Kootenay Lake – Balfour
Plan your Journey
Balfour/Kootenay Ferry offers ferry services between Balfour Terminal (west side), located 35 km from Nelson, BC on Highway 3A and Kootenay Bay Terminal (east side), located 70 km from Creston, BC on Highway 3A.
Schedule
All times are Pacific Standard Time
Please note: The 2024-2025 Fall/Winter schedule is now in effect from September 16th, 2024 to June 23rd, 2025.
The times listed below in bold indicate peak ferry travel. Anticipate delays during this period.
| Balfour Terminal | Kootenay Bay Terminal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Summer | Winter | Summer | Winter |
| Osprey 2000 | 06:30 AM | 06:30 AM | 07:10 AM | 07:10 AM |
| Osprey 2000 | 08:10 AM | 08:10 AM | 09:00 AM | 09:00 AM |
| Osprey 2000 | 09:50 AM | 09:50 AM | 10:40 AM | 10:40 AM |
| MV Balfour | 10:40 AM | 11:30 AM | ||
| Osprey 2000 | 11:30 AM | 11:30 AM | 12:20 PM | 12:20 PM |
| MV Balfour | 12:20 PM | 01:10 PM | ||
| Osprey 2000 | 01:10 PM | 01:10 PM | 02:00 PM | 02:00 PM |
| MV Balfour | 02:00 PM | 02:50 PM | ||
| Osprey 2000 | 02:50 PM | 02:50 PM | 03:40 PM | 03:40 PM |
| MV Balfour | 03:40 PM | 04:30 PM | ||
| Osprey 2000 | 04:30 PM | 04:30 PM | 05:20 PM | 05:20 PM |
| MV Balfour | 05:20 PM | 06:10 PM | ||
| Osprey 2000 | 06:10 PM | 06:10 PM | 07:00 PM | 07:00 PM |
| Osprey 2000 | 07:50 PM | 07:50 PM | 08:40 PM | 08:40 PM |
| Osprey 2000 | 09:40 PM | 09:40 PM | 10:20 PM | 10:20 PM |
- MV Osprey 2000 is easier to load/unload for RV/Trailers
- Food Services available on MV Osprey 2000 only
Crossing Time
Approximate Total Time : 35 minutes + 15 minutes of loading/unloading
Fare
Kootenay Lake – Balfour ferry service is free
Capacity
- MV Osprey: 70 passenger cars, 144 passengers
- MV Balfour: 22 passenger cars, 145 passengers
For updates on the current ferry and conditions, please visit DriveBC.
Seasonal Information
Summer Traffic – Peak Periods
- Cars and trucks are loaded on a first-come, first-served basis, and for most of the year, you will usually get the next ferry after you arrive. However, on busy holiday weekends and during the peak summer season, vehicle traffic increases dramatically, and ferry sailing waits are not uncommon.
- When approaching the terminals, look for ferry lineups along the highway and position yourself accordingly.
- During the peak summer season, the terminals have attendants in high-visibility vests which will direct you into specific lanes for boarding.
Winter Pass Closures
- When Kootenay Pass closes due to avalanche conditions, the MV Osprey will run for 24 hours until the pass reopens. Check the DriveBC Website for updates.
Get in Touch
We welcome your inquiries and look forward to hearing from you soon. Reach out to us today to start a conversation and explore how we can collaborate together.
