Historic Lockport, New York: Cave Tour and Boat Ride

While visiting Niagara Falls, we decided to make a little trip to Lockport, New York to tour the historic Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride. It was a short 30-minute ride from our hotel in Niagara Falls (DoubleTree Niagara) to the Erie Canal. We are history buffs and like to visit historic sites when we travel, so this felt like a perfect outing for us.

We made reservations online to secure a spot for our tour since we had a rather large group and we wanted to make sure that we all got to go together. They do allow “walk-ins” but spots on the tour aren’t guaranteed without reservations.

Please know that this is mostly a walking tour(about an hour), and the boat ride lasts about 15 minutes (and it is a slow ride, it’s not like Splash Mountain). This is a very educational and informative experience. The majority of the tour is spent explaining the locks and the history of Lockport. It is perfect for history buffs, cave explorers, and school/homeschool groups.

We signed in for our reservation at the former town hall building (pictured above). We were able to spend some time on the balcony of this building watching the boats and locks below. The official tour began when our entire group arrived.

The Walking Tour

After gathering our entire group together, our tour guide gave us some introductory information and let us know what to expect while on the tour.

We learned that Lockport, New York is a town that was built around the Erie Canal and the famous “Flight of Five” locks. These locks raised boats over the 49-foot Niagara Escarpment in five steps.

The first half of the tour took place right along the Erie Canal. Here, we learned about the locks and the factories that once lined the canal. We were able to walk around and see the “Flight of Five” Erie Canal Locks 67-71. These were built in 1838 but have recently been restored and rehabilitated. Two modern locks, 34 and 35, carry the boats 60 feet uphill through the rock ridge.

Watching a Boat Go Through the Locks

We ended up walking across the street and climbed down the steps to the level of the locks. A ramp then took us to the bottom of the locks.

We really enjoyed getting to see the locks in action. In the above photo, you can see this boat in the water at ground level. Below, you can see that the water has been draining, lowering the boat so that it can pass through.

Without these canals, the boats would not be able to travel uphill. This is so important since the Erie Canal is vital for the economy of New York. Such a genius idea, I would have thought these were built in recent history, but they were actually constructed in the 1800s.

Learning the History of Lockport

As we walked along the river bank, we were able to see the ruins of three industries that relied on local water power. It was very interesting to learn about the growth of Lockport during the Industrial Revolution. Businesses and factories were able to thrive because of the water power here.

In the above 3 photographs, you see a tin building and a staircase. This is actually where you exit the boat ride at the end of the cave tour. We exited here and took the staircase back up to the parking lot and the office.

 On the walking tour, we made our way down the canal, heading toward the cave entrance. We were able to see what remained of the different industries that used the caves to control water that ran turbines that produced goods. Unfortunately, many of these businesses/industries were destroyed by fire and only remnants remain.

The Upside-Down Bridge

We stopped in this shady spot for a while and learned more about the Upside Down Bridge. This bridge was intentionally built upside-down to prevent large boats carrying goods to pass through. This was to monopolize more trade through trains and the railway system.

The Upside Down Train is still used by trains today and can also be used to walk across the Erie Canal.

There is a zipline that runs across the Erie Canal in this area. My family was excited about trying it out but it hadn’t opened for the summer yet.

Lockport Cave Tour

As we headed toward the entrance of the cave, we learned more about the history of the caves and their importance to the town of Lockport. 

There are actually two caverns below Lockport.  One of the caves formed naturally in the dolomite and limestone bedrock lying 40 feet underground. The second cave is a manmade hydraulic raceway that was used to power New York’s 19th-century industries.

After walking up a few steps and through the entrance, we walked through a 1600-foot water power tunnel. This tunnel/cave was blasted out of solid rock in the mid-1800s and The Hydraulic Tunnel provided water power for many local mills. It was amazing to see the hard work, ingenuity, and creativity that went into creating these caves.

We learned that Birdsill Holly, a mechanical genius, invented this cave and used its water power to also invent the fire hydrant, rotary pump, and central steam heat (and he had 150 other patents).

Things you will see on the Cave Tour:

• Stalactites
• Flowstone
• Newly developed geological formations
• Artifacts left behind by the workmen who worked in the factories and tunnels

Underground Boat Tour

At the end of the cave tour, you will get in line and find a seat on the boat. It is a short, slow ride through the cave for about 8 minutes. Then, at the end of the ride, we stood up, turned around, and sat in the opposite direction. Then the boat floated through the same flooded path back to the starting point (for about another 8 minutes.)

This is America’s longest underground boat ride so you can check that off of your bucket list. And, the temperature stays around 65 degrees 365 days a year. I enjoyed it, but some brought a hoodie or lightweight jacket. I also recommend wearing shoes that are comfortable and waterproof!

You will very likely get dripped on while on the underground boat tour. And, it will probably happen right in your eyeballs. I thought it was kind of funny, but some people on our tour found it annoying. If you don’t want to get water on you (or your eyeballs), I recommend wearing a rain poncho while on the boat.

So, was the Lockport cave tour and boat ride worth the trip? Yes!! It is a lot of walking and I know that it gets very hot there in the summer, but still a great adventure. It is a great family outing, especially if you love history, boats, canals, and/or caves.

Lockport Cave Tour & Underground Boat Ride

Tour Times and Pricing (as of 10/2021)

Tour Times:

Open daily for tours 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Tour Pricing:  
Adult (Age 15+): $23.95 (plus tax)
Young Adult (Ages 6-14): $15.95 (plus tax)
Child (Age 5 and Under): $6.00 (plus tax)

Lockport Cave // 5 Gooding Street – Lockport Cave, New York 14094 // 716-438-0174

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