The Trent-Severn Waterway, a 386-kilometre canal route linking Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay at Port Severn, passes directly through Campbellford. Lock 11 sits in the middle of town beside the riverside park, and is one of the most pleasant places to watch the canal work — boats lifting and dropping in plain view, with picnic tables on the lawn beside the lock chamber.
In summer the canal is busy with pleasure cruisers, houseboats and the occasional canoe expedition tackling the whole 386 kilometres. Lockage fees are collected per metre of boat. The Parks Canada visitor centre at Lock 11 has displays on the canal's tortuous 80-year construction. The waterway corridor offers good walking and cycling along the towpath in both directions.