The 2010 navigation season for the NYSCS has been released. The dates and times that the canal locks and bridges will be operational are as follows:
05/01/2010 - 05/26/2010
0700 to 1700 Daily.
05/27/2010 - 09/08/2010
0700 to 2200 Daily.
09/09/2010 - 11/15/2010
0700 to 1700 Daily.
Mariners are advised that tolls for use of Canal System reinstated during 2008, will continue. All boats passing through any lock or lift bridge on the Canal System must purchase a Two-Day, Ten-Day or Seasonal Pass.
Two Day Pass - $5.00
Ten Day Pass - $12.50
Season Pass - $25.00
Two Day Pass - $10.00
Ten Day Pass - $25.00
Season Pass - $50.00
Two Day Pass - $15.00
Ten Day Pass - $37.50
Season Pass - $75.00
Two Day Pass - $20.00
Ten Day Pass - $50.00
Season Pass - $100.00
Cruising and transit information for the (4) major canal systems that make up the New York State Canal System (NYSCS) including: The Erie Canal, The Champlain Canal, The Oswego Canal, and The Cayuga-Seneca Canal. Information includes distances, estimated transit times, lock information with waypoint’s, and phone numbers. Also included is information on the Federal Lock at Troy, NY.
The NYSCS comprises of a total of 57 locks, 16 lift bridges, and numerous free tie ups stretching over the entire 524 miles of the system.
The navigation season for the NYSCS 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.
Canal Passes may be purchased at many locations, but for those in transit, passes are most easily obtained at the first and last locks of each of the canal systems. Lock E-2 and E-35 on the Erie canal, C-1 and C-12 on the Champlain Canal, O-1 and O-8 on the Oswego Canal, and CS-1 and CS-4 on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. Cost of the permits can be found in the sidebar to the left.
You can complete and print or download for future use The NYSCS Recreational Vessel Pass Application here
Aids to navigation are as follows:
Erie Canal - Red markers are kept to starboard between locks E-2 and E-35 westbound.
Cayuga-Seneca Canal - Red markers are kept to starboard between locks CS-1 and CS-4 south and westbound.
Champlain Canal - Red markers are kept to starboard between locks C-1 and C-12 northbound. (North of C-12 the buoyage system reverses.)
Oswego Canal - Red markers are kept to port between locks O-1 and O-8 northbound.
A single chart booklet, (NOAA Chart #14786), provides coverage of the entire canal system with the exception a small section of the western end of the Erie Canal for which no chart coverage exists.
New York State Canal System lock chamber waypoint’s for the Cayuga-Seneca, Champlain, Erie, and Oswego Canals in both Garmin (.gdb) and Adobe PDF format are available for download.
NYSCS Lock Chamber Waypoint’s - DownloadAll lockmaster's throughout the entire New York State Canal System maintain a watch on VHF channel 13. Phone numbers of each lock can be found in their respective sections.
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.
Where NYS navigation law dictates it is 5 mph. Lakes-no speed limit. Rivers- 45 mph. Land cut's / rock cut's - 10mph. Speed limit signs are posted at various locations throughout the canal system including every lock indicating the maximum speed limit ahead for that section of the canal. The standard caveats apply; watch your wake, practice good seamanship, and common sense.
As a general guide to transit times, allow 5 days to Transit from Albany, NY to Buffalo, NY, 3 days for Albany, NY to Oswego, NY, and 1 1/2 days for Albany, NY to Lake Champlain.
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.
Running for 17 miles South and West from Montezuma, NY to East Geneva, NY at Seneca Lake.
Cayuga-Seneca Canal - Navigation, Passagemaking, and Cruising InformationRunning North for 60 miles from Waterford, NY to Lake Champlain at Whitehall, NY.
Champlain Canal - Navigation, Passagemaking, and Cruising InformationRunning North for almost 24 miles from Three River Junction in the vicinity of West Phoenix, NY to Lake Ontario.
Oswego Canal - Navigation, Passagemaking, and Cruising InformationRunning West for 338 miles from Waterford, NY to Tonawanda, NY.
Erie Canal - Navigation, Passagemaking, and Cruising InformationLocated 134 NM above the Battery in NYC, it marks the head of tidal influence on the Hudson River. (Not part of the NYSCS)
Troy Lock - Transit Information Table