We visited the small communities of Harrop and Proctor across the western arm of Kootenay Lake from Balfour including the ferry ride across the western arm of Kootenay Lake on the Harrop Ferry then boarding the Kootenay Lake Ferry at Balfour for the 45-minute ferry ride across the northern end of Kootenay Lake to the Ferry Landing in Kootenay Bay and finishing off with a quick stop at one of the Artisan Shops in Crawford Bay.

July 5, 2007.

We are staying in Pair-A-Dice RV-Park, in Creston, British Columbia. $26.71 gravel interior roads, FHU including cable. This is an OK RV Park.

We are on a sightseeing excursion that loops around Kootenay Lake. We are traveling in our Saturn and located between Nelson and Balfour where we are traveling on PH 3A.

We are about to board the free Kootenay Lake Ferry in British Columbia

From Nelson, British Columbia we drove east on PH 3A to the Kootenay Lake Ferry located in Balfour terminal.

Picture from the Free Kootenay Lake Ferry

Now this is a REAL ferry able to carry 30 or more vehicles including large trucks. I took this picture looking back at the vehicles that boarded after we did. This was a fast loading operation with several employees involved with getting as many vehicles as possible on board.

Free Kootenay Lake Ferry pulling away from the terminal

All the vehicles waiting are loaded with only one small spot remaining. We are pulling away from the terminal. As you can see this is a much larger operation than the Harrop Ferry.

Last look at the Free Kootenay Lake Ferry Terminal in Belfour

Now we have pulled completely away from the terminal. This is the same terminal that we photographed from the otherside of the waterway a few minutes before in another travelogue.

Scenery from the Free Kootenay Lake Ferry

Our attention quickly turns to the stupendous scenery as we clear the terminal and begin to make our way across Kootenay Bay.

The other Free Kootenay Lake Ferry

As we near the center of the lake we can see this ferry's sister ship coming toward us with a load of vehicles headed to the ferry landing in Belfour.

Pilot house on the free Kootenay Lake ferry

The picture on the right was taken looking under the pilot house. Note the other ferry coming at us in the center of the picture. Also note the large fifth wheel rig perched as far forward on the ferry as possible.

The other Free Kootenay Lake Ferry

The other Kootenay lake Ferry is getting closer.

The other Free Kootenay Lake Ferry

And finally the other Free Kootenay Lake Ferry passes us with its load of passengers and vehicles.

Scenic mountains to the north of Kootenay Lake as viewed from the Free Kootenay Lake Ferry

With the other ferry out of the way our attention returns to the scenery.

Pleasure boat enjoying Kootenay Lake as viewed from the Free Kootenay Lake Ferry

As you can see ferries aren't the only vessels out on Kootenay Lake.

Unloading from the Free Kootenay Lake Ferry on the eastern shore at Kootenay Bay

We are unloading at the eastern Ferry Terminal located at Kootenay Bay near the artisan community of Crawford Bay.

Vehicles are roaring off the ferry as two lines of vehicles wait to load.

Que waiting to board the westbound Free Kootenay Lake Ferry

It will only be a few minutes until these vehicles will be loading.