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.
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.
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.
60 miles from Schaghticoke, NY, to Lake Champlain.
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 both Garmin (.gdb) and Adobe (.pdf) file formats are available for your use. This is a zipped file of 12 KB.
Champlain Canal Waypoint’s - Download
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.
From Waterford, NY to Whitehall, NY channel depths are 13 feet with 13 feet over the lock sills.
Minimum bridge clearances are 17 feet.
All lockmaster's maintain a watch on VHF channel 13.
Lakes-no speed limit, rivers - 45 mph, land cuts / rock cuts - 10mph, or as posted.
As a general guide, Albany to Whitehall, NY will require about 12 hours @ 10 knots.
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 transit schedule 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 70 Kb.
Champlain Canal Transit & Lock Schedule - DownloadChamplain Canal |
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| *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’ |
--- | --- | C-1 / 5.00 Miles | 01:00 | 518 272-6442 |
| C-1 | Schaghticoke, NY | 14.3’ |
15.3’ | 29.6’ | C-2 / 4.00 Miles | 00:54 | 518-237-8566 |
| C-2 | Halfmoon, NY | 18.5’ |
29.6’ | 48.1’ | C-3 / 3.00 Miles | 00:48 | 518-664-4961 |
| C-3 | Mechanicville, NY | 19.5’ |
48.1’ | 67.6’ | C-4 / 2.00 Miles | 00:42 | 518-664-5171 |
| C-4 | Stillwater, NY | 16.0’ |
67.6’ | 83.6’ | C-5 / 14.00 Miles | 01:54 | 518-664-5261 |
| C-5 | Schuylerville, NY | 19.0’ |
83.6’ | 102.6’ | C-6 / 4.00 Miles | 00:54 | 518-695-3919 |
| C-6 | Fort Miller, NY | 16.5’ |
102.6’ | 119.1’ | C-7 / 7.00 Miles | 01:12 | 518-695-3751 |
| C-7 | Fort Edward, NY | 10.0’ |
119.1’ | 129.1’ | C-8 / 2.00 Miles | 00:42 | 518-747-4614 |
| C-8 | Fort Edward, NY | 11.0’ |
129.1’ | 140.1’ | C-9 / 6.00 Miles | 01:06 | 518-747-5520 |
| C-9 | Kingsbury, NY | 16.0’ |
140.1’ | 124.1’ | C-11 / 9.00 Miles | 01:24 | 518-747-6021 |
| C-11 | Comstock, NY | 12.0’ |
124.1’ | 112.1’ | C-12 / 7.00 Miles | 01:12 | 518-639-8964 |
| C-12 | Whitehall, NY | 15.3’ |
112.1’ | 96.8’ | Lake Champlain / 1.00 Miles | 00:36 | 518-499-1700 |