More time for boating on the Canal

The Canal System will be open for business an additional two hours - from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. - until October 15.

The extended hours will allow boaters along the 524-mile Canal System to enjoy two additional hours per day of cruising on the historic waterway during the peak fall foliage season in New York.

Traditional hours of operation on the Canal System have been from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 16 to November 15, when the System generally closes for winter maintenance.

'This has been a challenging season for boating on the Canal, and many families have yet to take their first Canal trip of the season,' Director Mantello said. 'Fall is a great time to visit the Canal System and extending our hours will allow boaters to maximize their time on the Canal, especially in nice weather, and enjoy the hospitality of canal communities and some of the most spectacular fall foliage anywhere in the United States.

Heavy rains and severe, record flooding forced most of the Canal System to close in late June with a section of the Erie Canal between Lock E-9 and E-11 remaining closed for nearly two months. These closures, combined with high fuel prices and poor weather, has had a detrimental impact on recreational boating on the Canal this summer. Lock E-9 through E-11 reopened on August 19 and the entire Canal System is now open to boating traffic.

The Canal System opened early this season, the first time the Canal has opened in April in more than 30 years.

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