BC Inland Ferries – Columbia and Arrow Park III

A ride on any of the BC Inland Ferries is an adventure and we do it every chance we get. It’s hard to explain the appeal and silly perhaps, yet if we’re out that way and there’s a route that includes a ferry crossing, we’ll choose it over any other. It’s more than welcome break from the road and just a simple thrill.

The two ferries in this post, MV Columbia and Arrow Park III, plus others scattered across the province, are an essential link in the highway network. Many are simple river crossings but a couple (including one seen here) are longer voyages from one side of a large lake to the other. They’re all completely free and that’s appealing in our case.

Most BC ferries are found along lesser-used backroads and serve outlying areas. They’re in places where putting in a bridge would be too costly or impracticable. A couple, however, are along busier stretches of highway and exist because the distance across is just too much (even if a bridge could be afforded) and there’s no other option.

MV Columbia: Upper Arrow Lake is a big one.

In this post we’ll see an example of each type and chat a bit about them. One is an obscure ferry with limited capacity and leads to a tiny isolated community. The other looks like an ocean liner in comparison and links two sections of provincial highway.

We’re exploring the Columbia/West Kootenay regions of British Columbia and our trip has us roaming about as though crazy. The big ferry is used to access the area’s many backroads from our base in Revelstoke and the other done just because.

MV Columbia: quite new and with the capacity of the two vessels it replaced, combined. This run happens on Upper Arrow Lake, between Shelter Bay (west side), out near Revelstoke and Galena Bay (east side). The latter affords one connections to either Trout Lake or Nakusp and respective points beyond.

MV = Motor Vessel.

This run has been in place since the 1960s and replaced an earlier ferry that connected the two regions but used a different route exclusivly on the east side of Upper Arrow Lake. The highway on this side is far better than the other and overall it’s just easier.

Crossing times for the MV Columbia are about twenty minutes each way and there’s departures on each side approximately once per hour. It runs from early AM and to about midnight.

This ship is faster and more efficient compared to what it replaced. The capacity is about eighty average sized vehicles and in summer it can easily fill up. Not so much when were visited and one arrival had no one aboard. The MV Columbia comes from a firm in nearby Nakusp (also along Upper Arrow Lake) and entered service in 2014.

This is one of the longer crossings for inland ferries in the province and only beaten by the Kootenay Lake run out near Nelson. That crossing has a transit time almost double that of Upper Arrow Lake and is a record holder for the greatest distance free ferry ride in the world.

The wonderful scenery is made all the more stunning when viewed from out the water and in itself makes a trip here worthwhile.

There’s a nice viewpoint on the Shelter Bay side where you can you can watch the ship arrive or just take in all that mountain splendour. The short trail starts behind the waiting area biffies and is easy to follow. Note Kathleen and Zena’s Lounge at the parking area and it’s the crew shack for those directing traffic on this side.

There’s an interesting marine railway at Shelter Bay and it’s simply a rail-mounted cradle that can pull a vessel out of the water should it need heavy maintenance. It’s original to the site and appears as though its not been used for some time. We’re unsure if it could even support the MV Columbia which is much larger than anything that came before. You’ll see the tracks for the railway on the ramp heading down to the landing when loading or departing.

The approach road to the ferry on the Galena Bay side is dreadfully steep and heaven help anyone that might lose their brakes (or hit ice) while descending. There will be no forgiveness and into the drink you’ll go. Over two days we got to know the Columbia well and sailed on it and did that hill four times.

Arrow Park III: a much smaller ferry and the crossing only takes a few minutes. If not for it, the small community of Arrow Park and it’s a bit south of Nakusp, would be completely isolated from the highway system. It’s here at the Narrows, where a channel connects Upper and Lower Arrow Lakes.

Operation is on demand – early AM and well into the night. Just show up at the landing and if they’re not on your side, they’ll spot you and come over. The capacity is about two dozen cars but we doubt it’s ever been full since few people live in the far side. We were the only vehicle this trip – well actually one of the workers parked their truck on the deck, but otherwise that’s it. BC Inland Ferries accept foot traffic too and not just wheeled conveyances.

This trip was done just because and we zipped over to the far side, photographed the ship crossing a couple times and then rode it back. Where as the Columbia is propeller driven, Arrow Park III is powered a bit different and what’s called a cable ferry. A long wire-rope is anchored at each shore and when acted upon puts the ship in motion. When not in use the cable lies at the bottom of the channel and rises up only when being pulled.

Check out the awe inspiring mountain backdrop and that huge expanse of forest!

The Arrow Park III is only a few years old and given its name must be the third at this crossing. We know it replaced an earlier ferry, built in the late 1940s and on this run since the early 1990s, but know nothing of the first. This crossing must of come into service no earlier than the 1960s and this channel has only been usable since that time. It came about with the creation of the Arrow Lake Reservoir and the resultant rise of water levels at this spot. The Arrow Lakes were once separated by a fair gap but now connected here and essentially one.

A few towns and much agricultural land flooded when Keenleyside Dam came on line, and when done made a body of water extending all the way from Revelstoke south to Castlegar. That’s some two hundred and thirty clicks distance. Lots of H2O, eh!

Arrow Park III was similarly built in Nakusp and entered service in 2020. That community had a shipyard in the 1890s-1910s period and it produced a number of sternwheelers and tugs, but it’s long a memory. Only in recent times has a new yard been established and this firm has produced several ferries since (not just these ones).

Galena Bay: BC = adventure and scenery.

There’s six ferry crossings in the West Kootenay region and a total of fourteen in the entire province. Most are small affairs and in out of the way places. Many ferries are staffed by contractors and in the case of the two explored here, it’s a via a subsidiary of the firm that manufactured the vessels.

BC = adventure and scenery…then add in a ferry ride to make it heavenly. Thanks for tagging along and until next time, happy sailing. Appreciate it Dale and we see you made into one photo.

Know more: (new tab): BC Inland Ferries.

They’re saying…

“You bring to life that which has been forgotten, just curious and always interesting.” Richard O’Connor.

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Date of adventure: May, 2022.
Location: Shelter Bay, Galena Bay, Highway #6 and Arrow Park, BC.
Article references and thanks: Dale, for hosting us and British Columbia Ministry of Transportation Inland Ferries.

Galena Bay: the MV Columbia arrives.

MV Columbia: Breathtaking views onboard.

MV Columbia: one of the longest inland ferry runs in all BC.

Shelter Bay: a viewpoint not far from the waiting area.

Shelter Bay: Kathleen and Zena’s Lounge.

Shelter Bay: the marine railway appears disused.

Shelter Bay: another day of exploring and another ferry ride.

MV Columbia: a classic on board.

BC Inland Ferries Arrow Park run.

It’s a short crossing cable ferry.

On the Arrow Park side & it’d be isolated if not for the ferry.