Erie Canal

[Squirrel49]

Can I access the western Erie Canal from Lake Ontario at Rochester or Buffalo or do I need to enter at Oswego. I’m trying to get into Lake Erie from Lake Ontario without using the Welland Canal

[AnsleyS]

You will enter at Oswego and continue up the Oswego River to the Erie canal and turn right.


Continue to Lake Erie and there do not turn right.

[rslifkin]

AnsleyS has it covered. From Lake Ontario, the only entrance to the Erie Canal is at Oswego. Head up the Oswego Canal and then head West on the Erie to Buffalo (and Lake Erie).

Oswego itself is a decent stop, a few good restaurants and other stuff within walking distance. When there we typically stay on the wall between locks 7 and 8. Phoenix (just south of Lock 1 on the Oswego Canal) is another good stop. It's a very small town, but they've definitely embraced the traffic the canal brings in and they've got nice docks.

[Kettlewell]

Keep in mind the overhead clearance is just under 15 feet, and there are some shallow spots, like 6-7 feet where the Erie Canal crosses the Genesee River. The Canal takes you to Tonawanda, just north of Buffalo on the Niagara River.

[JBP]

Originally Posted by AnsleyS

...Continue to Lake Erie and there do not turn right.

Several times a year I hear Maydays about someone who did not heed this advice.

[AiniA]

What is wrong with taking the Welland Canal, much shorter distance to travel.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by AiniA

What is wrong with taking the Welland Canal, much shorter distance to travel.

Well, not much, other than cost, having to run the entire canal without stopping on the their schedule, and a hard and fast requirement for 3 people on deck.

[JBP]

Originally Posted by Jammer

Well, not much, other than cost, having to run the entire canal without stopping on the their schedule, and a hard and fast requirement for 3 people on deck.

The Welland can be done in one very long hard day. It's 12 hours or more with no stops allowed, reservations are required and you have to be on time or you'll get booted until the next day. Freighters take priority, so you might have to do some waiting.

The Erie canal will probably take at least two days from Oswego plus you have to take your mast down, but it is easy, lazy days with few rules and stop anywhere you like to explore.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by JBP

The Erie canal will probably take at least two days from Oswego plus you have to take your mast down, but it is easy, lazy days with few rules and stop anywhere you like to explore.

Oswego to Tonawanda will be quite a bit more than 2 days. If you run every minute the locks are open and average 6 kts, I'd estimate you can do it in 4 days, maybe 3 if you're lucky and time everything perfectly. That's just over 35 hours of travel time based on 176 nautical miles from Oswego to Tonawanda (at 6 kts) and an average of 20 minutes per lock (you'll go through 18 locks on that run).

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by JBP

The Welland can be done in one very long hard day. It's 12 hours or more with no stops allowed, reservations are required and you have to be on time or you'll get booted until the next day. Freighters take priority, so you might have to do some waiting.

The Erie canal will probably take at least two days from Oswego plus you have to take your mast down, but it is easy, lazy days with few rules and stop anywhere you like to explore.

Done it hundreds of times ... mostly 6 to 8hrs but on rare occasions 12hrs and once 2 days.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Jammer

Well, not much, other than cost, having to run the entire canal without stopping on the their schedule, and a hard and fast requirement for 3 people on deck.

Just for others reading ... 3 upbound, 2 downbound and nothing under 24' .

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Squirrel49

Can I access the western Erie Canal from Lake Ontario at Rochester or Buffalo or do I need to enter at Oswego. I’m trying to get into Lake Erie from Lake Ontario without using the Welland Canal

You've gotten the answer already but if you are interested in what you'll see from Oswego to the Tonawanda ... we've got lots of photos here.
Cruising New York State Canal System, Erie, Cayuga, Seneca