you where you want to go on the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, Moira River, Trent River or Napanee River.
HOUSEBOAT RENTALS
H2O Getaways is a boutique houseboat rental company based in Quinte West, offering four boats that renters can take up the Trent Severn Waterway to Peterborough and back. The beautifully designed interiors feature a bedroom, 3-piece bathroom, kitchen, upper deck patio and living space with convertible beds.
Owners Jen and John give guests a lesson in operating the houseboat and navigating the lock system so you can feel comfortable going on your journey, even if it’s your first time cruising on the water.
Bonus: they are dog-friendly!
SAILING
The Bay of Quinte is a sheltered waterway, tucked away from the open waters of Lake Ontario—perfect for smooth cruising and easy sailing.
The Bay of Quinte Yacht Club caters to sailing and power boaters through their programs in cruising, racing in keelboats or dinghies, and sail training.
Our region is also home to Quinte SailAbility, an adaptive sailing school for persons with a physical or developmental disability, regardless of age or degree of disability.
NAPANEE RIVER TOURS
Explore Ontario’s scenic Napanee River aboard the Norman Paul, a 45-ft tri-toon. Public cruises, private charters & events from spring through fall. The boat is fully licensed, and you can pre-order food from The Waterfront River Pub and Terrace to dine on board.
PADDLE RENTALS
Get out on the water and explore the Trent River and the Bay of Quinte with canoe, kayak or SUP rentals in Quinte West. A day dock at the Front Street Farmers’ Market makes it easy to stop into downtown Trenton to visit the market or local businesses and refuel for your paddling adventures.
BOATING AND PADDLING STORIES
CHARTING A COURSE TO THE BAY OF QUINTE
By Gordon Leek
In 2019, my wife Debbie and I decided that we should cruise the Trent-Severn Waterway in the summer of 2020. The fact that we live just outside Calgary, Alberta, did not pose a problem for us, as we had already hauled our 2011 MacGregor 26M trailer/sailor sailboat across country two years before to cruise the Rideau Canal in time for Canada’s 150th birthday. We didn’t know at the time that this would result in us becoming part of the local boating scene for the next five years.
WHERE TO GO PADDLING IN THE BAY OF QUINTE
By Sophie Shay
As an avid kayaker and the photographer behind @Sophie.Shay.Outdoors on Instagram, I had the opportunity to paddle from five of the 16 public boat launches in the Bay of Quinte region—what an eye-opener! I discovered picturesque vistas and an abundance of wildlife, and that these accessible public launches are a paddler’s, and a nature photographer’s, paradise.
ONTARIO'S BEST OUTDOOR DESTINATION
In the Bay of Quinte, nature is never far. With easy access to trails, beaches, parks, and open water, getting outside is as simple as stepping out the door. Cycle through quiet backroads, paddle along the shoreline, spend the day fishing or geocaching, or post up on a sunny patio.
