Sunset History Boat Tours

Wildlife Tour

Our first tour of the season is always the Wildlife Tour. Join us as we journey through the islands looking for the animals that call the river home. From terns and herons to loons and baby eagles, this tour is always wonderful way to start our season.

Grindstone Island Tour

This is our second year for this unique tour, limited to only 19 people. We will be going to Grindstone Island where we will embark on a 3-hour bus tour of the interior of the island. If you have ever wondered what was on this island, which is the second largest of the American islands, join us as we navigate the island learning its history along the way. From Dodge Hall to the Heritage Center, which was once a one room schoolhouse, known as the upper schoolhouse to the site of the cheese factory. From the new museum located in the lower schoolhouse to the Grindstone Island Winery where we will enjoy some River Rat Cheese.

On behalf of the people attending this tour we will be giving a donation to the building fund to make repairs to the Grindstone Island United Methodist Church. This church, built in the 1890s, has been the center of life on Grindstone over the years and until repairs are made the church cannot be used. Our tour leaves at 4:30.

Second Grindstone Island Tour

We will be doing a second tour to Grindstone as shown above. Again, this tour is limited to 19 people.

Sir Robert Peel Tour

A new tour this year will be the Sir Robert Peel Tour. It has been 188 years since the Patriot War set these waters ablaze and we will take you to the exact site where the Steamboat Sir Robert Peel was burned and sent to the riverbed in 1837. More than just a history lesson, this tour explores the enduring hunt for lost treasures through the eyes of those who braved the depths. You’ll hear the evolution of underwater exploration – from the grueling, weighted steps of 19th century hardhat divers to the modern scuba divers to find the Peel’s gold.

Come discover the secrets resting beneath the surface and the legends that keep them alive. Dennis McCarthy, Director of the St. Lawrence River Historical Foundation, will be along to pass on this history and will also discuss the wrecks in the Narrows.

Ghost Tour

For the second year we will be offering a Ghost Tour. Join us when Tanya Roy of the Butler Did It Players chills us with ghostly stories connected with the islands. Spend two hours on the St. Lawrence River learning new haunted history about some of the river’s best known islands. From shipwrecks to drownings and unexplained disappearances, the River hosts as many unexplained happenings as it does islands. You will never look at the river quite the same again!

Calumet Island Tour

Heading to a private island once owned by Charles G. Emery, our visit to Calumet is always a joy. Calumet Island once housed Mr. Emery’s summer home Calumet Castle. You will be walking around the island learning the history of Mr. Emery and his castle. The tour includes a hot dog cookout with all the fixings.

This year an award winning author, Susan G. Mathis will be joining us to do a book signing. Peyton’s Promise one of her historical novels, is based on Calumet Island.

Thousand Island Park Tour

We will be heading to Thousand Island Park which was established in 1875 as a Methodist Campground. The Park is now the site of many beautiful Victorian homes. Tom French will be guiding us around the park on a walking tour. He will pass along the history of what has been there since the beginning of the camp when people were living in tents for the summer. Boat will be leaving at 5:00 to allow more time to visit the park and the wonderful museum there.

You will have a chance to stop at the Guzzle and purchase an ice cream to enjoy on the boat ride home. This tour is limited to 40 people.

Cherry Island / Casa Blanca Tour

This will be our annual trip to Cherry Island to visit Casa Blanca. Entering this beautiful Victorian mansion is like taking a step back in time. When you walk through the doors, you will see things as they were over 100 years ago, from a player piano to a beautiful dining room. See the difference in how the servants lived on the third floor as compared to the family areas on the first two floors.

You will also be able to tour the laundry building, the boat house and grounds of the mansion. The owners of this wonderful summer home will be providing cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the veranda. This tour sells out quickly, usually before the end of May.

Second Ghost Tour

Join us for our second Ghost Tour of the season when Tanya Roy of the Butler Did it Players chills us with ghostly tales as we pass through the islands. From shipwrecks to drownings and unexplained disappearances, the River hosts as many unexplained happenings as it does islands. Ghostly mist, sounds with no origins, lights where no lights should be all regular occurrences that we will explore. Tour lasts 2 hours.

Comfort Island Tour

New this year is a very special tour to Comfort Island. The owner of the beautiful Victorian mansion there will take us on a guided tour of his summer home. You will see some things unique to this mansion that was once owned by the Clark family, whose son Alson Skinner Clark was a noted impressionist painter who painted murals on many of the walls. It will be interesting to see if any of them are still part of this beautiful home.

If you are familiar with sculptor Will Salisbury, this is the home that has the 9’ bear holding a sun on a weathervane atop the home. This bear over looks two life size bear cubs being playful on the lawn below also done by Will Salisbury. This tour will be limited to only 40 people.

Heart Island / Boldt Castle Garden Tour

We will be heading to Heart Island, the home of Boldt Castle where we will be meeting the master gardener in charge of the beautiful flowers on the island. He will be doing a Garden Tour of the grounds of the castle passing on his vast knowledge of the plants and flowers which grace the island. You will also be able to tour the castle itself after the garden tour.

The boat will be leaving Clayton Island Tours dock at 3:00 as it takes about an hour to reach the castle. We can enjoy the grounds until their closing time of 6:30. Ticket price includes admission to the castle.

Picnic at a Lighthouse

A new tour this year will be a picnic at a lighthouse. We will be heading to Rock Island lighthouse, the only lighthouse you can climb to the top of. While there you can tour the lighthouse and the keeper’s house. We will enjoy a picnic lunch while being entertained by a representative of NYS Park Service who will pass along the history of the lighthouse. One of our visitors will be given a book “Lightkeeping on the St. Lawrence – The End of an Era”. A buffet lunch will be included on the tour.

Morgan Island Traditional Shore Dinner

Join us as we head to Morgan Island to enjoy a Traditional Shore Dinner put on by a local fishing guide. You will be served the meal that has been a staple of fishing guides for over 150 years. From the appetizer to the dessert, everything is delicious. The boat leaves at 4:30 as the trip to Morgan Island takes about an hour during which you can enjoy the beautiful scenery as we pass through the islands.

12,000 Years of a River and its First People

This special tour back by request sees us joined by Ken Knapp who describes himself as an avocational archaeologist. He has 40 plus years of fieldwork and has been working with several archaeologists over the years. He will be doing his talk on 12,000 Years of a River and its First People. Starting with the area covered with ice to the formation of the river and his knowledge of the first people who called the river home, this tour includes so much history of the area.

Admiralty Islands Tour

This tour heads to Canadian waters where we will pass through the Admiralty Islands. This popular tour goes by Hay Island, site of an unusual reference to Napoleon. You will learn the significance of Half Moon Bay as we visit there. We will also see a unique cable ferry among other sights. As we leave the Admiralty Islands, we will pass by Island 43B which is now a part of Parks Canada. Learn how the ownership of this island was gained simply by catching the largest fish in a contest at the New York State Sportsmen Show in New York City. This tour leaves at 4:30 and is limited to 40 passengers.

Ivy Lea Tour

Our second tour into Canadian waters and out last tour of the season, will see us headed towards Ivy Lea. Passing Grindstone we will head for the Gananoque Narrows and then on to Ivy Lea. We will return to Clayton through Smuggler’s Cove, the Lost Channel and Benson’s Rift. The boat will leave at 4:30.