Jul 24, 2026 · 26 min · 11 segments
Climb aboard for an audio journey through Lock 4 as we explore the engineering, history, and lasting legacy of the Erie Canal in the Finger Lakes. Special thanks to Finger Lakes Water Adventures and…
Kemi AjisekolaHostJohnGuest
Today, we're in Waterloo, just north of Seneca Lake, on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.
This canal connects two of the Finger Lakes to the Erie Canal, creating a navigable route that stretches all the way across New York State, connecting the Finger Lakes to a waterway that stretches from the Hudson River to Lake Erie.
Then it proceeds north until it intersects the Erie Canal and actually becomes part of the Erie Canal going east.
That's where the Seneca River flowing east and the Oneida River flowing west meets the Oswego River flowing north up in the Lake Ontario.
But if you were to continue all the way east down the Erie Canal, you would end up in Waterford, New York, and the Hudson River.
So basically, it would arrive at Seneca Lake or Cahuga Lake, anywhere in the world, by boat.
As we pull away from the dock, we're passing a side of the Finger Lakes that most people never see.
The shoreline is dotted with cottages and year-round homes, each with its own dock reaching into the canal.
Kayaks and paddle boards rest along the water's edge, Pontoon boats bob quietly in their slips.
Every now and then, you catch sight of a canal boat that looks like it could have drifted in from another era.
A little further on, we passed Hobart's and William Smith's Rowing Center, a few kayakers out for a morning paddle.
Today, we're in Waterloo, just north of Seneca Lake, on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.
This canal connects two of the Finger Lakes to the Erie Canal, creating a navigable route that stretches all the way across New York State, connecting the Finger Lakes to a waterway that stretches from the Hudson River to Lake Erie.
Then it proceeds north until it intersects the Erie Canal and actually becomes part of the Erie Canal going east.
That's where the Seneca River flowing east and the Oneida River flowing west meets the Oswego River flowing north up in the Lake Ontario.
But if you were to continue all the way east down the Erie Canal, you would end up in Waterford, New York, and the Hudson River.
So basically, it would arrive at Seneca Lake or Cahuga Lake, anywhere in the world, by boat.
As we pull away from the dock, we're passing a side of the Finger Lakes that most people never see.
The shoreline is dotted with cottages and year-round homes, each with its own dock reaching into the canal.
Kayaks and paddle boards rest along the water's edge, Pontoon boats bob quietly in their slips.
Every now and then, you catch sight of a canal boat that looks like it could have drifted in from another era.
A little further on, we passed Hobart's and William Smith's Rowing Center, a few kayakers out for a morning paddle.
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