For those who don't have time to complete the Great Loop, or who have the extra time for a side trip, don't overlook the surprisingly adventuresome Triangle Loop.

The Triangle Loop takes cruisers from the Hudson River at Waterford to Lake Ontario via the Erie and Oswego Canals, to the northern shore of Lake Ontario, then down the St. Lawrence Seaway (past Montreal) to Sorel. From there, you can take the Richelieu River to the Chambly Canal to Lake Champlain and then continue on to the Champlain Canal back to the Hudson River at Troy.

This 750-mile cruise takes about three weeks actual cruising time, although it can be stretched out for an entire summer. A second option, which is slightly longer, is to take the Rideau Canal at Kingston to the Ottawa River and then onto the St. Lawrence River.

By cruising in a clockwise (downstream) direction, the considerable current of the St. Lawrence River is always moving with the boat, thus providing a welcome boost to speed over the bottom and greater fuel economy. This is considered to be a less demanding route compared to The Great Loop, which is considerably longer in both time and distance; however, this trip can be equally adventurous and exciting for cruisers.

In this section, we first cover Lake Ontario to Sorel via the St. Lawrence Seaway. In case you chose to bypass the St. Lawrence Seaway, we show the second (longer) option of traveling from Kingston to Ottawa along the Rideau River and then from Ottawa to Montreal on the Ottawa River, where we pick up the St. Lawrence. We then round out the trip with a trek down the Champlain Waterways including the Richelieu River, Chambly Canal, Lake Champlain and the Champlain Canal.

Be sure to begin your planning by checking the Waterway Explorer (www.waterwayguide.com) for important Great Lakes navigational updates and cruising news and, as always, this guide is not intended to be used for navigation. The prudent boater will purchase the latest charts and refer to the Local Notice to Mariners before beginning any cruise.

Triangle Loop Facts & Figures

Locks: 99

Rivers: 7

Lakes: 4

Controlling Depth: 6.5 feet (5.0 feet on Rideau Canal route)

Controlling Vertical Clearance to Champlain Canal: 22 feet

Controlling Vertical Clearance (Champlain Canal): 15 feet

Triangle Loop Waterway Distances

(NOTE: Distances are given in statute miles.)

1. Erie Canal (Troy to Three Rivers): 160 miles
2. Oswego Canal (Three Rivers to Oswego): 24 miles
3. Lake Ontario (Oswego to Kingston): 50 miles
4. Route 1: St. Lawrence River (Kingston to Montreal): 166 miles
5. Route 2: Rideau Canal (Kingston to Ottawa): 126 miles
6. Route 2: Ottawa River (Ottawa to Montreal): 97 miles
7. St. Lawrence River (Montreal to Sorel): 44 miles
8. Richelieu River/Chambly Canal (Sorel to Rouses Point): 77 miles
9. Lake Champlain (Rouses Point to Whitehall): 107 miles
10. Champlain Canal (Whitehall to Troy): 60 miles

Many trawlers have a mast that can be laid down almost at will. If you are in that category, consider laying the mast down for the Champlain Canal and put it up where conditions permit (e.g., Lake Champlain). Sailboats must have their masts removed before entering the Erie Canal. Because there is no practical place to step the mast while completing the Triangle Loop, it is best to make arrangements to leave the mast where you have removed it and then retrieve it on your return trip.

Recommended Resources

Print Great Lakes Vol. 1 Waterway Guide or Subscription

Cruising the New York Canal System, Skipper Bob Publications

Cruising the Rideau & Richelieu Canals, Skipper Bob Publications

[Updated January 9, 2024]