ERIE CANAL SIGHTSEEING CRUISE

CRUISE THE HISTORIC ERIE CANAL!

Take a journey through history on the calm waters of the Erie Canal while enjoying the spectacular scenery of New York’s beautiful Mohawk Valley.

Join your United States Coast Guard licensed captain aboard Lil’ Diamond II and enjoy a few entertaining tales of the canal.

The thrill of our voyage is being raised and lowered over 20 feet in an Erie Canal lock!

On this incredibly fun, narrated, 90-minute cruise, learn:

• Why the Erie Canal was known as Clinton’s ditch.
• How it was constructed, how it opened our western lands and helped to create the America we know today.
• How and why it was expanded and why it’s still important to upstate New York culture today.

We’ll take you along the beautiful Mohawk River and into a man-made section known as a “land cut.”

The tour passes:

• Through massive guard gates
• The Historic Fort Herkimer Church, which is one of the oldest surviving churches in New York State
• You’ll also catch a glimpse of some local birds such as green and blue herons and the occasional bald eagle along the Plantation Island Wildlife Management Area.
• The vessel then enters Lock 18 at Jacksonburg, one of the last remaining locks operating with all of the original 100+-year-old equipment.

As the vessel enters the lock, your captain will fully describe how the lock operates. Then you’ll watch as the gates close behind you and suddenly (but smoothly) the lock house seems to rise in the air as the lock walls creep up along the vessel while it’s being lowered twenty feet. It is certainly an experience not soon forgotten.

This Erie Canal sightseeing cruise is 90 minutes of history, entertainment, education, humor, calm cruising, and pure family fun!

KEY POINTS ABOUT THIS CRUISE

• Available 7 days a week

TOUR DEPARTURE TIMES

• Please see daily schedule for cruise times or call (315) 717-0350 for schedule information
• Cruises depart 7 days a week during our operating season

ARRIVAL TIMES

• Please arrive 30 minutes prior to departure
• Boarding: 15-30 minutes before departure at Gems Along the Mohawk.
• We are located directly across the street from Exit 30 of the NYS Thruway –  continue straight into the parking lot.
• Address: 800 Mohawk St, Herkimer, NY 13350

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
Our crew members are trained to help guests navigate our docks and vessel and are prepared to assist.
Our vessel does have mobility limitations. We strongly recommend calling ahead to (315) 941-7585 for specific concerns.

Erie Canal Cruises, Inc. reserves the right to cancel any cruise, change schedules or routes and substitute vessels at any time without prior notice. All lock cruises are subject to lock availability.