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New York | Wayne County / Finger Lakes–Erie Canal

Erie CanalLock E30 Macedon to Widewaters Canal Park / Newark

An approximately 10.2-mile one-way Erie Canal Water Trail section from Macedon Canal Park at Lock E30 through the Lock 60/E29 and Pal-Mac Aqueduct history corridor, Palmyra, and the rural Widewaters approach to Widewaters Canal Park near Newark. The official stewardship inventory identifies this as Section 11 with Lock E30, Lock E29, Pal-Mac, Palmyra, and Widewaters access; the guidebook documents the lock and aqueduct portage context, Port of Palmyra and Palmyra Boat Launch facilities, Ganargua spillway warning, Widewaters navigation channel, and the park’s no-camping rule. This remains planning-only because canal operations and local access are not represented by the 04218700 proxy gauge.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 10.2 official Canalway miles one way from Lock E30 Macedon to Widewaters Canal Park near Newark
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 5–7 hours depending on current
ShuttleCar shuttle
Erie Barge Canal west of the Genesee River at Rochester, New York, used as same-canal proxy context for the Macedon to Newark section.
Route photoMacedon to Newark Erie Canal route and same-canal proxy contextPhoto by U.S. Geological Survey

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Why this call
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 10.2 official Canalway miles one way from Lock E30 Macedon to Widewaters Canal Park near NewarkLock E30 Macedon to Widewaters Canal Park / Newark
DifficultymoderateThe route is protected canal flatwater but includes three lock/portage controls, aqueduct and Ganargua spillway hazards, bridge and vertical-wall sections, wakes and small-craft activity through Widewaters, limited legal egress between public entries, cold water, and a mandatory take-out at Widewaters.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at confirmed Widewaters Canal Park, then drive to Lock E30 Macedon or the selected Palmyra launch. Allow extra time for lock-area portages, marina coordination, spillway boundaries, Widewaters traffic, and a conservative take-out before the Newark corridor.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is identified by the Canalway guide. Confirm current Canal Corporation lock/guard-gate and bridge procedures, municipal park/dock rules, marina permission, parking, spillway exclusions, and Widewaters park rules before departure.
CampingOptions nearbyWidewaters Canal Park explicitly prohibits camping, swimming, wading, and alcohol. No on-route camping is claimed for the Macedon–Newark public-access reach; use separately verified lodging or managed camping near Macedon/Palmyra and confirm permission directly.
SeasonMay-OctThis Macedon-to-Newark canal reach is seasonal and sensitive to canal levels, lock and guard-gate operations, bridge clearance, high recreational traffic, wakes, spillways, and changing park access. Check current Canal Corporation notices, the same-canal proxy gauge, and every 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

An approximately 10.2-mile one-way Erie Canal Water Trail section from Macedon Canal Park at Lock E30 through the Lock 60/E29 and Pal-Mac Aqueduct history corridor, Palmyra, and the rural Widewaters approach to Widewaters Canal Park near Newark. The official stewardship inventory identifies this as Section 11 with Lock E30, Lock E29, Pal-Mac, Palmyra, and Widewaters access; the guidebook documents the lock and aqueduct portage context, Port of Palmyra and Palmyra Boat Launch facilities, Ganargua spillway warning, Widewaters navigation channel, and the park’s no-camping rule. This remains planning-only because canal operations and local access are not represented by the 04218700 proxy gauge.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Macedon Canal Park / Lock E30
Open mapDirections to put-in

The stored coordinates follow official Canalway guide and current public access-area anchors; dock, ramp, wall, parking, carry, lock, gate, spillway, and park conditions remain subject to current local operation.

Finish

Take-out

Widewaters Canal Park
Open mapDirections to take-out

Lock E30, Lock 60, and Lock E29 are navigation controls requiring portage planning. Pal-Mac, Port of Palmyra, and Palmyra provide conditional public water-entry contexts; confirm legal carry and usable landing before relying on them.

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 distance10.2 miMixed access
On-water timeAbout 5–7 hours depending on currentFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Macedon Canal Park / Lock E30 to Widewaters Canal Park is about 10.2 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The stored coordinates follow official Canalway guide and current public access-area anchors; dock, ramp, wall, parking, carry, lock, gate, spillway, and park conditions remain subject to current local operation.
  • Lock E30, Lock 60, and Lock E29 are navigation controls requiring portage planning. Pal-Mac, Port of Palmyra, and Palmyra provide conditional public water-entry contexts; confirm legal carry and usable landing before relying on them.
  • Widewaters has strong ramp and facility evidence but explicitly prohibits camping, swimming, and wading. Use the north-side channel guidance and take out at the park rather than treating the widewater as an open shoreline.
  • The route ends at Widewaters Canal Park. Continuing east into the official Section 12 Newark-to-Lyons corridor requires a separate route and access review.

Watch for

  • USGS 04218700 unavailable, rapidly changing, or inconsistent with the local eastern Erie Canal pool
  • Lock E30, Enlarged Lock 60, Lock E29, Pal-Mac and Ganargua spillways, bridges, wakes, fishing lines, small craft, cold water, weeds/debris, and private banks
  • Macedon Canal Park, Pal-Mac, Port of Palmyra, Palmyra Boat Launch, Widewaters Canal Park, parking, carries, marina permission, no-camping rules, and current Canal Corporation notices

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.

Erie Barge Canal west of the Genesee River at Rochester, New York, used as same-canal proxy context for the Macedon to Newark section.
Macedon to Newark Erie Canal route and same-canal proxy contextPhoto by U.S. Geological Survey
USGS station photograph; same-canal 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.

  • Distinct Canalway sectionMacedon to Newark; approximately 10.2 miles; official Section 11

    The official Erie Canalway stewardship inventory identifies the section, Lock E30 start, Widewaters finish, and the Lock E30/Lock E29/Palmyra/Widewaters access chain.

    Source

  • Public water-entry chainLock E30 Macedon, Enlarged Lock 60, Lock E29/Pal-Mac, Port of Palmyra, Palmyra Boat Launch, and Widewaters Canal Park

    The official Rochester-to-Syracuse guidebook supplies the access coordinates, facilities, lock/aqueduct context, spillway warning, and Widewaters park rules.

    Source

  • Palmyra access and logisticsPort of Palmyra car-top launch with 30-car parking and Palmyra concrete ramp/dock

    The guidebook documents the two Palmyra-area public or conditional access points and facilities; confirm current operation.

    Source

  • Spillway and widewater safetyStay away from Ganargua spillways; stay north through Widewaters; no swimming/wading at Widewaters Park

    The guidebook provides route-specific spillway, small-craft, shoreline, and park-rule warnings.

    Source

  • Navigation safetyLocks, aqueducts, spillways, bridges, wakes, cold water, and mandatory Widewaters take-out

    The guidebook and Canalway safety guidance supply route-specific navigation and access precautions.

    Source

  • Proxy live gaugeUSGS 04218700 Erie Barge Canal west of Genesee River at Rochester

    USGS provides same-canal proxy context only; local canal pool, traffic, debris, locks, spillways, and bridge operations remain decisive.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby managed basecamp only; Widewaters explicitly prohibits camping

    Confirm current lodging/campground rules directly and do not infer camping rights from canal parks, docks, or shoreline.

    Source

  • Route imageUSGS Erie Canal proxy station photograph used as clearly labeled same-canal context

    The presentation image is proxy context and does not claim to depict the Macedon–Newark reach.

    Source

  • Same-river proxy gaugeUSGS 04218700, Erie (Barge) Canal west of Genesee River at Rochester, NY

    USGS 04218700 measures the Erie Barge Canal west of the Genesee River at Rochester and is used as a same-canal proxy. Canal pool level, local weeds/debris, wind, wakes, bridge clearance, lock/gate operations, spillway hydraulics, and launch condition can differ materially; the gauge does not authorize lock passage or spillway entry.

    Source

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

    Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Rochester-to-Syracuse 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

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Keep exploring

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Quick answers

Erie Canal paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Lock E30 Macedon to Widewaters Canal Park / Newark route on the Erie 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 Lock E30 Macedon to Widewaters Canal Park / Newark route on the Erie Canal start and end?

This route starts at Macedon Canal Park / Lock E30 and ends at Widewaters Canal Park, about 10.2 official Canalway miles one way from Lock E30 Macedon to Widewaters Canal Park near Newark on the water.

Is the Lock E30 Macedon to Widewaters Canal Park / Newark route on the Erie 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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