Somewhere on the Down East Loop: The Chambly Canal

Lake Champlain is connected to the St. Lawrence River by the Richelieu River. Because it is shallow and has many rapids, the Chambly Canal was built to allow transportation of goods, opening trade between Canada and the United States. Opening to commercial navigation in 1843, it is operated today in the same manner as it was then; the doors and sluice valves are all operated by hand. The lock chambers are 21 feet wide and 100 feet long. We locked through with another boat of similar size to ours, it seemed a tight fit! There are 9 locks in the system which allows the boats to descend a total of 80 feet. We had arranged with the lock tender for the bridge at St. Jean to open at 9:00 to allow us to access the first lock (lock 9). Precisely at 9AM we were contacted and the bridge opened.


The Bridge Opened at 9:00


Entering Lock 9


Tight Fit

We entered lock 9 at St. Jean. There is a narrow and twisting channel from St. Jean through some scenic residential areas and gorgeous open countryside. The canal follows the wide Richelieu River where we could occasionally glimpse the rapids that this canal was built to avoid. The old tow path is still visible on the edge of the canal, now used for bicyclists and joggers.

Notice the Tow Path and the Wide Richelieu River

Eight miles from the first lock we arrived at our second lock for the day. In the next 1.2 miles we passed through the canal’s next 8 locks and two swing bridges. It was very busy but thoroughly enjoyable!


Cranking Open the Sluice Valves


The Next Lock is Visible in the Distance


Opposing Traffic in the Narrow Channel

Once through the final three locks, a series of step locks in which we depart one lock and immediately enter the next, we were in Chambly Basin and proceeded on our way, now back on the Richelieu River.


A Bridge Opened to Allow Access to the Step Locks at Chambly


The First of the Step Locks, We Descended 35 Feet in the Three Locks


Departing One Lock and Entering the Next


Notice the Water Pressure on the Doors


Departing the Step Locks, Entering Chambly Basin


Fort Chambly

Notice the Rapids That the Chambly Canal Was Built to Avoid

It was a Saturday and the locals were enjoying the water. There were boats of all descriptions going in all directions! It was a beautiful day and everyone was having fun. We thoroughly enjoyed the ride and the sights as we continued along this beautiful river. The current was running fast because of the copious amounts of rain we have experienced and the high water in Lake Champlain which drains through the Richelieu River to the St. Lawrence.


Notice the Current Running Near the Abutments

Each Village Has its own Cathedral, This is the Village of Boliel

28 miles from Chambly we entered the last lock on this river at St. Ours. This lock had been enlarged in the 1930’s to accommodate the larger ships of the time. At over 300 feet in length it felt quite spacious.