History: When the Erie Canal was designed and built in the early 1800s, a great “Flight of Five” locks were needed in Lockport to raise barges 60 feet to the top of the Niagara escarpment. To power the raising and lower of the barges, a great deal of water was needed. The obvious supply was farther to the west. Tonawanda Creek and the Niagara River could supply the locks with all the needed water. There was only one problem. There was a limestone formation just south of Lockport that was 30 feet too high to allow the water to flow to the locks. The only solution was to remove the rock. The very hard rock. It took 1,200 workers to blast through the 3-mile long section of rock to complete the canal.
This section of canal is known as the “Deep Cut”. This canoe/kayak tour takes you through the Deep cut. It is unlike any other section of the Erie Canal. The old tow path is mostly over grown but can be seen in some spots. It too had to be carved from the surrounding limestone bedrock. Although there is a walking path along this section of the canal, it cannot be seen from you kayak as it is 30 feet above you. A good portion of the canal has tall, sheer rock walls. Hopefully this will be a unique experience you will enjoy.
Parking: Parking is available near the coords for the boat launch. Here you find ample parking and a concrete ramp. Trail head coords are given for both entrances. This area is public land owned by the NYS Canal Corp. There is new signage at the entrance off of Prospect Street. It is a bit rough but it's better than it was. Your other option is to launch you boat at Widewaters Marina and travel through the locks. This will add 3 miles to your round trip.
Caches: You are seeking bison tubes zip tied to branches or other objects. All caches are retrievable from your water craft. You do not have to exit your boat for any cache. There are 16 caches in total for the series.
Terrain: All caches are boat only! DO NOT attempt to access any caches in this series from land. Total round trip for all caches in this series is 6 to 7 miles. You will be paddling against the current on the way out. The return trip is considerably easier.
Boating: Please follow all NY State and USCG boating rules and regulations. Always wear your PFD! The walls of the canal are sheer rock walls. When a power boat passes, the wake will bounce off the walls for several minutes. This can lead to your boat being hit by waves from several angles at once. Since the walls are tall, there is often no easy way to get out if you have capsized. Be safe!
Attributes: Please note there is a Falling Rock attribute. You will notice (or at least you SHOULD) there are many lose rocks on the sheer rock cliff in many places along the route. Be aware and stay safe.