The New York Canal System includes the Erie, Champlain, Cayuga-Seneca, and Oswego Canals. These historic waterways connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes across the heart of New York State. The canals have been enlarged and improved over the years to accommodate larger boats and more traffic, as well as changing types of boats and uses. Tugboats, barges, pleasure boats, canoes, and kayaks all use the canal today.
 

Canal Boating Basics

• Boating is free and no permit is needed to go through a lock.

• Lock tenders are on hand to assist you and make your experience going through locks easy and enjoyable.

• It typically takes 15-20 minutes to go through a lock.

• Power boats and paddlers share the canal, so be mindful of speed limits and wakes.

• The NYS Canal System is open daily from mid-May to mid-October. Check the NYS Canal Corporation website for dates of operation and hours of operation. You can also sign up to receive Notices and Alerts with the latest information about canal opening/closures, water levels, construction, and other elements affecting navigation. www.canals.ny.gov.

• Make boating safety a priority. Consult the New York State Boater’s Guide for registration, operation, and safety information: https://parks.ny.gov/boating/.

• Test drive the new On the Canals Boater App, available from the App Store or Google Play, to help the NYS Canal Corporation pilot an easier way for boaters to travel through locks and under lift bridges.