Highways, Ferries, and Winter Roads

Ferries

Ferries are resuming operations for the 2023 season. For up-to-date information, visit the highway conditions map.

For historical ferry open and close dates, click here.

 

Arctic Red River/Mackenzie River Ferry (Highway 8)

Closed for the season

Vessel Name: MV Louis Cardinal
15-year average open date: May 30
15-year average close date: November 8

Hours of Operation

8:15 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.

Technical Information

  • Crossing distance: 900 metres          
  • Time to cross: 8 minutes
  • Built: 1972 (midlife refit in 1987)     
  • Gross tonnage: 241.11                                  
  • Deck length: 38.1 metres     
  • Ramp clearance: 6 metres   
  • Draft: 2.21 metres    
  • Overhead restriction: 5.9 meters

Liard River Ferry (Highway 1)

Open for the season


Vessel name: M.V. Lafferty
15-year average open date: May 13
15-year average close date: November 3

Hours of Operation:
Operating on demand every 30 minutes between:

8 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.

Technical Information:

  • Type of ferry: Propeller ferry
  • Crossing distance: 731 metres          
  • Time to cross: 10 minutes
  • Built: 1993    
  • Gross tonnage: 314.23                     
  • Deck length: 127.3 metres   
  • Ramp clearance: 6.54 metres          
  • Draft: .95 metres    
  • Overhead restriction: none  

Mackenzie River/N'Dulee Ferry (Highway 1)

Open for the season

 

Vessel Name: MV Johnny Berens
15-year average open date: May 22
15-year average close date: November 1

Hours of Operation:
Operating on demand every 30 minutes between:

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
2 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Technical Information:

  • Type of ferry: Propeller ferry
  • Crossing distance: 1097 metres        
  • Time to cross: 12 minutes
  • Built: 1961 (midlife refit in 1999)     
  • Gross tonnage: 104.65                                 
  • Deck length: 23.4 metres     
  • Ramp clearance: 4.8 metres
  • Draft: 1.6 metres    
  • Overhead restriction: none  

Peel River Ferry (Highway 8)

Closed for the season

Vessel Name: Abraham Francis
15-year average open date: June 2
15-year average close date: November 8

Hours of Operation

9:15 a.m. - 12:45 a.m.

Technical Information:

  • Type of ferry: Cable ferry
  • Crossing distance: 600 metres          
  • Time to cross: 5 minutes
  • Built: 1981    
  • Gross tonnage: 128.22         
  • Deck length: 23.7 metres     
  • Ramp clearance: 5.9 metres
  • Draft: 1.6 metres    
  • Overhead restriction: none
Documents: 
File Northwest Territories Ferries - Historical Open and Close Dates