Travel back in history along the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

We welcome you to beautiful Mohawk Valley and Erie Canal Cruises. Erie Canal Cruises tour boat Lil' Diamond II is docked at Gems Along the Mohawk, an upscale dining and shopping complex, which is located in Herkimer, New York - a stones throw from the New York State Thruway.

Captain Jerry Gertz expertly narrates your 90 minute excursion as you travel through the historic Erie Canal and “Lock Thru” lock 18. The lock lowers the boat 20 feet to meet with the Mohawk River and uses all original equipment still working perfectly for over 100 years. The captain explains the importance of the locks and what transportation was like in the 19th century. You will learn the fascinating history of the canal which was known as "Clinton's Ditch" or worse, "Clinton's Folly", the canal was finally completed in 1825. Officially the event was celebrated by cannon shots along the length of the canal and by Governor Clinton ceremonially pouring Lake Erie water into the New York Harbor in the "Wedding of the Waters." The Erie Canal proved to be a stroke of genius, as settlers now poured from New England, Eastern New York and Europe into the central and western part of the state. Others went on to Ohio and Michigan. Other highlights include the second oldest surviving church in New York State at what was known as Fort Herkimer and the birthplace of General Nicholas Herkimer. The Canal was the first serious route for settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, which had previously been a geographic barrier. Now upstate farms and industries could easily ship their products to the large and growing market of New York City and beyond. The canal shortened the trip across the state of New York from weeks to days.

Today this amazing waterway, still fully operational, has become a “yacht highway”. The Erie Canal now caters to thousands of recreational vessels from all over the world as well as tour boats, cruise ships, canoes, fishing boats and kayaks. Some vessels use the canal as a destination. Others use it as a means of completing a popular boat trip known as the “Great Circle Cruise”, a 5,600 mile circumnavigation of the eastern half of the United States that typically takes 5-8 months to complete.

Come by and take a journey with us through time on the Lil' Diamond II, a 60 passenger United States Coast Guard certified vessel. We are available for group charters and specialize in corporate outings, motor coach tours, church groups, schools, reunions and other gatherings. Our boat tours are a must for day trips (Daily 1 & 3 p.m.) on New York State’s scenic Erie Barge Canal and we are only a little over an hour’s drive from Albany & Syracuse and 35 minutes from Cooperstown. Please look though our website for information relating to schedules, fees, and various state canal links. Join our Erie Canal Cruising Club and receive our free newsletter which will keep you informed of upcoming special events and promotions for you to use on your next narrated "lock thru" cruise. Don't forget to view our images of the Lil' Diamond II on the Erie Canal.

We appreciate your comments and look forward to seeing you often!

Thank You,
Captain Jerry & Kim Gertz