When you have to get from point A to point B, Eastern Ontario ferries can be a lot more scenic and fun than a boring old bridge. Here are seven to check out on your next road trip.
IMPORTANT: For seasonal ferries, the dates below are just guidelines. Near the beginning and end of the season, check with the ferry company before heading out to make sure the ferry is running that day. That advice also applies to all ferries, seasonal or not, during extreme weather. Fares shown are as of July 2018 and are subject to change.
Quyon ferry (Fitzroy Harbour, Ontario, to Quyon, Quebec)
Season: April to November.
Fares: Ranging from $3 for a pedestrian and $9 for a car with passengers to $25 for a bus; cash only.
Body of water: Ottawa River.
This busy electric boat, the largest ferry on the Ottawa River, can accommodate 90 passengers and 21 cars per trip. In high season, it runs every 10 minutes from at least 7am to 11pm (earlier some mornings and later some nights). It can handle large vehicles—anything that is legal on the roads.
Location: The dock on the Ontario side is just north of the village of Fitzroy Harbour, at the north end of Ferry Road. The dock on the Quebec side is in the village of Quyon, at the south end of Rue Ferry.
More details: Check the Quyon ferry website.
Aqua-Taxi (Ottawa, Ontario, to Hull, Quebec)
Season: May to mid-October.
Fares: For adults, the downtown shuttle is $6 one way and $10 return for adults; other fares vary.
Body of water: Ottawa River.
Au Feel du l’Eau operates a continuous shuttle service between downtown Ottawa and downtown Gatineau (Hull sector), using passenger-only electric boats. The company also runs a longer scenic cruise to the Casino du Lac-Leamy. These are largely for visitors, as most of us locals usually just take one of the five bridges in central Ottawa that cross the river. But hey—sometimes it’s fun to be a tourist in your own town, right? You can bring your bike on board, too.
Location: The shuttle service serves three docks: The Ottawa Locks dock is at the base of the Rideau Canal entrance locks, just north of the Bytown Museum; the new Richmond Landing dock is just east of the Portage Bridge, below Library and Archives Canada; and the Museum dock is in Hull, near the Canadian Museum of History.
More details: Check the Au Feel de l’Eau website.
Cumberland ferry (Cumberland, Ontario, to Masson-Angers, Quebec)
Season: Year round.
Fares: Ranging from $2 for a pedestrian and $10 for a car with passengers to $28 for a large truck.
Body of water: Ottawa River.
Using icebreakers, Traversiers Bourbonnais aims to keep this ferry service running 24/7, year round (but extreme events, such as the 2017 floods, can close it). Like the Quyon ferry, these boats can accommodate any legal road vehicle, including big trucks. Ferries run frequently—as often as every three to five minutes during peak hours. The capacity is usually 15 vehicles.
Location: The Ontario dock is on the northern edge of Cumberland village. The Quebec dock is on the southern edge of Masson-Angers, just east of the Rivière du Lièvre.
More details: Check the Traversiers Bourbonnais website.
Wolfe Islander III (Kingston, Ontario, to Wolfe Island, Ontario)
Season: Year round.
Fares: Free.
Body of water: Lake Ontario (channel).
This is one of my favourite Ontario ferries, because the 20-minute trip gives you some great views of downtown Kingston and takes you to bucolic Wolfe Island. The photo doesn’t do it justice, but at least the car-packed deck shows how popular this trip is; the ferry is a lifeline for residents who commute daily between Wolfe Island and Kingston. If you’d like some Wolfe Island travel tips, check out this Ottawa Citizen story I wrote a few years ago.
Location: The Kingston dock is right downtown, next to the Leon’s Centre (formerly the K-Rock Centre). The Wolfe Island dock location changes by season; see the website below for more information.
More details: Check the Wolfe Island website and the Ministry of Transportation website.
Horne’s Ferry (Wolfe Island, Ontario, to Cape Vincent, New York)
Season: Late April to mid-October.
Fares: Ranging from $2 (Canadian or American) for pedestrians to US$15/C$18 for a car and driver.
Body of water: Lake Ontario (channel).
A ferry has been plying this 11km stretch of water between Wolfe Island and Cape Vincent, New York, for some 200 years. Even though it’s just a 10-minute trip, and the customs station on the Canadian side looks like a family cottage, don’t forget that this is an international crossing—bring your passport.
Location: The Wolfe Island dock is located at Point Alexandria on the southeastern tip of Highway 95. The Cape Vincent dock is at the northern tip of N. James Street.
More details: Check the Wolfe Island website and the Horne’s Ferry website.
Glenora ferry (Adolphustown, Ontario, to Glenora, Ontario)
Season: Year round (more frequent service between Victoria Day and Thanksgiving).
Fares: Free.
Body of water: Bay of Quinte.
Want to visit Prince Edward County but sick to death of Highway 401? Take the much more scenic route: Driving from Ottawa, get off the 401 at Kingston (instead of the Google Maps-recommended Deseronto), then follow Highway 33 along the Lake Ontario shore. The 15-minute ferry crossing to the County will take you to the base of Lake on the Mountain, which is a cool stop in its own right.
Location: The ferry functions basically as a watery section of Highway 33, which breaks at the ferry dock in Adolphustown (about 50 minutes southwest of Kingston) and restarts in Glenora in Prince Edward County.
More details: Check the Ministry of Transportation website.
Quirky bonus: Scott Island ferry
You’re more likely to see this ferry from the water than from land. As you paddle or motor between Indian Lake and Clear Lake, just north of Chaffeys Lock, you might spot the tiny, manually operated Scott Island ferry, which holds just one car and operates via an underwater chain. One of the smallest Ontario ferries, it is said to serve one of the shortest crossings in Canada. I don’t trust myself to give you land directions, as I saw it from a boat! (You can find boating directions in this Rideau Paddling Guide, under “Chaffeys Lock to Newboro Lock Scenic Route.”) You would probably have no need to use the ferry unless you were visiting someone on Scott Island. It makes for a fun photo, though.
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4 comments
Also l’ECOLO, from Rockland to Thurso, Qc
Oooh, thanks for the tip! I didn’t know about that one. Will have to check it out, next time I’m out that way.
When I was a kid in the late 60’s, my aunt owned a cabin on Scott Island. She invited us there every summer. I remember that ferry well! If it was on the wrong side, my brothers swam over to get it. Lol. Hope it’s ok to save the photo. It brought back some of the best memories of my childhood! Maybe I’ll get to return some day.
Hi Liz – What a cool memory! Glad the photo made you smile!