Skip to main content

Bleriot Ferry - Alberta

Image
By

 


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.


Crossing the Red Deer River on the Bleriot Ferry.

I just missed the ferry, but it will be back again in a few minutes. But you can also see how the cable pulley system is set up for the ferry.

Approaching the eastern side of the ferry with plenty of badlands in view.



How to Get There:



Sources and Links:
Travel Alberta - Bleriot Ferry
Travel Drumheller - Bleriot Ferry
The Drumheller Mail - Ferrying History in the Drumheller Valley
YEGventures - Bleriot Ferry One of Alberta’s Last
Alberta.ca - Alberta Ferry Schedules

Labels:
Location: Bleriot Ferry, AB-838, Kneehill County, AB T0J 0Y0, Canada

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crescent City Connection (New Orleans, LA)

By
The Crescent City Connection is a massive dual-span steel truss bridge that spans the lower Mississippi River at downtown New Orleans, about 95 river miles upstream from the mouth of the great river at the Head of Passes Light. If counted as a single bi-directional highway bridge, the parallel spans combine to form the single busiest bridge on the Mississippi River and its importance as a linchpin in the region’s transportation network cannot be overstated. While there have been various schemes over the years to construct bridges downriver from Algiers Point, this bridge has been the southernmost bridge on the Mississippi River since its initial construction in the 1950s. The years immediately following the end of World War II were a transformational period in the history of New Orleans. Already one of the great economic and cultural centers of the American Deep South, it was recognized at this time that major changes and improvements to the city’s transportation infrastructure would b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Old US Route 99 through Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch

By
This summer I had a look into the alignment history of US Route 99 through the Tulare County communities of Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch.  While this slab below might seem like much it is one of the few remaining reminders of how US Route 99 was during the 1920s in Tulare County. This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page.  For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and it's three-digit child routes check out the link the below. Gribblenation US Route 99 Page Part 1; the history of US Route 99 in Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch Tipton and Tulare were both founded in 1872 as sidings of the Southern Pacific Railroad.  The Southern Pacific Railroad laid the groundwork for development of southern San Joaquin Valley.  Previous to the Southern Pacific Railroad travel via wagon or foot in Central California tended to avoid San Joaquin Valley in favor of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road.  The Stockton Los Ange...
Post a Comment
Read more

Former US Route 101 and California State Route 41 through Paso Robles

By
Paso Robles is a city located on the Salinas River of San Luis Obispo County, California.  As originally configured the surface alignments of US Route 101 and California State Route 41 converged in downtown Paso Robles.  US Route 101 originally was aligned through Paso Robles via Spring Street.  California State Route 41 entered the City of Paso Robles via Union Road and 13th Street where it intersected US Route 101 at Spring Street.  US Route 101 and California State Route 41 departed Paso Robles southbound via a multiplex which split near Templeton.   Pictured above is the cover of the September/October 1957 California Highways & Public Works which features construction of the Paso Robles Bypass.  Pictured below is the 1935 Division of Highways Map of San Luis Obispo County which depicts US Route 101 and California State Route 41 intersecting in downtown Paso Robles.   Part 1; the history of US Route 101 and California State Route 41 i...
Post a Comment
Read more