Rochdale Canal has 92 locks and 35 recorded mooring sites (8 with a published Canal & River Trust time limit), plus 3 water points. There are currently 11 active navigation closures on this waterway.
Locks
92
Mooring sites
35
Timed moorings
8
Water points
3
Active navigation closures
Lock 80, Coal Pit Lower, Miles Platting, Manchester
Mon, Nov 2 → Fri, Dec 18
Lock 13 - Head paddle on the towpath side is broken , please operate lock using the offside paddle
Thu, Jun 18
Lock 65 to Oldham Road Bridge A62
Mon, Jul 6
Bridge 65A, Trub Farm Access Bridge
Mon, Oct 5 → Mon, Apr 5
Hollins Mill Lane Bridge - Sunken Boat - Rochdale Canal
Fri, May 23
Rochdale Locks 1 to 13
Thu, Mar 26
Lock 49, Navigation Way, Rochdale
Mon, Nov 2 → Fri, Nov 27
Bridge 1, Sowerby Bridge, Tuel Lane - Tunnel Inspection
Tue, Oct 27 → Thu, Oct 29
Deansgate Railway Viaduct
Mon, Oct 19 → Sun, Oct 25
Advice: Bridgewater Canal
Thu, Jan 2
Lock 79, Coal Pit Middle, Miles Platting, Manchester
Mon, Nov 2 → Fri, Dec 18
What size boat fits?
Canal & River Trust publish these maxima for the Rochdale Canal. Treat them as a rough guide rather than a guarantee — an individual bridge hole, lock chamber or shallow pound can be tighter than the headline figure, and draught in particular varies with rainfall and silting.
Max length
72ft (21.95m)
Max beam
9ft 7in (2.91m)
Max draught
3ft 11in (1.19m)
Headroom
6ft (1.83m)
Source: Canal & River Trust waterway dimensions (rough guide).
Frequently asked questions
How many locks are on the Rochdale Canal?
There are 92 locks recorded on the Rochdale Canal, based on Canal & River Trust reference data.
Where can I moor on the Rochdale Canal?
35 mooring sites are recorded on the Rochdale Canal, of which 8 have a published time limit — usually 14 days, but shorter in busy spots. Visitor moorings and their time limits are shown on the Itchy Tiller map.
Is the Rochdale Canal open at the moment?
There are currently 11 active navigation closures affecting the Rochdale Canal. Details and dates are listed on this page.
What size boat can navigate the Rochdale Canal?
Maximum length 72ft (21.95m), maximum beam 9ft 7in (2.91m), maximum draught 3ft 11in (1.19m), minimum headroom 6ft (1.83m). These are Canal & River Trust's published figures for the Rochdale Canal and are a rough guide — check individual structures before committing to a passage.
Are there water points on the Rochdale Canal?
Yes — 3 water points are recorded on the Rochdale Canal. Their locations are shown on the Itchy Tiller map alongside rubbish disposal and Elsan points.
Plan a route or track your stay on the Rochdale Canal
Itchy Tiller shows this canal's locks, moorings and live closures on an interactive map, with route planning and mooring time-limit tracking built in.
Open the map