A Sail Tale

Open on the chart

North America

Erie Canal & NY State Canals

From the Hudson at Waterford, 35 locks climb through the Mohawk Valley to Lake Erie at Buffalo, the historic link to the Great Lakes.

11 episodes on the chart

Erie Canal length
351 statute miles (565 km), Hudson to Buffalo; 35 locks
NY State Canal System
about 524-525 miles, 57 locks
Depth and size
12 ft maximum draft; locks 328 ft x 45 ft
Fixed bridge clearance
about 20-21 ft from Waterford to Three Rivers (Oswego route); about 15.5 ft west of Three Rivers to Buffalo; less after high water
Season
roughly mid-May to mid-October; check NYS Canal notices
Typical duration
about 1-2 weeks through the Erie Canal, depending on stops

The Erie Canal connects the Hudson River near Albany with the Niagara River near Buffalo, and forms the spine of the NY State Canal System. The system also includes the Champlain Canal (Hudson to Lake Champlain), the Oswego Canal (Erie to Lake Ontario) and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, and totals about 524 miles. The modern canal opened as the Barge Canal in 1918.

Boaters usually enter from the Hudson and climb the Waterford Flight, five locks raising boats about 169 ft, then transit west. Mast-up sailboats usually stop at Waterford or Troy to un-step, then re-step in Oswego or Buffalo. Transit takes about a week or more, with marina stops and lock delays. The NYS Canal Corporation runs the locks.

The main constraints are overhead clearance (about 20-21 ft from Waterford to Three Rivers, on the route to Oswego, but only about 15.5 ft west of Three Rivers to Buffalo), the 12 ft maximum draft, and the navigation season, roughly mid-May to mid-October (check NYS Canal notices). The canal crosses historic towns, farmland and locks that operate by gravity.

Highlights

  • Waterford Flight
  • Mohawk Valley towns
  • Oneida Lake
  • Lockport flight
  • Oswego Canal spur to Lake Ontario

Watch out for

  • Mast must come down (about 20 ft clearance, only about 15.5 ft west of Three Rivers)
  • Floating debris and high water after storms
  • Open lock hours and closures
  • Low-clearance bridges when water is high

Episodes on this route 11

Crews on this route

Read more

A summary for learning and dreaming, not for navigation. Rules, fees, seasons and security advice change: check current official sources before you go.

Open on the chart