Paddling the Erie Canal?

[marchowes]

Anyone ever done it (kayak or canoe)? I know they killed the tolls in '06 at the locks (now subsidized by the thruway tolls BTW). Reason being they wanted to promote the canal for recreational purposes -- such as a thru paddle!

Been interested in this lately. Certainly no plans to do it anytime soon, but I would like to in the medium (5 year) term.

Suggestions?

 

[Paradox]

I am in the process of building a 20' rowing shell and had spent some time a few years back considering the Erie canal. I found this at the time: http://www.soundrowers.org/triplogs/knakal_2003/erie2003.htm

I might be done building in a few more years.

 

[Amicus]

Anyone ever done it (kayak or canoe)? I know they killed the tolls in '06 at the locks (now subsidized by the thruway tolls BTW). Reason being they wanted to promote the canal for recreational purposes -- such as a thru paddle!

Been interested in this lately. Certainly no plans to do it anytime soon, but I would like to in the medium (5 year) term.

Suggestions?

Really pathetic whitewater. But seriously, while I haven't done it, we followed the Canal by car a couple of summers ago, as best we could, driving from Albany to visit friends in Rochester (en route to Niagara Falls). That really is nice country and some of the locks are impressive. A restored 19th Cent. canal boat plies the stretch between two locks just east of Rochester and gave us a pleasant afternoon.

As I recall, the paddlers we saw seemed to be day-tripping, but I assume there are camping facilities for through-paddlers. Google would probably turn some things up.

Have you considered the Northern Forest Canoe Trail? That would give you a lot more variety, at least.

 

[Paradox]

I have some photos on my home computer, I'll post them tonight. I used to live North of Buffalo and my brother and I would motor up the Tonawanda Creek in his 14' runabout. Years later, I would go up to Lockport, New York and run along the canal on the towpath. The towpath had been nicely resurfaced as a running/bike path from Lockport to close to Rochester, New York. Long, flat and straight. It was actually pretty boring stuff.

Knakal's boat looks alot more like a racing shell than mine. I think that is the key. He was able to do over 30 miles per day on many days. I think I would go crazy on that canal if it took too long. Also he ran into a lot of crazies on his short trip as there is not many places to camp along the way. I would be able to sleep on the boat I am building in a pinch.

 

[Paradox]

Boat photo link

20' rowing shell photos

My idea is to row from the Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo through the Erie Canal to the Lake Champlain Canal then North through Lake Champlain and end in Plattsburgh where Ishmael lives.

 

[Rick]

Kayaked and canoed over the years. Lockport (Widewaters) - Albion. and all spots in between quite a few times.

Nottalot to see. Usually you are below the level of the towpath and cannot see much. Not as much fun as it would appear.

Fun to go under bridges - especially the lowered lift bridges, as well as read the graffiti below the bridges - and actually the small canal towns are quite interesting as you paddle by.
Otherwise, hot and shadeless. Water is a dull murky color (usually) and no nice shorelines - Usually Rock banks or concrete walls.
If you are looking for fairly smooth water and a fast paddle to get your heart up, this works well, but I found it was seldom truly adventurous.

 

[marchowes]

My idea has more to do with an interest in the canal than an interest in kayaking or canoeing.. In other words whitewater isn't interesting to me.. yet

I used to live near the canal in Rochester NY when I was in college. hiked along it in Pittsford alllll the time. It was one of the few interesting things to research in an otherwise uninteresting city (there are a few other exceptions).

My main concern actually would be mounting and dismounting the vessel. I have always gotten in and out of canoes by beaching them -- there are no beaches along the canal! Also the concept of handling the route once I came upon the Mohawk river.

 

[1ADAM12]

I use to live around the Fairport area growing up as a kid. We use to take our canoe and row up to Pittsford and back. It was fun but I have not done it since I moved to PA about 8 years ago.

 

[Rick]

Marc,
I don't remember where the boat launches were in Rochester - I lived near Pittsford for about 4 years before moving S to Honeoye Falls and used to run or XC Ski on the towpath almost daily. I was wondering about your comment about few things to do, but then realized if it was college days, you might have been car-less and on foot. I think longingly of the incredible parks - Harriet Hollister Spencer, Powder Mills, Mendon Ponds, Perinton... Then there was Chimney Bluffs, Genesee River, Irondequoit Bay, and further out, Hi Tor and also paddling the undeveloped Canadice and Hemlock.

OK, So here is a site with the list of boat launches for Monroe County
Almost every larger canal town has one. The problem, as you mentioned is that you aren't getting out of your boat anywhere else due to rock embankments - Which is why the Canal is great for endurance training.
Also, Since the Canal runs east and west, if you head east for a nice 10 mile paddle just know that the 5 miles back are almost always into the wind and sometimes the wind can seem stronger in the canal between the towpaths.

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

Lumber City - Canal Town

Not a big fan of canal paddling, but there are interesting towns along the way, and some "low bridges"... I would think of that trip as a long training run, with the occasional interesting sight to break up the monotony. You can lock through with other boats or at the discretion of the lock master, or just carry around.

When you get to Tonawanda/North Tonawanda, the current Western terminus of the barge canal (and where I live), I would recommend continuing to paddle up the Niagara River (my favorite place to paddle) to the Black Rock Canal (a remnant of the Erie Canal) and get a lift up that lock, then paddle up the canal, under the Peace Bridge, past downtown Buffalo, and into the Buffalo River to officially end your journey at the newly restored Commercial Slip of the Erie Canal Harbor (re-dedicated just today by Hillary Clinton). The Commercial Slip is the excavated original terminus of the original Erie Canal, where Gov. DeWitt Clinton (relation?) opened the old Erie Canal way back in 1825.

If/when you do that leg of the trip, let me know, I'll join you, arrange for a flotilla escort, and we can have the celebratory party at my house. It might even be a media event in Buffalo! - Bob

http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/22841239.html
http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/383603.html

 

[Paradox]

If/when you do that leg of the trip, let me know, I'll join you, arrange for a flotilla escort, and we can have the celebratory party at my house. It might even be a media event in Buffalo! - Bob

A great motivator to finish my boat. I want to be there!

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

... or if you intend to begin your journey in Buffalo, like in Paradox's link, I'd be happy to host you the previous night and paddle with you down the Niagara River and in the canal for a while.

 

[Rick]

....under the Peace Bridge, past downtown Buffalo, and into the Buffalo River to officially end your journey at the newly restored Commercial Slip of the Erie Canal Harbor (re-dedicated just today by Hillary Clinton). The Commercial Slip is the excavated original terminus of the original Erie Canal, where Gov. DeWitt Clinton (relation?) opened the old Erie Canal way back in 1825.

Many happy memories in the Buffalo Harbour - I used to be a nightclub disc jockey at Crawdaddies in the 80's. Now those were some grand times!!!!!
Bring back the 80's!!!!! Women with big hair, turquiose Lycra mini Skirts and Pink Pumps!!!!

 

[Paradox]

Many happy memories in the Buffalo Harbour - I used to be a nightclub disc jockey at Crawdaddies in the 80's. Now those were some grand times!!!!!

I probably made a request or two. I used to do a lot of sailboat racing out of Erie Basin Marina.