Riverie Tour Boat Cruise on the Genesee River

Riverie offers a perspective on Rochester that is difficult to find from the road or trail. Departing from Corn Hill Landing, the tour boat travels south on the Genesee River toward Genesee Valley Park, where the river meets the Erie Canal. Along the way, the city shifts from downtown bridges and buildings to parkland, wooded shorelines, and open water.

The standard scenic cruise lasts 90 minutes and includes live narration about the waterways that shaped Rochester’s transportation, industry, and growth. The cruise combines river-level views of familiar landmarks with the history of the Genesee River and Erie Canal.

Rochester By Water operates two tour boats with distinct routes. Riverie departs from Corn Hill Landing for cruises on the Genesee River and a portion of the Erie Canal. Its sister vessel, Sam Patch, departs from Schoen Place in Pittsford for narrated Erie Canal cruises through Lock 32.

The River and Canal Cruise

The round-trip cruise begins at Corn Hill Landing, just south of downtown. Riverie passes beneath the Frederick Douglass–Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge and continues alongside the University of Rochester toward Genesee Valley Park.

This is where the Genesee River, Erie Canal, and Red Creek meet—a water crossroads shaped by both natural forces and human engineering. The boat enters the canal for part of the journey and passes beneath one of the park’s graceful concrete arch bridges. These bridges were added after the canal was rerouted through the park in the early twentieth century.

The return trip opens a broad view of Rochester’s skyline from the south. Depending on the day, you may also see rowing crews, paddlers, great blue herons, and other birdlife along the quieter stretches of shoreline.

Riverie does not travel north into downtown toward High Falls; the Court Street Dam limits navigation in that direction. Most of the route lies south of Corn Hill Landing, where the Genesee is wide, calm, and closely connected to the Erie Canal.

Live Narration

Live narration adds historical context to the passing scenery. A guide explains how the Genesee River powered Rochester’s early mills and how the Erie Canal connected local flour, farm products, manufactured goods, and people with markets across New York and beyond.

The narration also draws attention to features that can be easy to overlook from land: the relationship between the river and canal, the city’s bridges, the changing shoreline, and the park system that follows the water south from downtown.

Other Riverie Cruises

Rochester By Water schedules several Riverie experiences throughout the boating season. Offerings vary by year and may include live-music sunset cruises, speaker programs, birding trips, children’s cruises, food-and-drink events, and longer excursions that travel farther along the Erie Canal.

The regular River and Canal Cruise provides a general introduction to the Genesee River. If traveling through a canal lock is your priority, review the current cruise descriptions carefully before booking. The standard 90-minute Riverie route enters the canal but does not include a lock passage.

Planning Your Cruise

Riverie cruises generally operate during the Erie Canal navigation season, from May through October. Dates, departure times, specialty programs, and ticket prices vary, and reservations are recommended—especially for weekends and holidays. Check the current Riverie cruise calendar before making plans.

Check in at the Rochester By Water office at 280 Exchange Boulevard. Plan to arrive 15–30 minutes before departure; boarding begins shortly before the scheduled cruise, and the boat leaves promptly.

Parking is available in designated spaces at Corn Hill Landing, across Exchange Boulevard at Corn Hill Center, and along Exchange Boulevard. Read posted signs carefully. Weekend street parking is generally free, but downtown parking regulations can change.

Cruises operate rain or shine unless the captain cancels because of unsafe weather or another operational concern. Riverie is not heated or air-conditioned, so dress for conditions on the water. A light layer can be useful even on a warm day, and sun protection is helpful when spending time in the open areas of the boat.

Beer, wine, canned cocktails, soft drinks, and light snacks are available for purchase. Outside food and beverages are not permitted, although personal water bottles are allowed. An accessible restroom is available onboard, and two accessible restrooms are available inside the waterfront office.

Accessibility

Riverie has a zero-step entrance, with ramps leading from the parking area to the waterfront and from the dock to the vessel. The boat can accommodate wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers, and the onboard restroom includes maneuvering space and grab bars.

Space and access vary in different parts of the vessel, and the number of passengers using wheelchairs that can be accommodated depends on the cruise and conditions. Written narration, sensory kits, and other supports may be available with advance notice. Review Rochester By Water’s detailed accessibility information and contact the organization before booking to discuss specific needs.

Details

Riverie at Rochester By Water
280 Exchange Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14608
(585) 662-5748
rochesterbywater.org

Make a Day of It

Before or after the cruise, walk the riverfront path at Corn Hill Landing or continue along the Genesee Riverway Trail. The surrounding Corn Hill neighborhood is Rochester’s oldest residential neighborhood, with nineteenth-century architecture and a compact historic district just uphill from the water.

You can also follow the Riverie route from land by visiting Genesee Valley Park. Its paths and concrete arch bridges offer a closer look at the place where the Genesee River and Erie Canal meet. Together, the boat and trail perspectives show how Rochester’s waterways, parks, and neighborhoods connect.

Have you taken a cruise aboard Riverie?

I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.