The Dolly Steamboat
The Dolly Steamboat
4.5
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Saturday
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Sunday
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Full view

About
If you want to spend a relaxing afternoon or evening looking at the beautiful flora and fauna of the lower Sonoran Desert, consider a cruise on the secluded inner waterways of the Junior Grand Canyon on Canyon Lake. We offer narrated nature cruises, twilight dinner cruises and astronomy cruises.
Tortilla Flat, Arizona
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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The Dolly Steamboat
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,784 reviews
Excellent
1,413
Very good
281
Average
57
Poor
20
Terrible
13
Adventure10410883293
11 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
We decided to take a group of out-of-town guests to the Dolly Steamboat to take in the sites of the Canyon Lake area. The cost was $32 per adult and I would recommend reserving your tickets online. Our voyage was very crowded. You also may want to show up earlier than your designated time since the loading of the ship takes place in the order of people in line first. This allows those first on to grab prime seats outside on both levels though there are places to sit inside and places to stand outside. You can move around the boat. The boat has restrooms and s does the area near the marina. There is free off-street parking near the marina. The tour took about 90 minutes and takes in spectacular sites of the canyon. There is a guided tour over the PA by the captain. The boat has refreshments available for purchase on both levels as well as a few souvenirs. Everyone in our group enjoyed the tour.
Written April 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ReadRibbet
1,653 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
While it takes a bit of an effort to get to the Canyon Lake Marina, the tour of the area on the Dolly Steamboat is certainly worth it. We brought a group of 7 adults to the tour with tickets purchased online ahead of time (which is a good idea because if busy here isn't a guarantee of being able to walk on.) Our tickets were $32 per adult. It is advantageous to show up early before your designated time, because the embarking is done on a first come basis and those embarking first will be able to get prime outside seats on both levels (though everyone will be able to find a chair inside and you can move around the boat and stand outside.) There is ample off street free parking. There are restrooms at the marina and on the boat. The tour is about 90 minutes and is guided by a narration by the captain who expertly share information about the area (landforms, plant life and animal life). There were concessions and souvenirs available on board on both levels. Our whole group enjoy their time on the Dolly.
Written April 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luv2explore
11 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Canyon Lake is stunningly beautiful which makes this boat ride a must do. We saw bighorn sheep, some hawks and an eagle. For us the scenery was the biggest draw. We’re from Illinois and have a great appreciation for the scenery on the short drive from the Phoenix area to Canyon Lake, although the drive is a little nerve wracking when you’re use to Midwest roads. I recommend getting there a solid 35-40 minutes early or more, to line up for a boarding pass. They board in order of check-ins and your seat does make a difference. We would have liked to be outside, but the seating there is limited. We ended up right by the bar which made it too noisy to hear a lot of the captain’s narration. I also noticed much of what the captain talked about was on the right side of the boat (his side), and if you were on the left side, you missed out. That was a minor issue though and we really enjoyed the ride.
Written March 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ginger
Las Vegas, NV5 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
There are too many people on board for the number of seats or should I say seating arrangements. If you go, get there early and get your tickets at the booth. Otherwise if you get a high boarding position, good luck getting a seat. People with only 2 in their party get the tables and do not want strangers sitting at their table. We asked 3 tables with 2 empty seats if we could sit at their table but they said they were saving the seats which turned out to be untrue. We ended up standing for the 1.5 hour cruise which was very tiring.
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There were many empty chairs at tables occupied by 2 people but nowhere to move the chairs to because there’s too many tables and no extra space.
The Saguaro Lake boat lake tour
Is so much better because they have most chairs lined up in rows and most people sit in those. No one has a chance to be rude and dominate the seating.
I would not do this cruise again unless I got there early and got a low number to board. In any case, I would be happy to share extra seating at my table.
.
There were many empty chairs at tables occupied by 2 people but nowhere to move the chairs to because there’s too many tables and no extra space.
The Saguaro Lake boat lake tour
Is so much better because they have most chairs lined up in rows and most people sit in those. No one has a chance to be rude and dominate the seating.
I would not do this cruise again unless I got there early and got a low number to board. In any case, I would be happy to share extra seating at my table.
Written May 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francis H
42 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
Booked this reservation some time ago but on the date of the tour the weather was predicated to be miserable....but we prevailed and the weather was wonderful for viewinmg the lake and canyon. The4 ship captain was knowledegable and entertaining...tellin stories of the lake and immediate area. The trip lasted about 1 an 1/2 hours at a slow pace that alowed viewing of the landlocked Canyon Lake.Fun day for all followeed by lunch and music at Tortilla Flats.
Written March 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FlaBikerBob
Fort Myers, FL139 contributions
Jan 2023
My wife and I took the 90-minute Scenic Nature Cruise on Canyon Lake in January 2023. The scenery is magnificent, we saw countless Bighorn Sheep, and the captain's narration both interesting and informative. Would we repeat this adventure? A resounding yes!
A few things to share from our outing.
We arrived about 30 minutes before our departure and there were already 30 to 50 guests already there in line. Boarding is on a first come basis so those in the front to the line board first and have the choice of the best seating. They do offer early boarding for those having mobility issues. You can move around during the cruise so my wife and chose to sit inside, and then walk outside for photos.
Purchase your tickets in advance. There was room for those wanting to purchase tickets on the day we cruised, but in peak season you might not be able to buy a ticket without a reservation.
We love mountain roads with drop offs and switchback curves. Just a "heads up" if challenging roads are a problem for you.
And, if you are taking the cruise, be sure to head to Tortilla Flat either before or after you cruise.
A few things to share from our outing.
We arrived about 30 minutes before our departure and there were already 30 to 50 guests already there in line. Boarding is on a first come basis so those in the front to the line board first and have the choice of the best seating. They do offer early boarding for those having mobility issues. You can move around during the cruise so my wife and chose to sit inside, and then walk outside for photos.
Purchase your tickets in advance. There was room for those wanting to purchase tickets on the day we cruised, but in peak season you might not be able to buy a ticket without a reservation.
We love mountain roads with drop offs and switchback curves. Just a "heads up" if challenging roads are a problem for you.
And, if you are taking the cruise, be sure to head to Tortilla Flat either before or after you cruise.
Written January 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CountryGirl
12 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
My husband and I took our friend, Dave, on the dinner cruise for his 67th birthday. Eating the barbecued pork and barbecued chicken dinner while slowly crusing along Canyon Lake with its amazing views is something I could do over and over again. Captain Jeff's narrative of interesting facts about the canyon while he also pointed out the longhorn sheep high up on the rocks really took us to another time and place on this sweet gentle cruise. Then throughout the cruise his choice of music was perfect. To wind it down on the way back we heard "Arizona" sung by Rex Allen Jr. The views were truly breathtaking and mesmerizing.
Written August 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Benz9000
Chandler, AZ53 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
This is the second time we’ve done this tour. It’s very scenic, informative and relaxing. In addition to the unique desert fauna, we were able to see big horn sheep, bald eagles and various other unique birds. Our tour guide who was also the captain pointed out the wildlife and various points of interest while keeping it light but not overwhelming us with too much information. It was a warm day, but people still sat out on the deck enjoying the sun. We had a perfect table on the second of two air-conditioned levels. Snacks, popcorn and beer are all available at reasonable prices. We live in Chandler Arizona, so the drive from our house to the lake was a little less than an hour. I would recommend this tour and look forward to the next one.
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick Howell
Litchfield Park, AZ4 contributions
Nov 2024 • Family
This is an amazing and fun thing to do with the whole family. A leisurely 1.5 hour trip with great views and fun spotting wildlife. The Captain is great at narrating the voyage and pointing out wildlife. The staff on the boat are friendly and helpful. I would recommend for a relaxing family trip to the Tonto Forest.
Written November 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christina P
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Couples
My husband and I were gifted a twilight cruise in 2019. Unable to use it in 2020 and in 2021 we attempted to set up a date to do the cruise and the day before our scheduled cruise it was cancelled with night before notification. Due to having another child we recently attempted to do this cruise again November 20th 2022 but due to getting covid we’re unable to attend. The tickets were non-refundable and non-transferable. I emailed the customer service of Dolly Steamboat and never heard back. So now we’re out ur date night gift and the lack of customer service is not worth the hassle. I’m sure if all is well and you’re able to do this cruise is it fine however if Amy unforeseen circumstances happen you’ll be out your money. We would not recommend the hassle and headache of signing up a month in advance getting last minute cancelled or not being able to go on the date you scheduled.
Written November 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any discounts offered-senior or AAA?
Written January 1, 2025
I'm currently on a knee scooter and my father-in-law may be in wheelchair. Is the boat and it's restrooms handicap accessible? I can't climb stairs at all right now with my knee scooter.TIA.
Written February 17, 2020
Call 480-827-9144 they can answer Great cruise you will enjoy it
Written February 18, 2020
We would love to book a cruise we are wondering if you allow dogs to come along, our dog is a 20lb havanese can we bring him we us on the boat cruise?
Written February 16, 2020
Did not see any dogs on our cruise. Best to call and find out.
Written February 23, 2020
As far as I know they are open all of the month of January as it is a busy time for tourism in AZ but if you have any doubts I would call or check their website.
Written January 5, 2019
Do I need to buy tickets in advance or can I just walk up and buy on the spot. If we had a group would we be able to get a discount?
Written March 21, 2018
d0llyjan
Apache Junction, Arizona
It is always always always a good idea to have reservations in advance as we do sell out, cruise times vary and seating is based on reservations; first-come, first--serve.
Written March 29, 2018
So, are you able to purchase tickets on Sunday for the same day (sunday)? Their website showed availability, so I tried to do so, and I got a message saying "call the office". So, I called and found one problem...the office is closed on Sundays.
Written August 13, 2017
d0llyjan
Apache Junction, Arizona
We always recommend that you book in advance (Earlier than the day of) because seating is not guaranteed without a reservation. Online sales stop 2 hours prior to the cruise.
Written September 6, 2017
launchman2017
Sun Lakes, Arizona
What is the best time to get there for th Astronomy cruise and is everything first come first serve? Does it get pretty cool in mid May?
We, 6 of us are doing the twilight cruise on April 30. And then planning to do the Astronomy cruise on May 20. Any kind of discounts available?
Thanks
Tom, Friends & Family
Written April 28, 2017
Sorry, we have not been on either of those evening cruises, but the evenings there on the lake get pretty cool once the sun goes down, so dress appropriately (a jacket will be used!). Call for best info to answer your questions; arrive early, even for reserved tickets as seating is typically first come-first served, and you want to be as close to the front of the line as possible to get the seats you want. I can only assume the evening cruises are as good as the day tours - enjoy!
Written April 29, 2017
launchman2017
Sun Lakes, Arizona
What is a good time to get the for the Astronomy dinner cruise? And does it get cool in mid May in the evening. I understand it's first come first serve for the tables
Written April 28, 2017
Consider calling Dolly to get specifics.
Written April 28, 2017
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.