Bleriot Ferry - Alberta

Alberta operates six ferries scattered throughout the province. Roughly twenty to twenty-five kilometers up the Red Deer River from the town of Drumheller is one of the most scenic ferry crossings in all of Wild Rose Country, the Bleriot Ferry. Using the North Dinosaur Trail (Alberta Highway 838, or AB 838), the Bleriot Ferry provides a scenic river cruise of sorts in the Canadian Badlands.

The Bleriot Ferry started operating in 1913 as the Munson Ferry when a few bridges crossed the Red Deer River. The ferry was started by Andre Bleriot, the brother of famed early aviator Louis Bleriot, who became famous for being the first person to fly over the English Channel. At the time, the Alberta provincial government commissioned local residents to run the ferries. There were several ferries along the Red Deer River, and not only did they serve as vital transportation links, but they also served as local social hubs, since everyone had to take the ferries to go places. Over time, as the transportation network improved and more bridges were constructed across the Red Deer River, the number of ferries dwindled. At this time, the only two ferries located along the Red Deer River are both in the Drumheller Valley, which are the Finnegan Ferry and the Bleriot Ferry. The ferries still serve a role in local transportation, but also see a lot of tourist travel.

The current ferry boat for the Bleriot Ferry was built in 1997, connecting Kneehill County and the Orkney District with Starland County and Horsethief Canyon on AB 838, eventually connecting with Drumheller to the southeast. It is one of a few ferries operated with the use of cable pulleys still in operation in Alberta. Operating seasonally from the middle of May through the end of October, the Bleriot Ferry. The 27.6-meter (90.5-foot) long ferry boat can carry one crew member, 45 passengers, and 13 mid-size cars as it makes the 105-meter (344.5-feet) long trip across the Red Deer River. It takes about seven minutes to cross the river, and it is free to ride across on the ferry.

I happened to take the Bleriot Ferry during my trip around Alberta, finding it a delightful way to spend a few minutes during my trip. As you descend to the river level of the Drumheller Valley, the ferry is an excellent alternative and a neat way to see a small piece of the Canadian Badlands.