The canal society own a trip boat called "New Horizons", which is based at Melbourne, and is used to enable the public to experience a cruise on the canal during the summer months. The canal is also noted for its wide variety of fish stocks, including tench, bream, perch and roach. It is popular with anglers, and the fishing rights are licenced to the York and District Amalgamation of Anglers. Restoration is ongoing and around of the canal had been restored by 2020. The section from the River Derwent to the Bielby Arm is navigable, and two of the remaining five locks have been renovated.