Did you know there is a free river ferry in the heart of the Canadian Badlands in Alberta?
The Bleriot Ferry takes vehicle and foot passengers across the Red Deer River. The ride is short and sweet, but it’s a fun, scenic roadside adventure for kids.
My 9-year-old son got a kick out of riding the flat, floating platform and seeing it pull itself across the water using overhead and underwater cables. The ferry operator was friendly, came up to our campervan and asked my son if he wanted to learn how to operate the ferry!
The operator showed him how the motor that wound up the cables worked. Then he let him test the levers that made the cables pull faster or slower. He also let him lower the vehicle ramp on the other side and taught him how everything worked to help carry passengers across the river.
The Bleriot Ferry and the Red Deer River valley are in Treaty 7 and are within the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Stoney Nakoda, the Tsuut’ina and the Métis Nation.
Long before European settlement, Indigenous peoples travelled and crossed the Red Deer River using canoes, natural fords and “bull boats”, which were made by stretching bison hides over wooden frames.
Bleriot Ferry Information
- Cost: Free!
- Location: Highway 383 (North Dinosaur Trail), near Drumheller
- Hours of Operation:
- Mid-Spring to September long weekend: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- After Labour Day through late October: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily
- Capacity: It fits 45 passengers and 13 mid-sized vehicles
- View ferry schedules.
The History of the Bleriot Ferry
The Bleriot Ferry is Alberta’s oldest operating river ferry! It links the North Dinosaur Trail (Highway 838) across the Red Deer River between Starland County and Kneehill County.
A French homesteader from Paris, André Blériot, established the ferry. It was called the Munson Ferry back then, and André used a basic raft system to bring his own building materials and household goods across the river, and he let his neighbours use it for free.
In 1913, the Government of Alberta saw how useful and important the link between counties was, and commissioned a larger, official free ferry with a full-time operator. In 1966, the crossing was officially renamed the Bleriot Ferry, in honour of its original builder.
The current vessel has been moving people and vehicles since the 1990s. It’s 27 meters long and takes about 7 minutes to cross the river.
Things to Do Around the Bleriot Ferry
You can easily include a Bleriot Ferry Ride in a fun day of activities in the beautiful Canadian Badlands. Drumheller is about 25 kilometres away, and there’s plenty to do in the area and along the way.
Bleriot Ferry Provincial Recreation Area
Steps from the ferry on the west side of the Red Deer River, you’ll find the Bleriot Ferry Provincial Recreation Area. This small campground is shaded by tall cottonwood trees and offers easy access to the river for paddling, fishing, and lazy-day river floats. You can easily spend a day or two relaxing here, and also head up the road to the popular Orkney Viewpoint.
The campground has 28 unserviced sites, each with a picnic table and fire pit. It also has pit toilets and a picnic shelter.
Note:
No water is available at the Bleriot Ferry Provincial Recreation Area. Please bring your own water.
Firewood is not available for purchase on site. Bring or buy firewood locally to burn on site.
Barney’s Adventure Park
Just 10 minutes from the Bleriot Ferry Port West, this massive farm-and-coal-mine themed adventure park is on your way to Drumheller. It offers a mix of fun, interactive activities, including a forest walk with dinosaur statues. Kids will love the farm animals, playground, go-karts, slides, train rides, gem mining and tasty treats.
Plan your visit to Barney’s Adventure Park
Royal Tyrell Museum
Pair the ferry ride with a trip to the world-famous Royal Tyrell Museum. Located in the heart of Midland Provincial Park, this museum brings the prehistoric past back to life with fossils, bones, and natural artifacts. Exploring the galleries and exhibits takes about two hours, and your family will experience a 3.9-billion-year journey through time.
Plan your trip to the Royal Tyrell Museum
Midland Provincial Park
Just outside of Drumheller, Midland Provincial Park offers lots to explore. The Royal Tyrell Museum is located within the park, surrounded by Day-Use Areas, trails, a historic coal-mine interpretation area, and a disc golf course.
Learn more about Midland Provincial Park.
Fun in Drumheller
Drumheller is considered the prehistoric playground for families and is usually people’s first destination when visiting the Badlands. It offers easy access to the places we mentioned above, plus plenty of fun things for kids in town. You can climb to the top (and into the mouth) of the World’s Largest Dinosaur, cool down in the central splash park, look for quirky dino statues around town and visit the Willow Creek Hoodoos.
Find places to stay in Drumheller.
Getting to the Bleriot Ferry near Drumheller
The Bleriot Ferry is about 23 kilometres northwest of Drumheller, Alberta, and crosses the Red Deer River along Alberta Highway 838 (part of the North Dinosaur Trail).
