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New York | Washington and Saratoga Counties / Champlain Valley

Champlain CanalMoreau Boat Launch / Rogers Island Pool to Lock C5/Upper Launch, Schuylerville

A 10.51-mile one-way Champlain Canal Water Trail route from the public Rogers Island Pool/Moreau Boat Ramp in Fort Edward to the Lock C5/Upper Launch at Hudson Crossing Park in Schuylerville. The official Canalway day-trip inventory describes one lock, a mix of river and land-cut paddling, and the Fort Miller/C6-to-C5 sequence. The guidebook and NYSDEC identify public water-entry anchors, but the route remains planning-only because river regulation, lock operations, current, dams, vertical walls, and commercial traffic can change the trip.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 10.51 one-way Canalway miles from Moreau Boat Launch to Lock C5/Upper Launch
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 4–6 hours depending on lock timing
ShuttleCar shuttle
Hudson River at Fort Edward, New York, near the upstream Champlain Canal corridor.
Route photoMoreau to Lock C5 Champlain Canal route and upstream Hudson River contextPhoto by U.S. Geological Survey

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This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 10.51 one-way Canalway miles from Moreau Boat Launch to Lock C5/Upper LaunchMoreau Boat Launch / Rogers Island Pool to Lock C5/Upper Launch, Schuylerville
DifficultymoderateThe Canalway day-trip description is recreational, but the one-way distance, changing river current, Crocker’s Reef safety cable, land-cut transition, Lock C6, commercial traffic, and vertical-wall access make this more consequential than a casual pond paddle.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage a downstream vehicle at the confirmed Lock C5/Upper Launch, then drive to the Moreau Boat Ramp. A lock delay, high water, traffic, or access closure can extend the day; retain the Route 4 and Lock C6 anchors as conditional bailouts only after confirming they are usable.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is identified by the Canalway guide. Confirm current Canal Corporation lock/navigation rules, NYSDEC launch rules, park hours, overnight-parking limits, and any seasonal closures before departure.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is claimed. Nearby Fort Edward, Hudson Crossing Park, and Saratoga-area campgrounds provide separate managed basecamp options; reserve current sites and do not camp on canal banks, lock property, or private shoreline without explicit permission.
SeasonMay-OctThe Canalway route is a seasonal flatwater/moving-water trip affected by canal operations, river regulation, lock schedules, storms, debris, and commercial traffic. Check the proxy gauge, weather, navigation notices, and actual access before departure.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A 10.51-mile one-way Champlain Canal Water Trail route from the public Rogers Island Pool/Moreau Boat Ramp in Fort Edward to the Lock C5/Upper Launch at Hudson Crossing Park in Schuylerville. The official Canalway day-trip inventory describes one lock, a mix of river and land-cut paddling, and the Fort Miller/C6-to-C5 sequence. The guidebook and NYSDEC identify public water-entry anchors, but the route remains planning-only because river regulation, lock operations, current, dams, vertical walls, and commercial traffic can change the trip.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Rogers Island Pool Boat Launch / Moreau Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to put-in

The stored endpoint coordinates follow the Canalway guide’s named launch-area anchors; they are not a guarantee that a dock, gate, parking area, or landing is open on the day of travel.

Finish

Take-out

Lock C5 / Upper Launch, Hudson Crossing Park
Open mapDirections to take-out

The route crosses public and private waterfronts with vertical walls and work areas. Do not land, scout, or use a maintenance area without posted permission or a current official instruction.

Road shuttle

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Access planner

Choose your launch and take-out

This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.

On-water distance10.5 miMixed access
On-water timeAbout 4–6 hours depending on lock timingFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Rogers Island Pool Boat Launch / Moreau Boat Ramp to Lock C5 / Upper Launch, Hudson Crossing Park is about 10.5 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The stored endpoint coordinates follow the Canalway guide’s named launch-area anchors; they are not a guarantee that a dock, gate, parking area, or landing is open on the day of travel.
  • The route crosses public and private waterfronts with vertical walls and work areas. Do not land, scout, or use a maintenance area without posted permission or a current official instruction.
  • Lock C6 and Lock C5 require a current portage or lockage plan. Do not improvise around gates, cables, dams, or active commercial navigation.
  • The route ends at the Lock C5 upper launch. Continuing below the lock or onto the Hudson requires a separate route, access, and hazard review.

Watch for

  • USGS 01327750 unavailable, rapidly changing, or inconsistent with local Hudson/Champlain Canal conditions
  • Crocker’s Reef safety cable, guard gate, strong cross-currents, dams, Lock C6 operations, commercial traffic, bridges, vertical walls, cold water, and strainers
  • Moreau, Route 4, Lock C6, Hudson Crossing, parking, overnight limits, navigation notices, seasonal gates, and current launch/portage instructions

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Hudson River at Fort Edward, New York, near the upstream Champlain Canal corridor.
Moreau to Lock C5 Champlain Canal route and upstream Hudson River contextPhoto by U.S. Geological Survey
USGS station photograph; same-river proxy context

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named Canalway day tripMoreau Boat Launch to Lock C5 Launch; 10.51 miles; one lock

    The official Erie Canalway day-trip page publishes the route endpoints, mileage, lock count, and river/land-cut description.

    Source

  • Public endpoint coordinatesMoreau/Rogers Island Pool 43.25411, -73.58805; Lock C5 upper launch 43.11420, -73.57848

    The Canalway guide identifies both public water-entry areas and their facilities; NYSDEC independently lists the Moreau and Hudson Crossing launch context.

    Source

  • Hazard and portage guidanceCrocker’s Reef, guard gate, Lock C6, current transitions, and Lock C5 facilities

    The official guidebook supplies the route-specific safety notes and lock/access descriptions; follow current on-site instructions.

    Source

  • Proxy live gaugeUSGS 01327750 Hudson River at Fort Edward

    USGS provides current stage/discharge near the upstream corridor, but canal level, regulation, wind, lock operations, and local current can diverge.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby managed basecamp only; no on-route camping claim

    Use a current campground or lodging provider outside the canal bank and follow its rules.

    Source

  • Same-river proxy gaugeUSGS 01327750, Hudson River at Fort Edward, NY

    USGS 01327750 is a current Hudson River station at Fort Edward near the upstream route corridor. It is used here as a proxy because the trip follows the regulated Hudson/Champlain Canal system; local canal level, lock operations, diversions, wind, and river current can differ materially.

    Source

  • Safety and river conditionsCheck live gauge, recent rainfall, trend, debris, bridges, and access conditions before launch

    Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Champlain Canal Water Trail and its linked safety material warn that conditions change rapidly and require local inspection.

    Source

  • Image decisionApproved watershed/proxy-gauge context image used for route presentation

    The image is clearly labeled as watershed/proxy-gauge context and does not claim to depict this exact reach.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

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New York route guideBrowse every tracked New York route.Washington and Saratoga Counties / Champlain ValleyJump to routes in this region.

More on Champlain Canal

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Alfred Z. Solomon Launch at Lock C5 to Stillwater Hudson Riverfront ParkSaratoga County / Champlain ValleyModerate · About 8.94 one-way Canalway miles from Alfred Z. Solomon Launch to Stillwater Riverfront ParkFeeder Dam / Queensbury to Martindale Boat Basin / Hudson FallsWarren and Washington Counties / Queensbury, Glens Falls, and Hudson FallsModerate · About 5.0 paddlable miles from Feeder Dam/Overlook Park in Queensbury to Martindale Boat Basin in Hudson FallsFort Ann Landing to Fort Edward DockWashington County / Champlain ValleyModerate · About 12 miles from Fort Ann Landing to the Fort Edward DockMechanicville Terminal to Waterford Point / Erie–Champlain Canal confluenceSaratoga and Rensselaer Counties / Capital RegionModerate · About 9 one-way Canalway miles from Mechanicville to the Waterford confluence

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Hudson RiverSpier Falls Road public launch to same-launch Hudson River exploration return · about 9 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 5 planning miles round trip, varying with the turnaround and windBatten KillGreenwich Rock Street Park to Schuylerville Fort Hardy Park via the Batten Kill mouth · about 12 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 7.3 Batten Kill miles to the Hudson mouth plus about 1.2 Hudson miles to Fort Hardy ParkBatten KillBattenville NY Route 61 access to Clarks Mills / Rexleigh lower-falls access · about 13 straight-line mi awayEasy · 8 river miles (route source estimates 6 mi; endpoint anchors span 7.4 mi straight-line)Hudson RiverHadley Canoe Take-Out / Sacandaga confluence to Warren County Canoe Access above Rockwell Falls · about 14 straight-line mi awayEasy · 4 river miles

Quick answers

Champlain Canal paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Moreau Boat Launch / Rogers Island Pool to Lock C5/Upper Launch, Schuylerville route on the Champlain Canal?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Moreau Boat Launch / Rogers Island Pool to Lock C5/Upper Launch, Schuylerville route on the Champlain Canal start and end?

This route starts at Rogers Island Pool Boat Launch / Moreau Boat Ramp and ends at Lock C5 / Upper Launch, Hudson Crossing Park, about 10.51 one-way Canalway miles from Moreau Boat Launch to Lock C5/Upper Launch on the water.

Is the Moreau Boat Launch / Rogers Island Pool to Lock C5/Upper Launch, Schuylerville route on the Champlain Canal suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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