River guideNew York
Erie Canal
Plan a paddle across 27 paddle areas. Compare distance, difficulty, and today’s conditions before choosing your stretch.
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River overview
Erie Canal paddle planning
What to verify before you commit.
Water levels
These Erie Canal routes use 5 gauge references depending on the stretch.
Route options
Compare 31 scored routes across Cayuga County / Seneca River and Erie Canal approach to Cross Lake, Erie and Niagara Counties / Western New York, Herkimer County / Frankfort, Ilion, Herkimer, Mohawk, and German Flatts, Herkimer and Montgomery counties / German Flatts, Little Falls, Fort Plain, and St. Johnsville, Monroe County / Fairport and Pittsford, Monroe County / Greater Rochester, Monroe and Orleans Counties / Greater Rochester, Monroe and Orleans Counties / Western New York, Monroe and Wayne Counties / Greater Rochester, Montgomery County / Canajoharie, Palatine Bridge, Fonda, and Fultonville, Montgomery County / Fultonville, Fort Hunter, Tribes Hill, and Amsterdam, Montgomery County / St. Johnsville, Fort Plain, Nelliston, Palatine Bridge, and Canajoharie, Montgomery and Schenectady Counties / Amsterdam, Town of Florida, and Rotterdam Junction, Niagara County / Western New York, Niagara and Orleans Counties / Western New York, Oneida County / Rome, Oriskany Flats, Mohawk River, and Erie Canal Long Level, Oneida and Herkimer counties / Marcy, Utica Marsh, Schuyler, and Frankfort, Onondaga County / Oneida River, Erie Canal, and Oneida Lake outlet corridor, Onondaga and Madison Counties / DeWitt to Chittenango, Orleans County / Western New York, Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties / Capital Region, Schenectady County / Rotterdam Junction, Scotia, Schenectady, and Glenville, Schenectady, Saratoga, and Rensselaer Counties / Capital Region, Seneca and Cayuga Counties / Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Wayne County / Finger Lakes–Erie Canal, Wayne and Seneca Counties / Erie Canal–Clyde marsh corridor, Wayne, Seneca, and Cayuga Counties / Montezuma Wetlands Complex. Open a route page for put-in, take-out, distance, source confidence, and access notes.
Difficulty
Erie Canal routes here are marked easy and hard and moderate, so choose the stretch that fits your group and conditions.
Quick answers
Erie Canal paddling FAQ
Where can I paddle the Erie Canal?
Paddle Today tracks 31 Erie Canal routes across Cayuga County / Seneca River and Erie Canal approach to Cross Lake, Erie and Niagara Counties / Western New York, Herkimer County / Frankfort, Ilion, Herkimer, Mohawk, and German Flatts, Herkimer and Montgomery counties / German Flatts, Little Falls, Fort Plain, and St. Johnsville, Monroe County / Fairport and Pittsford, Monroe County / Greater Rochester, Monroe and Orleans Counties / Greater Rochester, Monroe and Orleans Counties / Western New York, Monroe and Wayne Counties / Greater Rochester, Montgomery County / Canajoharie, Palatine Bridge, Fonda, and Fultonville, Montgomery County / Fultonville, Fort Hunter, Tribes Hill, and Amsterdam, Montgomery County / St. Johnsville, Fort Plain, Nelliston, Palatine Bridge, and Canajoharie, Montgomery and Schenectady Counties / Amsterdam, Town of Florida, and Rotterdam Junction, Niagara County / Western New York, Niagara and Orleans Counties / Western New York, Oneida County / Rome, Oriskany Flats, Mohawk River, and Erie Canal Long Level, Oneida and Herkimer counties / Marcy, Utica Marsh, Schuyler, and Frankfort, Onondaga County / Oneida River, Erie Canal, and Oneida Lake outlet corridor, Onondaga and Madison Counties / DeWitt to Chittenango, Orleans County / Western New York, Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties / Capital Region, Schenectady County / Rotterdam Junction, Scotia, Schenectady, and Glenville, Schenectady, Saratoga, and Rensselaer Counties / Capital Region, Seneca and Cayuga Counties / Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Wayne County / Finger Lakes–Erie Canal, Wayne and Seneca Counties / Erie Canal–Clyde marsh corridor, Wayne, Seneca, and Cayuga Counties / Montezuma Wetlands Complex. Compare the route cards on this page, then open an individual route for put-in, take-out, distance, and access notes.
How should I check Erie Canal water levels?
Start with the route score and gauge notes for the stretch you plan to paddle. This hub includes routes watched with 5 gauges or gauge references, and each route page explains its own target range or low-water floor.
Which Erie Canal route is best today?
Use the live route cards above to compare today's Paddle Today scores. The best stretch can change with water level, recent trend, weather, access, and route difficulty.