Sam Patch Erie Canal Tours

Sam Patch is a replica 19th-century packet boat that departs from Schoen Place in Pittsford for a 90-minute narrated cruise on the Erie Canal. The boat travels west through Lock E-32, offering a close look at the canal’s engineering and the landscape that developed around it.

Rochester By Water also operates Riverie, which departs from Corn Hill Landing in Rochester for narrated cruises along the Genesee River and onto the Erie Canal. Unlike the standard Sam Patch cruise, the regular Riverie river-and-canal cruise does not include a lock passage.

Cruise the Erie Canal aboard Sam Patch

Rochester By Water operates Sam Patch during the canal navigation season, generally from May through October. Most public cruises last 90 minutes and include live narration about the Erie Canal’s history, construction, and continuing role in canal communities.

The boat heads west from Schoen Place toward Lock E-32. After passing through the lock, Sam Patch returns through the port at Schoen Place and continues east toward the Great Embankment and its guard gates before returning to the dock. Along the way, watch for Pittsford’s historic buildings and working waterfront, the Erie Canalway Trail, and people fishing, cycling, paddling, or traveling the canal by boat.

Experience Lock E-32

You can watch boats pass through a lock from shore, but riding through one makes the system easier to understand. Once Sam Patch enters the chamber, the gates close and the water level rises or falls to move the boat between sections of the canal. Lock E-32 changes the water level by 25.1 feet.

The process takes time, giving passengers a close view of the lock walls, gates, and operating equipment. Unless a particular cruise description states otherwise, Sam Patch travels through Lock E-32 before returning to Pittsford.

Specialty cruises and private charters

In addition to the narrated Lock 32 cruise, Rochester By Water offers occasional themed and seasonal outings. Past programs have included live music, cider-and-doughnut cruises, and other food-and-beverage experiences. Specialty cruises may follow a different route or replace narration with music or another activity, so review the individual listing before booking. Private charters are also available.

Plan your Sam Patch cruise

Season: Generally May through October, while the Erie Canal is open for navigation. Cruise dates and departure times vary.

Duration: The standard narrated Lock 32 cruise lasts 90 minutes.

Tickets: Advance reservations are recommended, especially for weekends and holidays. Prices vary by cruise; children age three and younger ride free but still need a ticket for the passenger count.

Arrival and parking: Check in at the ticket booth at 12 Schoen Place. Rochester By Water recommends arriving 15–30 minutes before departure. Designated Sam Patch parking spaces are in the alley behind and to the right of the Coal Tower Restaurant. Schoen Place can be busy on warm summer days, and cruises depart on time.

Accessibility: Boarding Sam Patch requires navigating three steps. The onboard space and restroom are compact, and the restroom does not have grab bars. Contact Rochester By Water before booking to discuss mobility devices, service animals, or other access needs. Riverie, the organization’s other vessel, offers zero-step boarding and a more accessible restroom.

Weather: Cruises generally operate rain or shine unless the captain cancels for weather or safety. The boat is not heated or air-conditioned, so dress for conditions on the water.

Food and drink: Light snacks, soft drinks, beer, wine, and canned cocktails are available for purchase. Outside food and beverages are not permitted, though personal water bottles are allowed.

Located: 12 Schoen Place, Pittsford, about 13 miles southeast of Rochester (get directions)

More information: Rochester By Water’s Sam Patch cruise page

Explore Schoen Place and the Village of Pittsford

Allow time before or after the cruise to walk along Schoen Place and the Erie Canalway Trail. Restaurants and small businesses occupy a collection of former canal, milling, and agricultural buildings, including the 1882 flour mill and its 130-foot grain elevator. The restored coal tower recalls the railroad that once served the canal corridor.

Continue into the Village of Pittsford to look for historic markers and buildings that trace the community’s growth around agriculture, the canal, and the railroad. Pittsford was incorporated in 1827 and is Monroe County’s oldest incorporated village. Pittsford Farms Dairy, established as a farm in 1814, is another longstanding part of that history.

What do you notice most while traveling through Lock E-32 aboard Sam Patch?

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