Connecticut River Cruise

Interpretive River Cruise

Climb aboard Northfield’s scenic riverboat, Heritage, to enjoy a relaxing and informative journey down the Connecticut River.

The French King Gorge is one of the most scenic stretches of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts. This 12-mile narrated cruise takes 1.5 hours. Cruises will run Wednesday through Sunday from the end of June until October 13th at 11:00, 1:15 and 3:00.

Feel free to bring a drink and a snack. The riverboat is wheelchair accessible. Be sure to use the restrooms at the picnic area. The small restroom at the back of the boat is currently out of order.

FirstLight partnered with the Autism Alliance, a program of Advocates, to become an Autism Welcoming and sensory-responsive business to better serve individuals with autism and their families and caregivers. Details on sensory-friendly hours and resources for the Connecticut River Cruise will appear on our River Cruise Tickets tab as they become available.

Prices:

$15/Adult
$14/Seniors (62 and older)
$8/Age 12 and under (life jacket required)

$0/EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare card holders*

$14/each (group price – 15 or more people)
$400/Charter Price

*FirstLight is proud to participate in Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health’s WIC Nutrition Program, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and hundreds of organizations by making cultural programming accessible to those for whom cost is a participation barrier. 

EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive free admission.  See the complete list of participating organizations offering EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare discounts. 

The riverboat does not operate on July 4th, or Labor Day. Scheduled charters, severe weather, river conditions, or mechanical issues may affect the boat availability.

Tickets should be purchased online ahead of time. You may also buy them in person at the dock, but we can’t guarantee that there will be any open seats remaining. The riverboat is located at 144 Pine Meadow Road in Northfield, MA.

No tickets will be sold from the Northfield Mountain Visitor Center.

Only Charter reservations are available at this time. We will sell individual tickets starting sometime in June.

Charters

If you are looking for a unique group outing, family event, retreat, or wedding, consider chartering Northfield’s scenic riverboat. You can hire a caterer for your cruise or rent our adjacent 70-seat pavilion for the day and have a barbecue picnic on shore.

School programs are offered aboard Northfield’s scenic riverboat during September and October. These programs provide an excellent first-hand look at river habitats, wildlife, and geology.