The Erie Canal connects to its side canals—the Champlain Canal, Oswego Canal, and Cayuga–Seneca Canal—through a unified waterway network known today as the New York State Canal System, totaling about 524 miles of navigable channels. These junctions allow boats to branch north toward Lake Champlain, west toward Lake Ontario, or south into the Finger Lakes.
How These Canals Are Used Today
1. Recreation and Tourism
The canal system is now primarily a recreational waterway, supporting:
Boating and kayaking
Tour boat cruises
Fishing
Canal festivals and heritage events
Cycling and hiking along the 360‑mile Canalway Trail, which parallels much of the Erie Canal.
2. Community and Cultural Revitalization
New York’s Reimagine the Canals initiative is transforming canal corridors with:
New parks, pedestrian bridges, and public spaces
Wetland restoration and environmental projects
Arts programming and canal‑side festivals
3. Limited Commercial Shipping
While far less than in the 19th century, the canal system still supports:
Occasional commercial freight
Movement of oversized industrial components that cannot travel by road
4. Navigation and Boating Infrastructure
The system remains fully operational with:
35 locks on the Erie Canal
Lift bridges, guard gates, and marinas
Seasonal navigation (extended through early November in 2025)
Summary
The Erie Canal’s side canals form a branching network that once powered American commerce and now serve as a recreational, cultural, and ecological corridor across New York State. Their connections allow boaters to travel from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain, and the Finger Lakes—making the system one of the most extensive inland waterways in the U.S.