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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the New York State Canal System?
The New York State Canal System is a navigable 524-mile inland waterway that crosses upstate New York. It forms an extensive transportation network providing intermodal linkages within and beyond the state's borders.

The Canal System includes four Canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca; canalized natural waterways, plus five lakes: Oneida, Onondaga, Cross, Cayuga and Seneca; short Canal sections at Ithaca and Watkins Glen; feeder reservoirs, canals and rivers not accessible by boat from the Canal; and Canal terminals on Lake Champlain. The Canal System, which links the Hudson River with Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes, the Niagara River and Lake Erie, passes through 25 counties and close to 200 villages, hamlets and towns.

What is the New York State Canal Corporation?

The New York State Canal Corporation is a subsidiary of the New York State Thruway Authority. State legislation transferred responsibility and day-to-day operations for the 524-mile Canal System from the state Department of Transportation to the Thruway Authority in 1992.

See NYS Assembly Website for Article 1A:  Canals Transfer to New York State Thruway Authority and Article 2, Title 9, Section 382:  NYS Canal Corporation, a subsidiary of the Thruway Authority.

See NYS Senate Website:  Laws of New York. Canal Law Article 1A may be accessed under the Laws of New York through CAL and the Public Authorities Law Article 2, title 9, Section 382 can be accessed through PBA.

The Canal Corporation's goal is to transform the Canal System into a world class recreationway, with clustered development to foster recreation, tourism and economic development, while preserving the natural and historical environment of the System and its adjacent communities.

In 1996, The Thruway Authority and Canal Corporation launched a five-year, $32.3 million initiative to preserve and develop the Canal System for the 21st century. The Canal Revitalization Program presented a realistic and achievable approach to Canal System development. The Authority and Corporation are committed to a new program of strategic investment in partnership with businesses and local communities.

How long is the New York State Canal System?
The NYS Canal System is 524 miles long.

How long does it take to cruise between Albany and Buffalo on the Erie Canal?
It takes approximately five (5) days to cruise between Albany and Buffalo on the Erie.  (The Erie Canal begins at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers at Waterford, just north of Albany, and meets the Niagara River at Tonawanda/North Tonawanda, just north of Buffalo.)

How many locks and lift bridges are on the Canal System?
There are 57 locks and 20 lift bridges on the Canal System.

How big are the locks on the Canal System?
All Canal System lock dimensions are 328 feet long, 45 feet wide. The area available for vessels within a lock is 300 feet long, 43.5 feet wide.

What are the Canal System's operating hours?
Canal System locks and lift bridges typically operate from early May to November, dependent upon weather. Locks and lift bridges operate daily during peak navigation season (late May to early September) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Hours are reduced during other periods of the navigation season. See “Notices to Mariners” on this Web site for exact dates of the Canal System's navigation season daily operating hours at locks and lift bridges.

How deep is the Canal System?
The depths of the Canal System's navigational channels are:

Please consult current notices to mariners for updated canal depth information.

What are the height restrictions for navigating on the Canal System?
The clearances for navigating under bridges over the Canal System are:

View our Bridge Height Tables for more information.

What is the speed limit on the Canal System?
Where NYS navigation law dictates it is 5 mph.
Lakes- no speed limit.
Rivers- 45 mph.
Landcut/rockcut- 10mph.

What does it cost to travel on the Canal System?
All boats passing through a lock or lift bridge on the Canal System must purchase the appropriate pass. Tolls for recreational vessels are based on vessel size. For more information on how to obtain your pass or for commercial pass information, please visit "Tolls" on this website for more details.

Who operates the Canal System?
The Canal System is operated and maintained by the New York State Canal Corporation, a subsidiary of the New York State Thruway Authority, a public benefit corporation of New York State government.