River Discovery Boat Tours

We are thankful for all your patience and support in bringing this historic vessel to the Lower Susquehanna to serve as our tour boat for years to come! SNHA thanks everyone who joined us for our first season of River Discovery Tours aboard the historic Chief Uncas.

The Chief Uncas will welcome you aboard for Susquehanna National Heritage Area’s River Discovery Boat Tours in 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Explore the Susquehanna aboard the Chief Uncas!

Built in 1912 for beer tycoon Adolphus Busch, this electric-powered launch cruised Otsego Lake, the headwaters of the Susquehanna, for over a century. Today she cruises the Susquehanna 400 miles downstream as the flagship for SNHA’s River Discovery Tours!

Let SNHA staff guide you on a tour of the Susquehanna, sharing its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Experience the joy of being on the water, hear stories of the river, and view scenic landscapes and abundant wildlife aboard this elegant treasure from the past!

Tours depart from the Zimmerman Center Memorial Day through mid-October. Advance reservations are recommended. Check back frequently for boat tour updates.

Booking for large group tours begin in February! For more information on booking your private experience aboard the Chief Uncas contact Visitor Services and Boat Tour Supervisor, Abby Teaford at ateaford@susqnha.org.

Boat Tour Gift Certificates

River Discovery Tour & Sunset Cruise gift certificates make the perfect gift for the ones you love. Each gift certificate can be redeemed for 1 ticket on a River Discovery boat tour or Sunset Cruise during SNHA’s 2023 boat tour season.

Buy gift certificates for your family and friends to come aboard our 110 year old vessel for a boat tour experience they will never forget!

Let SNHA staff guide you on a 1 hour tour of the river, sharing the history of the Chief Uncas, stories of Lake Clarke’s special landscape, and the Susquehanna River’s lasting legacy!

Purchase a River Discovery Tour Adult or Youth gift certificate to be redeemed on a 1 – hour guided tour aboard the Chief Uncas in 2023 at pre-season prices!  Adult gift certificates are $20 and Youth (age 5 – 17) gift certificates are $10.

Purchase a Sunset Cruise gift certificate for $50 and give the gift of a personalized evening experience. Watch the Sunset over the Susquehanna and roam the historic Chief Uncas as it silently cruises the Susquehanna under the setting sun.

In addition to the tour, all passengers receive their choice of a complimentary buffalo check SNHA picnic blanket or a PREMIUM 14oz cocktail glass, etched with an image of the Chief Uncas!

At checkout choose how you would like to receive your gift certificates and information on how to redeem them for a boat tour. Gift certificates and tour information can be sent digitally to your email. Physical copies can be picked up at the Zimmerman Center or mailed directly to a street address. Please give SNHA staff up to 48 hours to email a digital copy of your gift certificate or mail you a physical copy to share with your family and friends.

Each gift certificate helps the Chief Uncas cruise the waters of the Susquehanna for years to come!

Click here to Purchase Your Gift Certificates!

River Discovery Tour

SNHA staff guide 24 passengers on a 1 hour tour of the river, sharing the history of the Chief Uncas, stories of Lake Clarke’s special landscape, and the Susquehanna River’s lasting legacy! You will experience the joy of being on the water aboard a historic vessel, hear stories of the river, and view beautiful scenery and wildlife. A great experience for all ages! This season tickets are $22 for adults and $12 for youth (ages 5 to 17). Children under 5 years old are free.

Sunset Cruise

                                                    Watch the Sunset over the Susquehanna!

Limited to 12 passengers, these 1.5 hour cruises offer you the chance to roam the historic Chief Uncas as it silently cruises the Susquehanna under the setting sun. Use its original ice box to store your cold drinks and watch its vintage lights glow as evening begins aboard our elegant 110-year-old launch. Sunset Cruises are B.Y.O.B with a ticket cost $50. In addition to the tour, all passengers receive their choice of a complimentary buffalo check SNHA picnic blanket or a PREMIUM 14oz cocktail glass, etched with an image of the Chief Uncas!

About the Chief Uncas

The Chief Uncas was built for Adolphus Busch, co-founder of the famous American beer company, to enjoy cruises at his summer estate on Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, NY – the very headwaters of the Susquehanna River. After cruising those headwaters for 109 years, the Chief Uncas will begin a new chapter in its life 400 miles downriver as Susquehanna National Heritage Area’s flagship tour boat! You can learn more about the Chief Uncas here.