The New York State Canal System is actually comprised of (4) major and distinct canal systems:
- The Champlain Canal running North from Waterford, NY to Lake Champlain.
- The Oswego Canal running North from Three River Junction to Lake Ontario.
- The Cayuga-Seneca Canal running South and West from Montezuma, NY to Seneca Lake.
and of course the most well known
- The Erie Canal running West from Waterford, NY to Tonawanda, NY.
There are a total of 57 locks and 16 lift bridges stretching over the entire 524 miles of the system.
Navigation Season
The navigation season for the canal system runs from early May through November with hours of operation between 0700 and 2200 daily. However, early and late in the season these hours may be restricted to 0700 to 1700 daily.
Communications
All lockmaster's throughout the entire canal system maintain a watch on VHF channel 13. Phone numbers of each lock can be found in their respective sections.
Lock Chambers
All lock chambers on the canal system are 328 feet long and 45 feet wide and are designed to accommodate vessels up to 300 feet LOA and a 43.5 foot beam.
Speed Limits
Where NYS navigation law dictates it is 5 mph. Lakes-no speed limit. Rivers- 45 mph. Landcut/rockcut-10mph.
Transit Times
As a general guide, allow 5 days for Albany to Buffalo and 3 days for Albany to Oswego.
