New York
Erie Canal Run
About this paddle route
The Erie Canal still operates as a working waterway, and a recreational boat can transit it the same way commercial traffic did for two centuries. The Waterford flight, five locks in a mile and a half, lifts boats 169 feet and is the steepest lift of its kind in the world. From there the canal runs west through the Mohawk valley, past Little Falls and Lock 17, which has one of the highest single lifts on the system, and out onto Oneida Lake.
Waterford up the flight of locks, west through Little Falls to Sylvan Beach on Oneida Lake.
Highlights
What earns the trip
- The Waterford flight raises boats 169 feet in five locks
- Lock 17 at Little Falls is among the highest single-lift locks anywhere
- Free or low-cost town walls and dockage along most of the route
- Oneida Lake is the largest lake entirely inside New York
Stops
- 1
Waterford
The eastern entrance and the five-lock flight.
- 2
Little Falls
Lock 17, one of the highest lifts on the canal.
- 3
Sylvan Beach
The eastern shore of Oneida Lake.
When to go
Best time to go
The canal season typically runs from mid-May to mid-October.
Planner estimate for the mapped line: 7h 10m
Before you go
Know before you go
- Fixed bridge clearance governs the whole trip. Know your air draft before you commit.
- A canal permit is required for recreational vessels.
- Oneida Lake is shallow and builds a steep chop quickly in wind. Cross it early in the day.
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