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Step aboard the historic Chief Uncas for a focused, one-hour birding cruise along the Susquehanna’s Conejohela Flats. Naturalist Sarah Gotwols leads this family-friendly morning tour that regularly reveals bald eagles, herons, and ospreys.
Step aboard the historic Chief Uncas for a focused, one-hour birding cruise along the Susquehanna’s Conejohela Flats. Naturalist Sarah Gotwols leads this family-friendly morning tour that regularly reveals bald eagles, herons, and ospreys.
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Operated by Susquehanna National Heritage Area · Wrightsville, Pennsylvania
On a cool Sunday morning the Chief Uncas slips away from the Zimmerman Center for Heritage in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, and you're on deck with a mug of coffee and a pair of binoculars. This one-hour birding cruise on the Susquehanna River focuses on the Conejohela Flats, a broad expanse of shallows and mudflats where bald eagles, great blue herons, and ospreys hunt, loaf, and sometimes nest. Naturalist Sarah Gotwols narrates as the 1912-built Chief Uncas - an electric-powered motor yacht that originally cruised Otsego Lake - moves downstream, its varnished wood and brass offering an old-world counterpoint to the river's wild activity.
The scene is specific: low islands, braided water channels, emergent grasses, and the exposed sandbars that make the Flats a prime feeding ground for migrating and resident birds. The river here is part of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area, and the Chief Uncas serves as SNHA's flagship River Discovery vessel, pairing local history with hands-on wildlife observation. Families and first-time birders will appreciate the approachable pacing; experienced birders will value Sarah's concise IDs and contextual stories about population changes through time.
Logistics are simple but important. Check in at the Zimmerman Center Welcome Desk and arrive up to thirty minutes early to use facilities and reach the waterfront pavilion. Passengers must navigate three metal grated steps and a three-step ladder into the boat with handrail assistance; crew and captain are available to help. Per US Coast Guard recommendation children should be at least six months old. No glass, alcohol, or open food containers are allowed aboard.
Why book this tour? In sixty minutes you get focused, guided viewing of species that are otherwise hard to find from shore, aboard a historic craft that brings maritime character to inland river travel. The Chief Uncas's electric propulsion keeps noise low and wake minimal, improving sightlines and reducing disturbance to skittish wildlife. This is an ideal add-on for anyone exploring Lancaster County's riverfront trails, the Zimmerman Center exhibits, or local parks.
Practical tips: bring binoculars, dress in windproof layers, and have a camera with a telephoto lens if you want keepable shots. If you are prone to motion sickness choose a forward seat and sit near the centerline. Finally, expect a narrated, family-friendly experience that connects you to both the river's living community and the region's maritime past.
Tickets cost $25 per person for this special one-hour tour, and SNHA staff monitor weather closely and will notify you if a tour is cancelled. The tour is family-friendly and suitable for beginner naturalists; however passengers should be able to manage the short stairs and ladder. Bring a reusable water bottle and respect wildlife distances; pair the cruise with a short walk along Wrightsville riverfront and museums.
easy.
1 hour.
Light activity; suitable for most ages who can manage short stairs and a small ladder.
Check in at the Zimmerman Center for Heritage Welcome Desk; then proceed to the waterfront pavilion for departure.
The narrated birding cruise lasts approximately one hour.
Yes; per US Coast Guard recommendation children must be at least six months old to board the Chief Uncas.
Passengers must navigate three metal grated steps and a three-step ladder; crew and captain provide assistance but full mobility access is limited.
Common sightings include bald eagles, great blue herons, and ospreys, particularly around the Conejohela Flats.
SNHA staff monitor weather and will notify ticket holders by email and phone if a tour is cancelled.
The Chief Uncas was built in 1912 and originally cruised Otsego Lake; today she serves SNHA as a historic river discovery vessel.
SNHA emphasizes low-impact viewing from the electric-powered Chief Uncas to minimize disturbance; visitors are asked to maintain respectful distances and avoid feeding wildlife.
The Susquehanna National Heritage Area in Columbia, Pennsylvania curates public programs and guided experiences that spotlight the Susquehanna River's cultural and natural heritage. Serving Columbia and the surrounding river corridor, the organization presents a mix of boat tours, seasonal festivals, author programs, guided walks, and historic-site tours designed for visitors of all ages. Signature offerings include heritage cruises aboard the historic Chief Uncas — a 112-year-old electric wooden launch — sunset and themed boat tours, and the River Discovery Boat Tour, all led by knowledgeable guides who interpret the river’s stories. Seasonal highlights include RIVERFEST events such as the “Paddle the Battle” kayak tour and the community-focused “Kindling Kickoff,” which features live music, hands-on activities, and family-friendly entertainment. The Susquehanna National Heritage Area also hosts cultural programs like Riverside Reads, an author talk series held in scenic, historic settings, and seasonal nature programs such as the Spring Bird Walk in Native Lands County Park. Public tours of the Mifflin House introduce visitors to a historic Underground Railroad site and provide an early look at the planned Susquehanna Discovery Center & Heritage Park. All programming emphasizes accurate historical interpretation and safe, accessible experiences on and along the Susquehanna River. Visitors are encouraged to review event details and reserve spots in advance, especially for small-capacity boat cruises and guided paddles.
Book with Susquehanna National Heritage Area