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Dolly Steamboat

4.6 (951 reviews)
Closed 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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Jimma D.

Took my mother here while she was visiting from the West Coast, and we had such a great experience. They use a number system for boarding, so I'd recommend arriving early to get on first. The boat is double-decker there's a covered top level and a lower deck with windows that slide open, which was really nice. They also have a bar on board with alcohol, chips, soda, and water. The views were absolutely beautiful, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. Overall, I'd definitely say this ride is well worth the money!

Deb P.

It is touristy but not cheesy. Full marks to the Management of this Operation. And aye aye Captain on a job well done. It was a magnificent experience cruising between the majestic mountains on Canyon Lake, viewing the long-horn rams (sheep) surefootedly climbing the gigantic mountain face. Magnificent. Arizonan mountains, gorges, canyons, vistas ... I never tire of them.

Interesting views at every turn
Christine B.

I went back and forth on my rating here: three stars or four? Pros: It's a cruise around beautiful Canyon Lake. The captain will come on from time to time giving you facts about the area. There is the "chance" you may see wildlife like bighorn sheep. (We did not, so I was bummed.) They have a snack bar on board selling soda, popcorn, water etc. Cons: Our captain affected a game show host voice which was grating, and made it hard to hear what he was saying at times. We did not see any wildlife. That's not anyone's fault but it was definitely disappointing since it's advertised as a possible perk. We arrived 30 minutes prior as recommended on their site and that was apparently poor advice. We were the last to board. Everyone else seemed to know to get there well before that and scooped up all the primo seats. Live and learn, I guess. For $35 per person I'm not sure it's worth that price. In closing, I gave them four stars because they run the cruise professionally. It's not their fault that we didn't see wildlife. As for the price, I don't own a boat - so cruising around Canyon Lake is something I'm willing to pay to do. I'd just recommend arriving far earlier than 30 minutes before your cruise if you'd like to choose the best seats.

Katie A.

My family had an absolutely wonderful time cruising on the Dolly Steamboat! I received tickets for my birthday and we decided to go on February 1st. My 7 year old daughter loved it! It was the perfect amount of time, it was beautiful out and the caption was very informative. There were snacks and concessions available for purchase (cash only) and bathrooms on board. Our cruise was sold out from 2-3:30 pm! It never felt overcrowded but it was definitely full onboard. As people who have lived in Arizona for almost 30 years this was the first time we have done this and were bummed we waited so long to enjoy it! We highly recommend the Dolly Steamboat!!

Canyon lake area.
Steve S.

It's a twisty turny path to get here but it's worth the trip. The tour is about and hour and a half and narrated by Captain Ron (yes, that's really his name) you may get to see some wildlife on the cruise (we didn't) but that's the chance you take. The snakes on board are reasonably priced and our trip wasn't overly crowded. We left at 2:00 pm on a 83 degree February day, but the earlier you go, you may want to bring a sweater at least. (It also could be a little windy). There are port-a-John's in the parking lot, and the parking lot is just gravel so if you're wearing sandals like I did, just be advised. All in all it was a good cruise and you learn a little about the area.

Dab L.

Everything about this 2 hour cruise was excellent! The captain was informative, humorous, engaging and soothing all at the same time... he had a velvet voice... the boatride was smooth and pleasant and beautiful... our Captain gave us tidbits of information, pointed out fascinating rock formations and searched for the wildlife indigenous to the area... he spotted bighorn sheep and bald eagles with his eagle eyes and came out of his booth several times to assist passengers who couldn't locate them. He really seemed to love the joy he gave us when we spotted it and he delighted when we laughed at his jokes. He even made fun of my friend who couldn't tell the difference between a rock and a bighorn!!! "No,that's a rock" He said in a true Charlie Brown voice... This was well worth the money as it was peaceful, beautiful, fun, magnificent and soothing...

Cyndi H.

The views are breath taking and amazing. It's very calming slow boat riding down the canyon. There are some wild life if you're lucky. There is also boaters, kayaks, jet ski sharing the water. But makes it for exciting ride. Cons - cash only or preferred. Bring a couple $20s if you want drinks and snacks. They do have freshly popped popcorn which I thought was cute touch for the boat ride. Best advice - If you want a good seat you need to get there at least an hour before if not more. It's first come first serve but by the number system. When you check in for your tickets you receive a number. That's how you board. Limited outside deck seating. Imma guess 4 -6 top tier ones and 4 bottom. If you don't get one of those you will be sitting inside. I think that is a down fall. They have wide windows that are open but not the same. But there is a lot of people that know about the seating and basically run to them. It's a free for all at the beginning. I do agree with others that price is a little high. Once you get past that initial boarding - it's nice cruise if your from out of town.

We had as a group of six an awesome time plus we had so much wildlife! I think because of the recent rain shower, the big horns were grazing like crazy. Plus it wasn't hot. Great time.

Denise L.

We had a group of 9 go for a fun boat ride. It went seamlessly. Recommend to locals and visitors alike.

Mary C.

A must do while visiting Arizona - the Dolly Steamboat tour on Canyon Lake. The staff were fantastic, and we got great views of the rock formations, a wall of spectacular fossil ammonites, and wild animals. We got lucky and saw a large group of Bighorn Sheep coming down for water. The weather was nice and had seats at the back main covered deck. The Captain provided great history and stories and maneuvered the boat to give us great photo shoots. Washrooms on board as well as drinks and food. Most people had the popcorn - freshly popped. About an hour drive from Phoenix. Buy your tickets on-line. Suggest you also add the Goldmine Ghost Town and Mine Tour with the Dolly Steamboat tour as you can do both easily. If Leaving Goldmine Ghost Town, give yourself an extra 10 mins and make a stop the Canyon Lake Vista for photos. The drive to the Dolly Steamboat will be a winding road but not hard.

Mariluz D.

We loved the boat ride. Beautiful scenery.. we loved the tour guide/captain. We even saw some longhorn goats

Lois H.

If you looking for a nice boat ride for cheap Ill say go for Dolly steamboat. It was great hour and half boat ride and nice views of the mountains and lake together. 10/10 will go back. Also bring cash since they are cash only.

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2 months ago

We had a beautiful day. The boat ride was fun and peaceful. There was 9 in our group and we all loved the ride. Overall nice family time.

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3 months ago

Wonderful evening. The astronomy talk from Dr. Sky was outstanding. Would highly recommen.

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Dolly Steamboat Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Dolly Steamboat

What sitting is upstairs?

Inside seating with tables. Windows. Also seating outside. Inside has air conditioning.

Are small dogs allowed on the cruise?

I doubt it because I've taken the cruise no less than 10 times & have never seen a dog n board. Their staff is amazing & always ready to help. Give them a call!! Enjoy the cruise!

Is it handicap accessible?

Yes, there was a ramp going on to the boat. You will just need to tell them so they put you on level 1. They assign tables.

Do all cruises come with a meal?

They do not. We just did a day cruise and they had popcorn and stuff for purchase on the lower deck.

If we don't have reservations.Can we buy our tickets at the door?

Yes you can buy the tickets when you get there. It's a lot easier if you do get the tickets beforehand but if you don't either way to go it's such a nice ride I think you'll enjoy it. We've done it for the past 3 years and we plan on going again… Read more

How much is the canyon lake tour?

Hi Cary, ADULTS- $30.00… Read more

Has anyone been on the astronomy cruise who can share if it's better during spring or fall?

Yea

What nearby restaurant do you recommend for a late lunch/early dinner after the lake cruise?

Tortilla Flats!! An experience and good food!

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Dolly Steamboat

We've been on all 3 lake cruises: Lake Pleasant, Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake and Dolly Steamboat is by far the best.

Mentioned in 130 reviews

Read more highlights

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I visited Lake Saguaro on a Saturday.. Good thing I arrived early at 7:30am. I was able to unload…read more my vehicle and get on the water fairly quickly. By this time all of the front beach spots at the Butcher Jones area were completely taken up by large camping tents. It was tough to squeeze by people to get my stuff on the water. The water was crowded with many different paddle boards, jet skies, boats pulling other water toys. If I return it will likely be on a weekday when school is back In session. Nice lake otherwise. Oh yeah, when I left at around noon, there was no parking down near the beach. That parking lot was packed full. There were cars parked on the side of the road all the way up where you turn into the street driving towards the Butcher Jones area. Appeared to be a LONG walk down too. The FULL signs were posted at the turn off.

Arizona River Runners - John Wakefield

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If you're looking for a "dip your toes in and call it adventure" kind of trip, this ain't it. This…read moreis the real deal and Arizona River Runners delivers it with a throttle. I went the motorized raft route, and I'll tell you straight, it's the perfect balance of thrill and sanity. You've got young guns, older folks, everybody laughing, holding on, and living the same moment. One minute you're punching through rapids, the next you're cruising those calm stretches at a steady clip, maybe 8 mph, just soaking it all in. And that's the beauty of it, you cover serious ground without sacrificing the experience. If you don't have 10 days to disappear into the canyon but still want to feel it in your bones, this is your move. Now listen, getting on the water in Grand Canyon isn't something you just wake up and decide to do. Permits, reservations, planning...this is high demand, bucket list territory. You do your homework, plan ahead, and you can make it happen. You wait till the last minute? Good luck. This isn't your local float trip. And then there's the part nobody really prepares you for. The canyon messes with you in a good way, mostly. I swear this is the second time I've felt like I saw Bigfoot out there. Not joking. Starts making you wonder, is it one Bigfoot, multiple, is he just pacing the canyon like he owns it? Add in a little déjà vu, the silence, the scale of it all, your mind starts wandering places you didn't expect. Daytime, it's raw. Sun beating down, heat cooking you alive, jumping into the river whether it looks crystal clear or straight up brown just to cool off. Nighttime, whole different world. Stars like you've never seen, Milky Way stretched across the sky, dead quiet except for the river and a crackling fire. Cold drink in hand, swapping stories, realizing you're sitting in one of the most unreal places on earth. But don't get it twisted, this place demands respect. The canyon is massive, and it'll remind you quick how small you are. People make it through just fine until they don't. Heat, terrain, isolation, it's not forgiving. There are spots out there where if something goes sideways, you're not just hiking your way out. That's part of what makes it real. End of the day, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. There's something about finishing a trip like this, grateful, a little humbled, maybe a little paranoid about Bigfoot, but knowing you just experienced something most people never will.

I cannot say enough good things about this company. We did a "hikers" trip and it was amazing. The…read moreguides were great. They were knowledgeable, safety conscious, friendly and so much fun. The food was amazing. We were all impressed with the guides organizational skills and their cooking . We heard all the stories about the formation of the Grand Canyon and the history of its exploration. We got to hike to some spectacular locations. We rafted 6 days from Lees Ferry to Pipeline Beach then hiked out on Bright Angel Trail. We are already making plans to return and raft from Pipeline to the end. Our trip was everything we had hoped for and more. Highly recommended!!! Arizona River Runners does a spectacular job!

Dolly Steamboat - boatcharters - Updated May 2026

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