Champlain Canal

Home

Communications

Cruising Guides

Marine Navigation

Safety Afloat

Weather

Boating Directory

~Notices~

Shoaling has occurred in many areas of the Champlain Canal due to cessation of dredging in the early 1980's because of PCB contamination. Dredging of the Champlain Canal has resumed this year and will continue until the project is completed.

~ Latest Updates ~

New Champlain Canal Distance Tables

Champlain Canal Transit Guide

The Champlain Canal is the 2nd longest canal section in the New York State Canal System. Beginning at Schaghticoke, NY, the Champlain Canal runs generally north following the Hudson River to Fort Edward, NY then along manmade land cuts to Whitehall, NY where it enters the southern most portion of Lake Champlain.

Navigation Season

The navigation season for the Champlain 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, prior to Memorial Day and after Labor Day these hours are typically restricted to 0700 to 1700 daily.

Length

60 miles from Schaghticoke, NY, to Lake Champlain.

Aids to Navigation

When transiting north bound Red markers are kept to starboard to lock C-12. After leaving C-12, the buoyage system reverses with red to port.

NOAA Chart #14786, provides coverage of the Champlain Canal system.

The Champlain Canal Lock Chamber Waypoint’s in .PDF file format are available for your use. This is a zipped file of 12 KB.

Champlain Canal Waypoint’s - Download

Locks

There are 11 locks on the Champlain 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 Whitehall, NY channel depths are 13 feet with 13 feet over the lock sills.

Bridge Clearances

Minimum bridge clearances are 17 feet.

Communications

All lockmaster's maintain a watch on VHF channel 13.

Speed Limits

Lakes-no speed limit, rivers - 45 mph, land cuts / rock cuts - 10mph, or as posted.

Transit Times

As a general guide, Albany to Whitehall, NY will require about 12 hours @ 10 knots.

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.

These tables can be downloaded for your personal and private use. The files are Zipped Adobe (.pdf) format. The Champlain Canal distance files contain the tables in both NM’s and SM’s.



Champlain Canal Lock and Transit Table

*No Lock C-10 on the Champlain Canal / **Transit Time Includes Lockage Time
*Lock #   Elevation Next Lock  
Location Lift Southern End Northern End Distance **Transit Time
@ 10 kts
Lockmaster
The Battery New York, NY --- --- --- Troy Lock / 134.00 NM 13:24 ---
Troy Lock Troy, NY 14.0’Up Arrow --- --- C-1 / 5.00 SM / 4.3 NM 01:00 518 272-6442
C-1 Schaghticoke, NY 14.3’Up Arrow 15.3’ 29.6’ C-2 / 4.00 SM / 3.5 NM 00:54 518-237-8566
C-2 Halfmoon, NY 18.5’Up Arrow 29.6’ 48.1’ C-3 / 3.00 SM / 2.6 NM 00:48 518-664-4961
C-3 Mechanicville, NY 19.5’Up Arrow 48.1’ 67.6’ C-4 / 2.00 SM / 1.7 NM 00:42 518-664-5171
C-4 Stillwater, NY 16.0’Up Arrow 67.6’ 83.6’ C-5 / 14.00 SM / 12.2 NM 01:54 518-664-5261
C-5 Schuylerville, NY 19.0’Up Arrow 83.6’ 102.6’ C-6 / 4.00 SM / 3.5 NM 00:54 518-695-3919
C-6 Fort Miller, NY 16.5’Up Arrow 102.6’ 119.1’ C-7 / 7.00 SM / 6.1 NM 01:12 518-695-3751
C-7 Fort Edward, NY 10.0’Up Arrow 119.1’ 129.1’ C-8 / 2.00 SM / 1.7 NM 00:42 518-747-4614
C-8 Fort Edward, NY 11.0’Up Arrow 129.1’ 140.1’ C-9 / 6.00 SM / 5.2 NM 01:06 518-747-5520
C-9 Kingsbury, NY 16.0’Down Arrow 140.1’ 124.1’ C-11 / 9.00 SM / 7.8 NM 01:24 518-747-6021
C-11 Comstock, NY 12.0’Down Arrow 124.1’ 112.1’ C-12 / 7.00 SM / 6.1 NM 01:12 518-639-8964
C-12 Whitehall, NY 15.3’Down Arrow 112.1’ 96.8’ Lake Champlain / 1.00 SM / 0.9 NM 00:36 518-499-1700

Champlain Canal Transit & Lock Schedule - Download


Champlain Canal Distance Table

All Distances in Nautical Miles
  NYC Troy Lock C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8 C-9 C-11 C-12 Lake Champlain
NYC 0.0 134.0 138.3 141.8 144.4 146.2 158.3 161.8 167.9 169.6 174.9 182.7 188.8 189.6
Troy Lock 134.0 0.0 4.3 7.8 10.4 12.2 24.3 27.8 33.9 35.6 40.9 48.7 54.8 55.6
C-1 138.3 4.3 0.0 3.5 6.1 7.8 20.0 23.5 29.6 31.3 36.5 44.3 50.4 51.3
C-2 141.8 7.8 3.5 0.0 2.6 4.4 18.3 21.7 27.8 29.6 34.8 42.6 48.7 49.5
C-3 144.4 10.4 6.1 2.6 0.0 1.7 13.9 17.4 23.5 25.2 30.4 38.2 44.3 45.2
C-4 146.2 12.2 7.8 4.4 1.7 0.0 12.2 15.7 21.7 23.5 28.7 36.5 42.6 43.5
C-5 158.3 24.3 20.0 18.3 13.9 12.2 0.0 3.5 9.6 11.3 16.5 24.3 30.4 31.3
C-6 161.8 27.8 23.5 21.7 17.4 15.7 3.5 0.0 6.1 7.8 13.0 20.9 26.9 27.8
C-7 167.9 33.9 29.6 27.8 23.5 21.7 9.6 6.1 0.0 1.7 7.0 14.8 20.9 21.7
C-8 169.6 35.6 31.3 29.6 25.2 23.5 11.3 7.8 1.7 0.0 5.2 13.0 19.1 20.0
C-9 174.9 40.9 36.5 34.8 30.4 28.7 16.5 13.0 6.7 5.2 0.0 7.8 13.9 14.8
C-11 182.7 48.7 44.3 42.6 38.2 36.5 24.3 20.9 14.8 13.0 7.8 0.0 6.1 6.7
C-12 188.8 54.8 50.4 48.7 44.3 42.6 30.4 26.9 20.9 19.1 13.9 6.1 0.0 0.9
Lake Champlain 189.6 55.6 51.3 49.5 45.2 43.5 31.3 27.8 21.7 20.0 14.8 7.0 0.9 0.0

Champlain Canal Distance Tables - Download