New York State Canal System
Four waterways – the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals – carve their way through New York's heartland, gliding past lush farmland, famous battlefields, scenic port towns and thriving wildlife preserves. The 524-mile New York State Canal System connects with hundreds of miles of lakes and rivers across the Empire State, linking the Great Lakes with the Hudson River and the inland waterways of the Northeast.
Boating on New York's canals has shifted in recent years from commercial to pleasure craft. Much of the machinery that permitted these vessels to venture through the system's 57 locks dates back to 1918. It is meticulously maintained by canal lock operators, some of them second and third generation family members dedicated to working on New York's canals.
To truly appreciate these waterways, you can't be a landlubber. Rent a fully equipped canal boat or use your own vessel. Dock at a local marina and explore quiet 19th century canal towns. Bicycle to nearby wineries for a tour, then enjoy the sunsets as you dine on board. Tour boats operate on all the Canal System waterways. Chart your own course and cruise for a few hours or a few days, stopping at quaint inns and waterside restaurants along the way.
The Legendary Erie Canal – Gateway to the West
"I had a mule and her name was Sal, 15 miles on the Erie Canal." This verse from a favorite American fold song recalls life on the canals while immortalizing the trade route from Albany to Buffalo – the gateway to the great western frontier. Many of New York's major cities – Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica and Albany – evolved and grew along the route of the Erie Canal.
The History
The Erie Canal took seven years to build and was the engineering marvel of its day, yet it was constructed without the aid of a single professional engineer. It cut through hundreds of miles of wilderness and featured 18 aqueducts and 83 locks, with a rise of 568 feet from the Hudson River to Lake Erie.
Completed in 1825, the Erie Canal spurred the first great westward migration of American settlers, opened the only trade route west of the Appalachians and helped make New York the preeminent commercial port in the nation.
The legend of the grand Erie Canal flows as strongly today as it did in 1825. A journey along the canal should start at Waterford, where the Hudson River meets the Mohawk. Scale the series of five locks comprising the famed "Waterford Flight," where boats are lifted and lowered the greatest height in the shortest distance of any canal in the world.
In 1899, Governor Theodore Roosevelt authorized the construction of a canal and locks to connect the Erie and Champlain canals.
