Champlain Canal

Home , Champlain Canal, Glens Falls Feeder Canal, Lake Champlain, Mettawee River, Rogers Island (New York)

CHAMPLAIN CANAL

The lowlands between Lake Champlain and the Hudson River have been a corridor for travel, trade, and warfare for centuries. This route linked the St. Lawrence River and Canada to the north and the Hudson River and Atlantic Ocean to the south. Generations of travelers carried their boats and cargo from the southern end of the lake at Whitehall to the head of small boat navigation on the Hudson at Fort Edward. The Champlain Canal, completed in 1823, opened an all-water passage. The Champlain Canal enters the head of Lake Champlain at Whitehall. This is also the northern terminus of the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail. For more information on this water trail, see hudsonrivergreenway watertrail.org. For more information on paddling Lake Champlain, see lakechamplain committee.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Information about things to do in the Champlain Canal region, including dining and lodging, is available from capital-saratoga.com.

238 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Whitehall

WHITEHALL C Mile 60.86, west side 43.559372 -73.400811 Whitehall Marina Originally called Skenesborough, Whitehall is 7 North Main Street located at the southern tip of Lake Champlain Whitehall, NY 12887 and at the northern end of a historic overland (518) 499-9700 route to the Hudson River. This strategic newwhitehallmarina.com location made Whitehall a center of early American transportation and defense. Although FACILITIES: Electric, wi-fi, water, restrooms, it is well inland, Whitehall calls itself the showers, restaurant. Floating docks, cement “Birthplace of the American Navy.” Benedict ramp. Arnold supervised construction of ships and Large private marina. gunboats here during the American Revolution and used them to fight the British fleet on Lake Champlain. Additional warships were C Mile 60.72 43.557271 -73.401007 built here during the War of 1812. Lock C12, Whitehall Whitehall solidified its position as a 21 Main Street transportation hub between New York and Whitehall, NY 12887 Canada when the Champlain Canal opened (518) 499-1700 in 1823. Merchants took advantage of faster, cheaper trade, and industries thrived. LIFT: 15.5 feet. Stop by the Whitehall Heritage Area FACILITIES: Tie up at Whitehall Harbor wall Visitor Center next to the community park to to the south on the west side or use the learn more. A ramp and low dock at the Whitehall Marina to the north on the west side. southern end of the park are the best place Facilities are difficult for paddlers to access at to launch here. this location due to steep canal walls.

PADDLING NOTE: Stay to the west side of the channel to enter the lock. Buoys support a PLACE OF INTEREST safety cable above the dam. Do not paddle OFF THE WATER into this area. Lock C12 marks the northern end of the 43.552312 -73.390449 Champlain Canal. Navigational aids north of Skene Manor the lock reverse here, with the red markers 8 Potters Terrace on the west side of the lake. Southbound Whitehall, NY 12887 paddlers will be going upstream from here to (518) 499-1906 Lock C9 at C Mile 45.04. skenemanor.org C Mile 60.58 43.555201 -73.401559 This Victorian Gothic-style mansion is set on a mountainside overlooking the town. Bridge C30, Saunders Street

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 239 Champlain Canal–Whitehall

0 0.5 Miles South Bay 0 0.5 Kilometers

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Poultney ml22 >=10

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Whitehall Marina RD EHALL M ST OLD WHIT C Mile 60.86 IA 9 S LL >= A I

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Champlain Spinners Hydroelectric

Taintor Gate Dam N

Plant (FERC P-5296) O R T Lock C12, Whitehall O C12 N C Mile 60.72

T S Skene Manor

Whitehall IN A 9A M >= Skenesborough Museum and

RD Heritage Area Visitor Center M SKENE O U N C Mile 60.55 T Y A I S A N C W HOOL ST D A

CANAL ST W ST GILM IL ORE ST L IA M TNEY Skenesborough Waterfront Park POUL ST C Mile 60.50 0/4 ST

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240 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Whitehall

C Mile 60.55 west side 43.555249 -73.402625 C Mile 55.51 43.484201 -73.424739 Skenesborough Museum and Heritage Bridge C27, Ryder Road Area Visitor Center Skenesborough Waterfront Community Park C Mile 54.28, west side 43.468220 -73.434939 37 Skenesborough Drive Whitehall, NY 12887 Lock C11, Comstock (518) 499-0716 x1155 1678 North Old NY 4 Whitehall, NY 12887 The museum is in a 1917 concrete canal (518) 639-8964 terminal building with a distinctive tile roof. Exhibits include a 16-foot diorama describing LIFT: 12.0 feet. the settlement of Skenesborough and the PADDLING NOTE: An overflow dam crosses events of 1776, along with canal memorabilia the channel on the east side of the artificial and numerous other artifacts that reflect the island. Do not paddle into the dam channel. area’s history as an important north-south Turbulence from the dam can be strong on transportation center. The visitor center has the downstream end of the lock. restrooms. C Mile 53.39, west side 43.459429 -73.441100 C Mile 60.50, west side 43.556749 -73.401718 Comstock Boat Ramp Skenesborough Waterfront Park North Old NY 4 58 Main Street Fort Ann, NY 12827 Whitehall, NY 12887 (518) 499-4071 FACILITIES: Dirt ramp. Parking for five cars. Distance from parking about 20 feet. FACILITIES: Electric, water, restrooms, picnic tables, grills, pavilion, gazebo. Concrete ramp C Mile 53.42 43.456916 -73.441009 and low dock at southern end. Parking for 10 cars; overnight parking permitted. Distance Bridge C25, NY 22 from parking about 20 feet. Shops, restaurants, and attractions in Whitehall are a short walk C Mile 52.00 43.436835 -73.450123 from the harbor. Dewey’s Bridge

C Mile 60.19 43.549590 -73.402100 C Mile 49.57, west side 43.416467 -73.484546 Bridge C29, Poultney Street (US 4) Halfway Creek, so named because it was halfway between Whitehall and Fort Edward C Mile 60.07 43.547880 -73.402160 on the old overland carry, joins the canal. Bridge C28, Delaware & Hudson Railroad It is possible to paddle nearly 1.4 miles up Halfway Creek from the canal to the base of C Mile 59.11, east side 43.545459 -73.402282 Kanes Falls. The Mettawee River enters the canal.

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 241 Champlain Canal–Whitehall

Whitehall W EY IL ST N S L LT I 4 OU T A P M 0/ 18

Skenesborough Waterfront Park V E >= A D South I ok 2N S ro D R B C Mile 60.50 AV R D W Y E A Bay V I H W R I T D d E u A H M O AL R

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Ryder Road C Mile 55.51

Lock C11, Comstock C Mile 54.28

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242 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Fort Ann

ml22 0 1 Miles Comstock Boat Ramp

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149 KINGSBURY ml ml149 Lock C9, Smith’s Basin C Mile 45.04 C9 Wood Creek Spillway

41 43 >= >= ml196

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 243 Champlain Canal–Fort Ann

C Mile 49.39, west side 43.413980 -73.485240 C Mile 45.04 43.351800 -73.495740 Fort Ann Landing Lock C9, Smith’s Basin Just north of Clay Hill Road bridge 2450 NY 149 Fort Ann, NY 12827 Fort Ann, NY 12827 (518) 639-8929 (518) 747-6021

FACILITIES: Picnic tables and pavilion. LIFT: 16.0 feet. Floating dock. Wheelchair accessible launch. Restrooms, picnic tables, Parking for 20 cars. Distance from parking FACILITIES: camping. about 40 feet. Stay clear of the spillway This is the best place to launch in Fort Ann. PADDLING NOTE: on the east bank above the lock. Shops and restaurants are a short walk away— look carefully before crossing the railroad Lock C9 marks the high point of the Champlain tracks. The remains of old Locks 16, 17, and 18 Canal. The “Summit Level” between C9 and can be seen to the north and south of Ann C8 crosses the drainage divide between the Street, paralleling Canal Street. Champlain and Hudson basins. Lock 10 was never built. As they developed designs in C Mile 49.37 43.413648 -73.484951 1906, Barge Canal engineers found that they could eliminate a chamber by increasing the Bridge C23, Clay Hill Road lifts of locks C9 and C11.

C Mile 47.73 43.390027 -73.486112 C Mile 43.45 43.331886 -73.510784 Bridge C22, Baldwin Corners Road Bridge C19, New Swamp Road An informal, unmaintained launch from a An informal, unmaintained launch from a vegetated embankment is below this bridge. vegetated embankment is below this bridge.

C Mile 45.47 43.357818 -73.493551 C Mile 41.04 43.304167 -73.539202 Bridge C21, NY 149 Bridge C18, Dunham Basin Road (NY 196)

C Mile 45.28, west side 43.355310 -73.495050 C Mile 40.83, west side 43.301603 -73.541469 Lock C9 Kayak Launch Glens Falls Feeder Canal Lock C9 Access Road off NY 149 The Glens Falls Feeder Canal enters here, Kingsbury, NY 12839 supplying water to the summit level of the FACILITIES: None. Car top launch, beach Champlain Canal as it crosses the drainage landing. Parking for five cars. Distance from divide between the Hudson and Champlain/ parking about 100 feet. St. Lawrence basins. A dam on the Hudson above Glens Falls diverts water into a seven-mile channel. First built during the 1820s, the feeder canal was enlarged in 1832 to accommodate boat traffic. Thirteen masonry locks lifted and lowered boats past the 130-foot drop at Hudson Falls. One set, called

244 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Glens Falls Feeder Canal

ROCK

Lock C9, Smith’s Basin C C9 I T Y C Mile 45.04 k e 43 e ST >= R r D C

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C re d e l k O RD MAHAFFY C8 Lock C8, Fort Edward RD ST EA C Mile 39.21 0 1 Miles

0 1 Kilometers

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 245 Champlain Canal–Glens Fall Feeder Canal the Five Combines, raised and lowered boats C Mile 39.21 43.281999 -73.559119 55 feet in about 0.25 mile. The lock chambers Lock C8, Fort Edward are still visible along the Glens Falls Feeder 367 Lock 8 Way Canal Trail near Burgoyne Avenue in Hudson Hudson Falls, NY 12839 Falls. The feeder canal stopped passing (518) 747-5520 boats during the 1930s, but it remains essential for delivering water to the Cham- LIFT: 11.0 feet. plain Canal. A seven-mile stretch of Towpath FACILITIES: Tie up at the walls to the north Trail along the feeder is a popular outdoor and south. Facilities are difficult for paddlers to destination for cycling and walking. Five access at this location due to steep canal walls. miles of the feeder canal, from the dam in Queensbury to the takeout at Hudson Falls, From here south, water in the canal flows can be paddled. For details, see the Feeder toward the Hudson River. Canal Alliance at feedercanal.org. C Mile 38.82, west side 43.278970 -73.562796 Just to the south of Lock C8 is a General Electric dewatering facility. This site was built to dewater and process sediments contami- nated with PCBs, dredged from the Hudson River below Hudson Falls and Fort Edward. This site will eventually be restored to become an industrial park.

PADDLING NOTE: Barges, tugs, and workboats may be active here. Exercise caution to avoid collisions and wakes. Do not attempt to land at this facility.

C Mile 38.37 43.272187 -73.568766 Bridge C17, East Street

C Mile 37.70 43.264131 -73.576138 Bridge C16, Argyle Street (NY 197)

Glens Falls Feeder Canal

246 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Fort Edward

FORT EDWARD

Located at the head of navigation on the C Mile 37.40, west side 43.260849 -73.580089 Hudson River, Fort Edward has been a transportation hub for centuries. The British Fort Edward Dock Off Broadway (US 4) built a fort here in 1709 on a vital route Fort Edward, NY 12828 between New York and Montreal. The Champlain Canal opened here in 1823, FACILITIES: Picnic tables. Car top launch, creating a navigable link to the Adirondack low dock. Parking for 12 cars. Distance from Mountains, Vermont, and Quebec. Fort parking about 150 feet. Edward residents built mills, foundries, and factories to manufacture goods from the vast C Mile 37.31 43.259533 -73.580742 quantities of timber, iron, and granite that flowed south on canal boats. Bridge C14, Broadway (US 4) The Rogers Island Visitor Center is a good place to get information and launch a paddling C Mile 37.25, west side 43.258576 -73.581837 trip in Fort Edward. NYS Canal Maintenance Shops, Fort Edward This is a repair and maintenance area with a stone-loading dock. It is not open to the public. PLACE OF INTEREST Watch out for barges and OFF THE WATER PADDLING NOTE: workboats in this area.

43.261709 -73.580784 C Mile 37.03 43.256500 -73.584440 Old Fort House Museum 29 Broadway Lock C7, Fort Edward Fort Edward, NY 12828 2579 US 4 (518) 747-9600 Fort Edward, NY 12828 oldforthousemuseum.com (518) 747-4614 LIFT: 10.0 feet.

FACILITIES: Tie up at the Fort Edward kayak launch on the south end. Lock C7 is where the Champlain Canal joins the Hudson River. North of Lock C7, the canal is a dug channel. South of Lock C7, the canal is the canalized Hudson River. Buoys mark the channel from this point south.

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 247 Champlain Canal–Fort Edward

SCHUYLER ST >=37 >=40

l a LN n a AV C

Hudson River Lock C8, Fort Edward C Mile 39.21 H 4 BURGOYNE T A 0/ P C8 W O T n ai pl m a MC h RD C

I N CANAL T Y

R E D

S R Fort Edward T EAST

Old Yacht Basin Y

W H D T A A

O P W R O T B Bradley Beach, Roger’s Island

Rogers Island Visitor Center ST B EAST A L

I N

Fort Edward AV CHAMPLAIN

NOTRE DAME ST

Side channel to Fort A ST Edward Yacht Basin RGYLE ml197 Old Fort House Museum ml197 Fort Edward Dock Lock C7, Fort Edward C Mile 37.40, west side C Mile 37.03 NYS Canal Shops, Fort Edward C7

Moreau Boat RampRD D U C Mile 36.79 4 RKE 0/ ETOWN 29 RD R >= E IV R >=46

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248 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Fort Edward

C Mile 36.79, west side 43.254109 -73.588049 ROGER’S ISLAND INLET Moreau Boat Ramp Rogers Island and the Fort Edward 1580 West River Road (CR 29) Yacht Basin are on a 0.10 mile-long Fort Edward, NY 12828 branch of the Hudson River below Lock FACILITIES: Concrete ramp and low dock. C7. To reach them, turn west (river right) Parking for 20 cars. Overnight parking immediately below the lock and permitted; 24-hour limit. Distance from head upstream between buoys G225 parking about 20 feet. and R226. DEC fishing access site. 43.268230 -73.587903 C Mile 32.33 43.196170 -73.584258 Fort Edward Yacht Basin 118 Broadway Crocker’s Reef dam and breakwater. Fort Edward, NY 12828 PADDLING NOTE: Stay to the east of the (518) 747-4023 breakwater and enter the canal channel. villageoffortedward.com Buoys support a safety cable that crosses the FACILITIES: Electric, water, restrooms, river and blocks access to the Crocker’s Reef showers, picnic tables. Shops and dam. Do not paddle into this area. restaurants are nearby. Facilities are difficult for paddlers to access at this C Mile 31.84 43.189550 -73.581020 location due to vertical canal walls. Guard Gate, Crocker Reef This 55-foot-wide guard gate is suspended 43.267080 -73.590900 from lattice steel towers and is normally open Bradley Beach, Rogers Island throughout the navigation season. It was built Bradley Avenue in 1914 to protect the 2.25-mile land-cut section Fort Edward, NY 12828 from here to Lock C6, allowing it to be (518) 747-4023 drained in winter and for maintenance. It is villageoffortedward.com the only guard gate on the Champlain Canal.

FACILITIES: Picnic tables, grills. Rest- C Mile 31.01 43.177708 -73.579230 rooms at nearby ball field. Car top launch, beach landing. Parking for 10 cars. Bridge C13, North River Road (Payne’s Bridge) Distance from parking about 50 feet. C Mile 30.47, east 43.169940 -73.579370 43.267080 -73.590900 Route 4 Rest Stop Kayak Launch Rogers Island Visitor Center US 4 11 Rogers Island Drive Fort Edward, NY 12828 Fort Edward, NY 12828 FACILITIES: Picnic tables. Car top launch, (518) 747-3693 beach landing. Parking for 10 cars. rogersisland.org

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 249 Champlain Canal–Fort Edward

C Mile 30.26 43.166738 -73.579755 C7 Bridge C12, Fort Miller Road (CR 46) Lock C7, Fort Edward D R C Mile 37.03

R C Mile 29.90 43.161509 -73.579909 E 46 V I k >=

R e re C Lock C6, Fort Miller T Moreau Boat Ramp RD S E 11 Fort Miller Road W C Mile 36.79, west side

E S Fort Edward, NY 12828 e U us O Ho H (518) 695-3751 0/4 29 K >= BLAC LIFT: 16.5 feet. k c la B H FACILITIES: Tie up at east side approach wall. u d ll ok i RD s no o S K k This was one of the first Barge Canal locks n e e r CLARK C built. Construction started in 1905. The overgrown remains of Old Champlain Lock 13 R iv d from the Enlarged Canal can be seen near e a RD

e D r l D il R K the upper wall on the east side.

R G IS R CARY D E L I R A F

V N F

I D

T N MOT R

R D C Mile 29.85 43.160868 -73.579928 T

S E 4 W 0/ Bridge C11, Lock Road >=29 s e s 0 0.5 Miles Mo C Mile 29.77 43.159519 -73.579978

RD 0 0.5 Kilometers The land-cut section of the canal rejoins the N ERSO PATT Hudson River below the Fort Miller Dam. WELLS

LN CANAL PADDLING NOTE: River currents sweep from Crocker Reef Dam right to left as you exit the channel below the Crocker Reef Guard Gate lock. Exercise caution. Cross the river and RD PETERS hug the west bank from here until you enter 0/4 the land-cut channel above Lock C5.

GLEN RD RD

46 RD R >= C Mile 27.42 43.128765 -73.587015 E

V URINGTON I P R Route 4 Rest Stop Bridge C10, Northumberland Road (US 4) ST CHAMPLAIN E Kayak Launch W C Mile 30.47 29 PADDLING NOTE: Continue hugging the west

>= N

I O le Broo V t R Tut k E (right) bank. R T H R D DUER RD Northumberland Hydroelectric Lock C6, C Mile 27.07, east side 43.123689 -73.587014 Plant (FERC P-4244) Fort Miller Thompson Dam has a “V” shaped fixed crest. HARRIS C6 C Mile 29.90 RD M

RD I L F CALLAHAN L O Portions of this dam and the land cut to the E R R T R D south date to the original Champlain Canal. The land cut is 0.9 mile long.

250 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Schuylerville

PADDLING NOTE: Stay to the west side of the channel as you approach the dam to enter Northumberland RD DUER the cut. Currents in this area are strong. A Hydroelectric Plant (FERC P-4244) Lock C6, row of submerged cribs were built to keep C6 Fort Miller

barges away from the dam and guide them CALLAHAN RD D C Mile 29.90 into the land cut, but they are spaced too far R >=29

apart to provide protection to paddlers. D

R D R HARRIS 4 R E 0/ V

I r R

R k e k T ee E Cr v C Mile 26.28, east side 43.114200 -73.578480 S L e i E L e I r

W R C M

BLODGETT Lock C5/Town of Northumberland s ck Pe T R cum O o Kayak Launch F Sl Upper end of Lock C5. 77 FACILITIES: Car top launch, floating dock. >= n o Parking for 10 cars. Distance from parking s d about 200 feet. Other facilities at adjacent u H ek re C Hudson Crossing Park and Lock C5. p D r R e tw n Van A

C Mile 26.26, east side 43.115003 -73.577763 0 0.5 Miles

R Hudson Crossing Park E 4 V I 0/ 0 0.5 Kilometers Lock Road (CR 42) R Schuylerville, NY 12871 Northumberland (518) 350-7275 Road (US 4) CHAMPLAIN C Mile 27.42 D hudsoncrossingpark.org R

FACILITIES: The park features two hand-launch

N O sites—a floating dock above Lock C5 (see S M O H above) and the Alfred Z. Solomon Launch on T the Hudson River below the lock. Each is within a few hundred feet of the visitor parking Northumberland Thompson Dam lot at the lock. Additional facilities include restrooms, water, a picnic pavilion, play garden, >=113 sculpture walk, an extensive network of trails, and the historic Dix Bridge over the Hudson. Mohawk ml32 Maiden Just north of Schuylerville, Hudson Crossing 70A Cruises RD >= Park is on the island formed by the Champlain C Mile 26.27 4 0/ CANAL Hudson Canal and the Hudson River at Lock C5. KNOB Crossing Park The park has excellent fishing and birding STARKS C Mile 26.26 sites and more than two miles of nature trails with panoramic Hudson River vistas and C5 Alfred Z. Champlain Canal overlooks. Solomon B Lock C5, Northumberland R Launch S O T A Hudson Crossing Park holds a triathlon C Mile 26.17 D R I R V every June and a cardboard boat race in August. D E R

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 251 Champlain Canal–Schuylerville

WATERWAY CRUISES

C Mile 26.27, west side 43.113641 -73.578871

Lock C5, Schuylerville Mohawk Maiden Cruises 130 US 4 North at Lock C5 Schuylerville, NY 12871 (518) 636-6146 C Mile 26.17 43.112549 -73.577960 mohawkmaidencruises.com Lock C5, Northumberland Terminal for Caldwell Belle, a 121 US 4 North 45-passenger sternwheel riverboat Schuylerville, NY 12871 offering tour cruises on the upper (518) 695-3919 Hudson River and Champlain Canal LIFT: 19.0 feet. waterways. Check ahead for schedule, fares, and cruise itineraries. FACILITIES: See Hudson Crossing Park. The lock has its own picnic pavilion, a small building with exhibits on Champlain Canal history, and a 1927 buoy boat on display near the parking Hudson River 43.113060 -73.576940 lot. The original hydroelectric plant for Lock C5 is still operational with direct current generators Alfred Z. Solomon Launch in the powerhouse by the lower gates. Hudson Crossing Park’s Riverwalk Sensory A concrete junction lock next to the Trail leads from the visitor parking lot at Lock powerhouse provided a connection between C5 to a gravel beach hand-launch on the the old towpath-era canal and new Barge Hudson River below the lock. The launch Canal. It allowed boats to reach businesses in features boat racks and gear lockers (bring Schuylerville and remained in operation into your own padlock). the 1930s. Water still flows in the old channel as far as the Fish Creek Aqueduct, but C Mile 26.14 43.112006 -73.577593 culverts interrupt the route and are too low Bridge C8, Lock C5 Road (CR 42) for canoes and kayaks to pass.

252 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal

Schuylerville

PLACE OF INTEREST Schuyler House, Schuylerville OFF THE WATER

43.095751 -73.581755 Situated on the west bank of the Hudson River about ten miles east of Saratoga Springs, General Philip Schuyler House 4 Broad Street (US 4) Schuylerville, also known as Old Saratoga, Schuylerville, NY 12871 was the site of the surrender of General John (518) 670-2985 Burgoyne and the British Army following the nps.gov/sara Battles of Saratoga, the turning point of the American Revolution. Schuylerville contains The house is 0.50 mile inland. several historic buildings that are listed on Restrooms and water the National Register of Historic Places, FACILITIES: are located in the parking area for the including the General Philip Schuyler House. Schuyler House along US 4. From here to Albany, the towpath-era Champlain Canal ran parallel to the Hudson To access the site from the water trail, River in a separate artificial channel at the take out at the Fort Hardy Park, cross edge of the valley wall. Today’s Barge Canal, over Ferry Street/NY 29, and follow the opened in 1916, runs in the riverbed. The Barge foot trail south. More direct access to Canal bypassed established boatyards, the site may be gained by paddling up drydocks, and other businesses in Schuylerville Fish Creek about 0.20 miles and that depended on waterfront access. The landing along the shoreline just down- well-maintained Towpath Trail provides a stream of the pedestrian bridge. The great way to see the old next to the new. bridge carries the foot trail south to the Fort Hardy Park is a good place to launch Schuyler House. in Schuylerville.

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 253 Champlain Canal–Schuylerville

Hudson River

RIVER >=70A

BR 113 IDGE >= D 4 R X RD 0/ DI >=70 32 Hudson Crossing Park ml RD C Mile 26.26 KNOB STARKS Batten Kill Mohawk Maiden Cruises C Mile 26.27 Alfred Z. Solomon Launch C5

Y T N Lock C5, Northumberland U 2 CO 4 C Mile 26.17 RD

CHAMPLAIN

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ml RD

ST CANAL

SPRING R ST E V

SA BROAD RATO ST GA ST Fort Hardy Park

T C Mile 25.41 N S LLE RD E LERVI E HUY R SC G Schuylerville OLD

Schuyler Yacht Basin BURG OYNE C Mile 25.08 ST 338

>= L R A E P RD Fish Creek Aqueduct ml29

AV N ICO OR k D H e R re Y C R

T E General Philip

M E 113 C Schuyler House Hudson River >=

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V I 32 R ml 0/4

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254 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Saratoga Springs

C Mile 25.41, west side 43.101970 -73.575430

V k A e re

Fort Hardy Park RD C

Towpath Lane e GATES v

i R Schuylerville, NY 12871 h Y s ST R i E F T 4 E S 0/ M N FACILITIES: Water, restrooms, picnic tables, E A C V E grills, pavilion. Car top launch, boat ramp, ml32 SCHUYLER ST >=113 beach landing, floating dock. Parking for 15 General ME cars; Distance from parking about 150 feet. NN EN RD Philip Schuyler Restaurants, shops, and visitor information House are within walking distance.

Fryer C Mile 25.13 43.098152 -73.573478 B n r o

o o s k d Bridge C7, Ferry Street (NY 29) u

H H A A S C Mile 25.08, west side, 43.098415 -73.575987 RD 0/4 Schuyler Yacht Basin

On the channel behind Schuyler Island D 1 Ferry Street R Schuylerville, NY 12871

(518) 695-3193 V I

FACILITIES: Electric, wi-fi, water, restrooms, 113 RD >= EVILLE showers, restaurant. COV

Private marina. Alcove N A Marina C C Mile 21.48 C Mile 25.02, west side 43.096995 -73.576337 Mouth of Fish Creek Opposite the southern tip of Schuyler Island.

Paddlers can push about 0.25 mile up the ly B te roo la k Fish Creek to the aqueduct that used to carry F the old Champlain Canal across the creek. 0/4

C Mile 21.48, west side 43.058967 -73.593540 RD AN EH Alcove Marina HAN >=113 AmVets Drive Saratoga CHAMPLAIN Schuylerville, NY 12871 Boat Ramp C Mile 20.37 (518) 695-5652

FACILITIES: Ramp, restrooms, restaurant. 0 0.5 Miles

Private marina. 0 0.5 Kilometers

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 255 Champlain Canal–Saratoga Springs

C Mile 20.37, west side 43.036110 -73.592220 C Mile 17.21, west side 42.994087 -73.609277 Saratoga Boat Ramp Stillwater Hudson Riverfront Park Off US 4 at north end of River Road, 9 US 4 opposite CR 113 Stillwater, NY 12170 Schuylerville, NY 12871 FACILITIES: Portable toilet, picnic tables, FACILITIES: None. Informal ramp, beach grills, pavilion. Car top launch, beach landing. landing. Parking for five cars. Parking for 10 cars. Distance from parking about 200 feet. Short trails carry the visitor around this small, SARATOGA NATIONAL well-designed park. A great spot for paddlers HISTORICAL PARK to stop and stretch your legs. 648 NY 32 C Mile 12.18 42.937058 -73.649450 Stillwater, NY 12170 (518) 670-2985 Bridge C6, Stillwater Bridge Road (CR 125) nps.gov The Stillwater fixed-crest dam crosses the This is where Americans fought Hudson River 0.14 miles downstream. A overwhelming odds to win a key hydroelectric plant built in the 1980s is at the Revolutionary War victory against the west end of the dam. British in 1777. The British and their PADDLING NOTE: Hug the east (river left) allies were attempting to move south bank and paddle under the bridge segment on land and by boat, using the route spanning the land-cut channel. Do not paddle that is a water trail today. They were under the multispan bridge to the west. blocked from proceeding forward by Americans on Bemis Heights. Known as one of the most important battles in C Mile 11.76 42.932250 -73.654630 the last millennium, the victory drew Lock C4, Stillwater international allies to win America’s War 947 Stillwater Bridge Road for Independence. Schaghticoke, NY 12154 The battlefield unit of Saratoga (518) 664-5261 National Historical Park occupies the high bluffs west of the river. Cannons at LIFT: 16.0 feet. the Great Redoubt and Bemis Heights FACILITIES: Portable toilet, picnic tables. are visible in a few spots starting Tie up on the upstream west side at Lock 4 around mile 18 for the next 2.0 miles State Canal Park. A kayak launch with car (between buoys G105 and G93). top launch and beach landing is at the lower end of the lock on the east side. Parking for five cars. The confluence of the Hoosic River and the Hudson River is about 0.30 mile below the lock on the east side.

256 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Stillwater

Saratoga Boat Ramp D ml32 C Mile 20.37 R >=67 K ro m 0/4 a Saratoga

h R

c E n National V ra I

B Cemetery r R F

F e R LU CEDA B v R i 71 D >= R

K l 70 i il >= l M l

LO HNES

RD n o s 32 d ml u WAITE H RD Stillwater Hudson >=113 Riverfront Park C Mile 17.21

D R

Saratoga National 4 Historical Park 0/

R E IV R ml423

ml32

CANAL ney Kid LAKE

113 C re >= e >=76 k

R D

>=54 75 V RD A N

>= I

Stillwater Dam N P O S M R D E U A IV Stillwater Hydroelectric Plant H R H (FERC P-4684) C

Stillwater >=120 Lock C4, Stillwater S T I C Mile 11.76 L D C4 L R W A

32 E ml R 0 0.5 Miles 4 B R 0/ I R DG E E V RD I 0 0.5 1 Kilometers R

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 257 Champlain Canal–Mechanicville

Stillwater iver 120 R R >= RIVE Mill Stillwater Hydroelectric RD Ho Plant (FERC P-4684) llo n Stillwater Dam w o s C4 d S u T Bro I ok H L D L R W

A T E R 75 ml32 >= H 125 E R M E Lock C4, Stillwater >= B S V R T I R I Upper Mechanicville Hydroelectric R C Mile 11.76 D EE G T Plant (FERC P-2934) 0/4 E R D ml67 Upper Mechanicville Dam R S D ARAT OGA C3 AV Mechanicville Terminal Wall Lock C3, Mechanicville C Mile 9.92 C Mile 9.29

T Mechanicville S

H N T E T R o D m O RD h N N I a 67 L n

ILL V ml

H A n

67 H

L ml u

T c

A k U 1345 R 121 O T >= >= S N

C C re 146 e

ml k N FA CHAMPLAIN Y RM TO U MARK R ET RD P 109 >= Quack Island

Mechanicville Hydroelectric Lower Mechanicville Dam Plant (1897 FERC P-6032) C2

146 ml UPPER Lock C2, Mechanicville ml32 H

C Mile 7.37 D

N O

E N W TOWN

D c 86 o >= M n a RD ld

R R

I I V V

E E

R R

C re 32 H ek ml A R R 121

I 4 >=RD S 0/ CANAL

R m D a e tr S Lighthouse Park C Mile 4.55 ml40 Deep Kill 95 WOOD 0 1 Miles >= K D BROO R Lock One Marina and Shipyard >=122 C Mile 3.80 0 1 Kilometers

258 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Mechanicville

C Mile 10.51 42.919337 -73.671832 C Mile 9.29, west side 42.904511 -73.683812 Bridge C5, Boston & Maine Railroad Mechanicville Terminal Wall Terminal Street at the mouth of C Mile 9.92 42.911820 -73.677650 Kayaderosseras Creek Mechanicville, NY 12118 Lock C3, Mechanicville (518) 664-7791 880 Knickerbocker Road Schaghticoke, NY 12154 FACILITIES: Electric, water, restrooms, (518) 664-5171 showers, picnic tables, kayak racks. Kayak dock with car top launch is at the north end, LIFT: 19.5 feet. behind City Hall. Parking for 15 cars. Distance FACILITIES: Tie up at the Mechanicville from parking about 20 feet. Shops and terminal wall south of the lock. restaurants are a short walk away. The Town of Schaghticoke provides a kayak Mechanicville is the smallest city in New York, launch with car top launch and beach landing with an area of just eight-tenths of a square mile. at the lower end of the lock on the east side. Parking for five cars. Distance from parking Mile 9.00 42.899458 -73.683781 about 500 feet. To stay in the canal channel, paddle to the PADDLING NOTE: Buoys support a safety east of the island. cable in front of the dam at this lock. Do not paddle into this area. Piers and timbers Mile 8.05 42.885766 -73.680884 above the lock were built to guide barges Quack Island into the chamber. Water flows under these structures and it is possible for a small boat PADDLING NOTE: A large dam spans the to get pinned. Stay to the east side (river left) Hudson River at Lock C2. To get into position of the channel as you enter the lock. The for Lock C2, paddle to the west of Quack dam and powerplant can produce unpredict- Island. The dam is 0.10 mile from the southern able cross currents immediately below the tip of the island. Do not enter the dam area. lock. Exercise caution until you are below the NY 67 bridge. C Mile 7.37 42.877859 -73.676310 The lift on Lock C3 is the highest on the Lock C2, Mechanicville Champlain Canal. The dam was originally 933A Hudson River Road built to power paper mills on both sides of Mechanicville, NY 12118 the river. During the Barge Canal construction (518) 664-4961 the crest was raised. LIFT: 18.5 feet.

C Mile 9.42 42.905448 -73.68255 PADDLING NOTE: This lock bisects a rocky Bridge C4A, Howland Avenue (NY 67) island located between the Mechanicville hydroelectric plant on the west and a large fixed-crest overflow dam on the east. Paddle directly into the lock. Do not approach the dam or the hydroelectric plant. Stone and

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 259 Champlain Canal–Mechanicville timber cribs, installed to guide barges into C Mile 3.55, west side 42.825498 -73.665191 the lock, are spaced too far apart to provide Lock C1 Boat Ramp protection for small craft. Upper end The Mechanicville powerplant and dam were Halfmoon, NY built in 1897 to provide electricity to General FACILITIES: Portable toilet, picnic tables. Electric and the American Locomotive Concrete ramp and floating dock. Parking for Company (ALCO) plants in Schenectady. The 30 cars. Overnight parking permitted; call Mechanicville plant is the oldest continuously (518) 237-8566. operating power plant in the nation. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and is open to visitors by C Mile 3.43 42.823990 -73.664270 appointment. Lock C1, Waterford 15 Lock One Road C Mile 7.32 42.877384 -73.675670 Waterford, NY 12188 (518) 237-8566 Bridge C-3, Lock C2 access road LIFT: 14.3 feet.

C Mile 4.55, west side 42.838529 -73.671507 FACILITIES: Tie up at the boat ramp at the Lighthouse Park northern end of the lock, west side. 589 Hudson River Road PADDLING NOTE: Do not enter the area Halfmoon, NY 12065 above the dam. The southern end of the lock (518) 371-7410 ext. 2530 is protected from the turbulent water from the townofhalfmoon-ny.gov dam by a long, wide breakwater. FACILITIES: Water, restrooms, picnic tables, Lock C1 is located in an artificial cut on the grills, pavilion, kayak racks. Car top launch, western side of the Hudson River. A zig-zag beach landing, dock. Parking for 20 cars. dam spans the Hudson River and ends on Distance from parking about 200 feet. the west at the artificial island created by This park connects to the Champlain the land cut. The eastern section of the dam Canalway Trail. is made up of six large Taintor gates, each 50 feet wide. They were said to be the largest in the world when they were installed Mile 3.80, west side 42.829129 -73.666514 in 1913. Lock One Marina and Shipyard 425 Hudson River Road C Mile 1.51, east side 42.799460 -73.666250 Waterford, NY 12188 (518) 238-1321 Schaghticoke Boat Ramp lockonemarinaandshipyard.com Off River Bend Road and Marion Avenue Schaghticoke, NY 12154 FACILITIES: Electric, wi-fi, water, restrooms, showers. Concrete ramp, floating dock. FACILITIES: Beach launch. Parking for two cars. Distance from parking about 200 feet. Private marina. DEC fishing access site.

260 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Champlain Canal–Waterford

Lighthouse Park 0 0.5 Miles C Mile 4.55 121 O >= l 0 0.5 Kilometers d OOD KW CHAMPLAIN OO N BR ALHOU 4 C RD 0/ >=122 DR Lock One Marina and Shipyard R

I C Mile 3.80 V E R

h a Dam m p la RD in C1

Lock C1, Waterford H

C Mile 3.43 S >=96 O N

R I V

E R

R C

D MID a DL n ETO a WN l

F CANAL ON RD DA IRISH >=97 RD RD Lock E6, Waterford Waterford Point Boat Ramp/ E Mile 2.15 Upstate Kayak Rentals Lock E5, Waterford E Mile 0.28 RD E Mile 1.87 32 Lock E4, Waterford ml >=124 E Mile 1.60 4 0/ EY ERIE N E6 H G E5 U A Old Champlain H E4 D Canal Towpath R Guard Gate 1, Crescent CANAL r Schaghticoke Boat Ramp E Mile 2.52 e iv C Mile 1.51 R ER Lock E3, Waterford V I N R W R O IB E Mile 1.09 ST E R IGLET T D E RD Y E3 R P M NYS Canal Shops, 3 S o LN h Waterford a Waterford w Old Champlain Canal k Cohoes Falls 126TH Lock E2, Waterford E2 ST E Mile 0.63 Waterford Harbor Visitor Center AV

V E Mile 0.47, north side A

NO Lansingburgh Boat Ramp MO R H D A TH n W N C Mile 0.27 o 2 K H s S T T Peebles Island d 5 u Waterford State Park H 0/4 Historical C Mile 0.22 Start of Barge Canal Maintenance Museum Riv ml32 er 0.0 on Water Trail DR 40 RAILROAD ml Cohoes Troy

eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 261 Champlain Canal–Waterford

C Mile 0.56 42.788687 -73.673919 C Mile 0.22, west side 42.786026 -73.680717 Bridge C2, 126th Street (US 4/Broad Street) Peebles Island State Park 1 Delaware Avenue C Mile 0.28, north side 42.785539 -73.677449 Waterford, NY 12188 parks.ny.gov Waterford Point Boat Ramp Confluence of Erie and Champlain Canals FACILITIES: Water, restrooms, picnic tables, First and Front Streets grills, pavilion, hiking trails during daylight Waterford, NY 12188 hours. Car top launch, beach landing. Parking for 40 cars during daylight hours. Distance FACILITIES: Concrete ramp, low dock, beach from parking about 535 feet. Shops and landing. Parking for 10 cars; overnight parking restaurants in Waterford are a short walk permitted. Distance from parking about 20 feet. away over the Delaware Avenue Bridge. Walk to restrooms, showers, and information at the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center. The 90-acre Peebles Island State Park is located at the confluence of the Mohawk and Upstate Kayak Rentals Hudson Rivers. The park is accessible by a (518) 209-1063 bridge over the Erie Canal or from the water upstatekayakrentals.com using the launch on the east side of the island on the Hudson River near the Observa- Based at Waterford Point, a convenient tion Deck or the dock at the northern end of location for paddlers to explore all the the island on the Erie Canal. Hiking trails waterways of the Capital Region. Upstate around the island with cliffs, water views, and Kayak Rentals has several self-serve kayak mature oak woodland. Peebles Island is rental hubs throughout the Capital Region. headquarters to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. C Mile 0.27, east side 42.784629 -73.674399 Lansingburgh Boat Ramp Foot of 123rd Street Troy, NY 12182 (518) 235-7761

FACILITIES: None. Concrete ramp. Parking for 10 cars. Distance from parking about 20 feet. Shops and restaurants in North Troy are within walking distance.

262 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org