Boating Information

Navigation Season & Operating Hours

The New York State Canal System operates from early May to early November. Operation of Canal System segments is subject to the latest water and weather conditions. The hours of operation for locks and lift bridges are set in conjunction with Eastern Daylight Savings Time. See our press release for details.

View Daily hours of operation on the Canal System.
 

Canal System Statistics

Total Mileage: 524 miles
Segment Mileage:

Erie Canal:		338 miles
Champlain Canal:		60 miles
Oswego Canal:		24 miles
Cayuga-Seneca Canal:		12 miles
	to Ithaca and	45 miles
	to Watkins Glen/Montour Falls	45 miles

Lock Dimensions

328 feet long, 45 feet wide
Area available for vessels: 300 feet long, 43.5 feet wide

Information on How to "Lock Through" Canal System Locks

 

Bridge Clearances & Channel Depths

		Bridge Clearances	Channel Depths*
Erie Canal
	Waterford to Three Rivers	21 feet	14 feet
	Three Rivers to Tonawanda	15.5 feet	12 feet
Oswego Canal		21 feet	14 feet
Champlain Canal		17 feet	12 feet
Cayuga-Seneca Canal		16.5 feet	12 feet
*Bridge clearances are given at normal pool and are subject to variation.  View our Bridge Height Tables for more information.

Stay Clear of Dams!

Vessel operators and visitors are advised to exercise extreme caution and stay well clear of all dams.

Navigational Aids

Navigational aids on the New York State Canal System conform to the U.S. Coast Guard lateral system of buoyage (red right return). Note that buoyage reverses from red on starboard to red on port, north of Champlain Canal Lock 12 at Whitehall, and on the entire length of the Oswego Canal.

Failures and displacements of navigational aids may occur. Please report discrepancies in navigational aids to Canal staff.

Navigation Charts

The New York State Canal Corporation recommends that boaters carry the latest edition of navigation charts on board. Navigation charts for the New York State Canals may be obtained through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA, Distribution Branch, N-CG33, Riverdale, MD 20737, (301) 436-8301, and at some local bookstores, marinas and boat chandleries.  You should request NOAA Chart #14786.

Vessel Registration

All mechanically propelled vessels - regardless of size - operating on the waters of New York State must display numbers showing valid registration in the principal state or country of use. Vessels documented for pleasure by the U.S. Coast Guard may display a current state registration decal.

Customs

Masters of foreign flag vessels must report arrivals immediately to U.S. Customs at the first U.S. port of entry. Boaters entering Canadian waters must contact a reporting station at their first opportunity.

Given events that have transpired since the 2001 Navigation Season, past procedures employed by the United States and Canadian Immigration and Customs agencies are being reviewed. Currently, no new procedures or policies have been announced and no suspension of any programs or permits have been announced. According to a report in the February 23 edition of the Watertown Daily News, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has no plan to ban pleasure boats from entering the U.S. via shared waterways with Canada. The Watertown Daily News also reported that no decision has been made as to what the system will be for small boats; and that a variety of options and types of technology are being considered. Mariners wishing to cross between the U.S. and Canada are advised to contact the appropriate agency for further clarification of any new procedures. The Canal Corporation regrets any inconvenience incurred by its customers as a result of this uncertain situation.

• U.S. Immigration and Naturalization: 1-800-375-5283
• U.S. Customs 1-800-927-5015
• Canadian Customs 1-888-CANPASS (1-888-226-7277)

Marine Sanitary Devices

Go to New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Website for more information.

Emergencies

To report emergencies on the Canal System, call: 1-800-635-8856.

Heights** of Lowest Bridges from Waterford to Oswego:

1. Bridge E-3, 9^th Street, Waterford 21.78 feet at normal pool
2. Bridge E-4, Trestle, Waterford 21.75 feet at normal pool
3. Bridge 0-13 Trestle, Oswego 21.15 feet at normal pool
4. Bridge E-40, Trestle, Lock E-19 *22.37 feet at normal pool

*(21 feet at current operating level)

**All bridge heights listed at normal pool.  Pool level subject to variation due to extreme weather and canal operations.  For more in-depth information refer to the New York State Canal System Cruising Guide and view our Bridge Height Tables.

Canal Notices to Mariners includes changes to published depth.

For More Information

For information on planning a Canal System vacation or visit, call toll-free, 24 hours daily:

1-800-4CANAL4.

For navigation information, call the Office of Canals at (518) 471-5016, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., or write:

New York State Canal Corporation
P.O. Box 189
Albany, NY 12201-0189.

The New York State Canal System is operated by the New York State Canal Corporation, a subsidiary of the New York State Thruway Authority.

For more New York State boating information, you can also visit the Marine and Recreational Vehicles site of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.