The Kootenay Lake Ferry is a ferry

Ferry

A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...

 across the Kootenay Lake

Kootenay Lake

Kootenay Lake is a lake located in British Columbia, Canada and is part of theKootenay River. The lake has been raised by the Corra Linn Dam and has a dike system at the southern end, which, along with industry in the 1950s-70s, has changed the ecosystem in and around the water...

 in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. It operates between Balfour

Balfour, British Columbia

Balfour, also known as Balfour Bay, is an unincorporated community in British Columbia, located about northeast of the city of Nelson and located at the juncture of Kootenay Lake with its West Arm....

, on the west side of the lake, and Kootenay Bay

Kootenay Bay, British Columbia

Kootenay Bay is an unincorporated community, ferry landing and former steamboat landing on the east side of Kootenay Lake, located on the bay of the same name. The ferry, operated by BC Ferries, crosses the lake to Balfour, and forms a link in BC Highway 6, which leads east from Balfour to nearby...

, on the east side. Two ferry vessels are used, the MV Osprey 2000 and the MV Balfour.

The ferry operates under contract to the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation

British Columbia Ministry of Transportation

The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is the British Columbia government ministry responsible for transport infrastructure and law in the Canadian province of British Columbia...

 and is free of tolls. A single vessel operates throughout the year, with 10 departures from Balfour between 0630 and 2140, returning from Kootenay Bay between 0710 and 2220. The second vessel operates in summer only, providing an extra 5 crossings in either direction. The crossing is about 8 kilometres (5 mi) in length, and takes 35 minutes.

The Osprey 2000 normally operates the main service, and carries a maximum of 80 vehicles and 250 passengers. The smaller Balfour usually provides the additional summer sailings, and carries up to 28 vehicles and 150 passengers.

See also

• Adams Lake Cable Ferry
• Arrow Park Ferry
• Barnston Island Ferry
  Barnston Island Ferry
  The Barnston Island Ferry is a ferry across Parson's Channel on the south side of the Fraser River to Barnston Island in British Columbia, Canada....
  
  
• Big Bar Ferry
  Big Bar Ferry
  Big Bar Ferry is a cable ferry across the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. It is located about north of the town of Lillooet and west of Clinton...
  
  
• Francois Lake Ferry
• Glade Cable Ferry
• Harrop Ferry
• Lytton Ferry
  Lytton Ferry
  The Lytton Ferry is a cable ferry across the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated about north of Lytton.Technically, the ferry is a reaction ferry, which is propelled by the current of the water. An overhead cable is suspended from towers anchored on either bank of the river,...
  
  
• Little Fort Ferry
  Little Fort Ferry
  The Little Fort Ferry is a cable ferry across the North Thompson River in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated at Little Fort, about north of Kamloops....
  
  
• McLure Ferry
  McLure Ferry
  The McLure Ferry is a cable ferry across the North Thompson River in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated about north of Kamloops.Technically, the ferry is a reaction ferry, which is propelled by the current of the water. An overhead cable is suspended from towers anchored on either bank of...
  
  
• Needles Ferry
  Needles ferry
  The Needles Ferry is a cable ferry across Lower Arrow Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated south of Nakusp and links Needles and Fauquier.-Operation:...
  
  
• Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry
• Usk Ferry
  Usk Ferry
  The Usk Ferry is a cable ferry across the Skeena River in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated about north-east of Terrace at Usk.Technically, the ferry is a reaction ferry, which is propelled by the current of the water. An overhead cable is suspended from towers anchored on either bank of...
  
  

External links

• Western Pacific Marine website Contractor that operates the ferry