Sebago Lake to Portland
The original survey of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal made use of some ponds to limit the dug length to 15 miles. This route would have started closer to Sebago Lake Village and traveled east, meeting up with the constructed canal route above South Windham. This route was not followed.
The chosen route closely followed the Presumpscot River to Westbrook, then Saccarappa, from there it went overland to Stroudwater. This reduced the amount of property owners to deal with and allowed the mills along the upper part of the river to be serviced. It did however increase the length of canal to be dug by a third to 20 miles. Even with the added cost for digging, the potential financial gains made it feasible.

There was a difference in elevation of some 260 feet between the inlet at Sebago Lake and the guard lock on Portland's waterfront. To deal with this difference, The canal was designed with a pitch of 1 foot in a mile. The remaining difference was worked out through 27 locks. 12 of these were 10 foot locks and 15 were 8 foot locks. These locks were usually grouped, with anywhere from 2 to7 appearing in a location.
   The canal did make use of one pond. Beaver pond in Westbrook was passed through by canal boats with the tow horses walking on a bridge. The Beaver Pond Crossing was part of the "Seven Mile Level". A 7 mile run stretching from the Lower Horsebeef Lock to the Seven Locks at Stroudwater.
   Once reaching the tidewater at Stroudwater Village, the canal continued on through the "Turning Basin", an area west of Thompson's Point. This basin had a dock and was used to unload and load many of the canal boats. Some boats continued on to the guard lock located at the foot of Clark Street on Portland's waterfront. When the rail lines were laid down the waterfront, the guard lock was moved back to "Canal Basin". This basin was a large bowl west of Vaughns Bridge, now known as Veteran's Bridge. The Basin is now bisected by Interstate 95.
Sebago Lake to Harrison Route