90-Minute Mohawk Valley Lock 18 Cruise

Sightseeing Cruise runs through Erie Canal Cruises. Rated 4.8 across 1,633 reviews. Runs 90 minutes. From $29.

Overview

The centerpiece of this 90-minute cruise is a lock transit. Lil' Diamond II pulls into Lock 18 at Jacksonburg, the gates swing shut, and the boat settles twenty feet lower in the water. Lock 18 is one of the last Erie Canal locks still running on all of its original equipment, machinery in service for more than a century. A United States Coast Guard licensed captain hosts the trip and shares entertaining tales of the canal.

Departures leave the home docks at Gems Along the Mohawk in Herkimer, straight across from Exit 30 of the Thruway. The route follows the Mohawk River into a man-made channel called a land cut, passes through massive guard gates, and glides by the Historic Fort Herkimer Church, one of the oldest surviving churches in New York State. Green and blue herons and the occasional bald eagle appear along the Plantation Island Wildlife Management Area. At the lock, the captain explains how the mechanism works before the chamber does its job.

Nearly anyone can ride. The canal is calm, the boat is stable, and motion sickness is rare, so the trip suits small children, pregnant travelers, and people who usually avoid boats. A restroom sits on board, the vessel is weather-protected, and sailings run seven days a week through the season, May 22 to October 12 in 2026. History-minded riders get the story of Clinton's Ditch and its expansions; everyone else gets a pleasant hour and a half on the water.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Gems Along the MohawkThe cruise departs from the home docks at 800 Mohawk St in Herkimer, with the parking entrance directly across from Exit 30 of the Thruway. Boarding happens at these same docks before departure.
2. Cruise the Mohawk RiverLil' Diamond II heads along the Mohawk River and into a man-made channel called a land cut. Along the way the captain covers how the canal was built, why it was known as Clinton's Ditch, and why it was later expanded.
3. Pass guard gates and churchThe route goes through massive guard gates and past the Historic Fort Herkimer Church, one of the oldest surviving churches in New York State.
4. Scan for canal wildlifeAlong the Plantation Island Wildlife Management Area, passengers can look for green and blue herons and the occasional bald eagle.
5. Enter Lock 18At Jacksonburg the vessel pulls into one of the last Erie Canal locks still operating with all of its original equipment, some of it more than a century old. The captain explains how the lock operates as the gates close behind the boat.
6. Descend twenty feetThe lock walls appear to creep up along the vessel as it is lowered twenty feet, with the lock house seeming to rise in the air. Passage through the lock is subject to the NY Canal Corporation operations schedule.
7. Return to Herkimer docksThe cruise ends back at the Gems Along the Mohawk docks, where the Waterfront Grille restaurant operates on site.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points make the day smoother, from check-in timing to what you can carry aboard. Most of it comes down to planning ahead.

• Arrive early. The operator asks passengers to arrive 30 minutes before departure, with boarding starting 15 to 30 minutes out. The parking entrance sits across from Exit 30 of the Thruway, and drivers continue straight into the lot.
• Reserve early. Advance purchase is recommended because cruises can sell out. A scheduled sailing can also be dropped if reservations run too low, so early booking protects the date and time you want.
• Weather plan. Cruises run rain or shine aboard a weather-protected vessel, with the captain holding final discretion on going out. Severe weather, safety concerns, or operational problems can alter, shorten, or cancel a sailing.
• Cash for snacks. Outside food and drink are not permitted on board. The boat sells soda, water, and bagged snacks for cash, and the Waterfront Grille at the dock serves a full menu before or after the trip.
• Bring the kids. All ages are welcome, and the operator says children enjoy the scenery as much as the adults do. The canal is calm with almost no rocking, motion sickness is rare, and there is a restroom on board. Pregnant travelers are equally comfortable on the smooth water.
• Camera ready. Green and blue herons and the occasional bald eagle turn up along the Plantation Island stretch. Inside the lock, the walls creep up along the hull as the boat descends, a close-range subject for photos.

Common issues. Passage through the lock depends on the NY Canal Corporation operations schedule, so the lock transit cannot be guaranteed on any given day. The operator may also cancel a cruise, change schedules or routes, or substitute vessels without prior notice, and sailings can be dropped if reservations are too few. The vessel has mobility limitations; crew members are trained to help guests across the docks and aboard, but the operator strongly recommends calling (315) 941-7585 with specific concerns. Pets other than registered service dogs are not allowed, and smoking is prohibited on the docks and the boat.

Choosing Your Erie Canal Cruise