Canal

New York State Canals

The New York State Canal System is a 524 mile inland waterway providing passage from the Atlantic Ocean (via the Hudson River) to Lakes Erie, Ontario, and Champlain; and access to several of the state’s interior lakes: Oneida, Onondaga, Cross, and Van Cleef Lakes; plus the two largest of the 11 fingers lakes- Cayuga Lake & Seneca Lake. It connects most of Upstate NY’s major cities and has been in operation continually for almost two centuries in one form or another. The current generation of canal (3rd) is about 100 years old.

This page is intended to fill informational gaps between what is already available. To get started here is a list of some of the better websites about the New York State Canal System:

New York State Canal Corporation – canal administration agency.

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor – National Parks Service.

Canal Society of New York State – preservation.

Canal New York – business promotion.

NY Canals – independent info.

Tug 44 – photo documentary.

The Erie Canal – history.

Canalway Trail – bike path along the canal.