The Erie Canal is the longest canal section in the New York State Canal System. Beginning at Waterford, NY, the Erie Canal runs generally west following the Mohawk River, Lake Oneida, and the Oneida River to Three River Junction where the Oswego Canal intersects. The Erie Canal then continues along the Seneca River to its junction with the Cayuga-Seneca Canal at Kipp Island and then on through mostly manmade land cuts to its convergence with the Niagara River at Tonawanda, NY and finally Buffalo, NY and Lake Erie via the Black Rock Canal.
Navigation Season
The navigation season for the Erie Canal is the same as for the rest of the New York State Canal System: early May through November from 0700 to 2200 daily. However, early and late in the season these hours may be restricted to 0700 to 1700 daily.
Length
338 miles from Waterford, NY to Tonawanda, NY.
Aids to Navigation
Red markers are kept to starboard west bound the entire length of the Erie Canal.
NOAA Chart #14786, provides coverage of the Erie Canal system with the exception a small section of the western end for which no chart coverage exists.
Locks
There are 34 locks on the Erie Canal. All Lock chambers are the same as the rest of the NYSCS; 328 feet long and 45 feet wide.
Channel Depths
From Waterford, NY to Three River Junction channel depths are 14 feet with 13 feet over the lock sills. Three River Junction to Tonawanda, NY you have 12 feet in the channel and over the lock sills.
Bridge Clearances
Minimum bridge clearances are 21 feet from Waterford to Three River Junction and then 15.5 feet on to Tonawanda, NY. Additionally, west of Three River Junction there are 15 operating lift bridges.
Communications
All lockmaster's maintain a watch on VHF channel 13.
Speed Limits
Lakes-no speed limit, rivers - 45 mph, landcuts / rockcuts - 10mph, or as posted..
Transit Times
As a general guide, Albany to Oswego, NY will require about 3 days @ 10 knots and Albany to Buffalo about 5 days at the same speed.
Notice to Mariners
The latest navigational information can be found at Canal System Notice to Mariners. Anyone planning to transit the canal system should check these notices for last minute information on closures and restrictions.
This lock and distance table can be downloaded for your personal use as a ZIP file. The file contains the schedule in Adobe (.pdf) file format.
Please note: This is a Zipped file of 106 Kb.
Erie Canal Lock & Distance Table - Download
