The summer direct boat has finished for 2026. Until 3 February 2027, BC Ferries links Port Hardy and Bella Coola once a week, with a change of ship at Bella Bella: Saturdays at 18:00 from Bear Cove and Fridays at 14:15 from Bella Coola, each trip taking 18 h 45 min. An adult pays $122.35 one way at the off-peak fare, plus a 5% fuel surcharge.
BC Ferries seasonal schedule Port Hardy (Bear Cove) – Bella Coola and return, valid to 3 February 2027, last updated 22 October 2026; no schedule published after that date or for the 2027 direct summer service; checked 26 October 2026 BC Ferries – Seasonal schedule, Port Hardy (Bear Cove) to Bella Coola · 2026-10-23
Two quite different ferries serve Bella Coola, depending on the season. In summer the Northern Sea Wolf sails the route directly; BC Ferries lists it at 35 cars and 150 passengers and crew, and Wikipedia describes a crossing of about ten hours in daylight, five days a week in peak season. Outside summer, the link becomes a weekly connection with a transfer at Bella Bella that takes 18 hours 45 minutes.
Price runs the other way. The direct summer service charges $202.00 per adult, while the off-peak Central Coast Connector fare is $122.35, for a trip that takes much longer. A standard vehicle costs $403.60 on the direct boat and $274.65 off-peak, in both cases without the driver.
The current winter timetable runs to 3 February 2027. BC Ferries had published nothing beyond that date when we checked, and the dates of the 2027 direct summer season were not yet out.
The winter connection is priced as BC Ferries' Central Coast Connector, and from 14 October to 10 March the cheaper off-peak column applies. Count people and vehicle separately: the fare for the car itself leaves out the driver and every passenger: a couple in a standard car pays two adult fares on top of $274.65.
Each figure is a single-journey price in CAD. On top comes BC Ferries' 5% fuel levy, charged when you pay, though not on the $10 canoe and kayak stowage. BC Ferries' free senior fare does not apply on this route, although a reduced senior fare does.
| Adult, 12 and over | $ 122.35 |
| Child, 5 to 11 | $ 61.20 |
| Child under 5 | Free |
| Senior | $ 81.45 |
| Vehicle up to 20 ft, driver not included | $ 274.65 |
| Each extra foot over 20 ft | $ 31 |
| Motorcycle | $ 137.35 |
| Canoe or kayak stowage | $ 10 |
| Adult, 12 and over | $ 202 |
| Child, 5 to 11 | $ 101 |
| Senior | $ 134.60 |
| Vehicle up to 20 ft, driver not included | $ 403.60 |
BC Ferries fare document effective 16 June 2026: Central Coast Connector off-peak fares 14 October 2026 to 10 March 2027, regular fares again 11 to 31 March 2027; direct summer fares in force 8 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 BC Ferries' Fares – Effective June 16th, 2026 (Route 10S and Route 28) · 2026-10-23
Bear Cove sits on the north-east coast of Vancouver Island, near Port Hardy; Bella Coola lies far up the mainland coast. The ferry route threads the Central Coast between them, calling at Bella Bella (McLoughlin Bay), Shearwater and Ocean Falls.
Coming from Vancouver, most drivers first cross to the island on the Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo ferry or the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route, then drive north up the island to Port Hardy before boarding.
Bear Cove is BC Ferries' gateway to the Central and North Coast, about ten minutes by car from the town of Port Hardy. With a booking, arrive 90 to 120 minutes before the 18:00 Saturday departure; check-in for booked passengers closes 90 minutes before sailing.
Turning up unbooked means boarding on a first-come basis, and the ticket counter stops selling 20 minutes ahead of the sailing. Anyone towing someone else's trailer must be checked in four hours ahead.
In the off-peak season, booked travellers go straight to the terminal, arriving 60 to 90 minutes before the Friday 14:15 departure. Without a booking you can buy a ticket on board if there is room.
Summer works differently: booked passengers check in first at the Bella Coola Co-op parking lot, 450 MacKenzie Street, where a BC Ferries agent sends them on to the ferry when it is time to board.
Miss Saturday's 18:00 departure from Bear Cove and the next one is a week later. BC Ferries strongly recommends booking.
Departures in the evening and arrivals the next day mean a night on the move, with a change of ship at Bella Bella.
The fuel surcharge comes on top of every fare except the $10 stowage fee for canoes and kayaks.
BC Ferries listed no service notices for Vancouver Island – Central Coast on 23 October 2026, and it reminds travellers that schedules can change without notice.
The Northern Sea Wolf is a BC Ferries vessel built in 2000, 76.38 metres long with a top speed of 14.5 knots. BC Ferries' fleet page assigns it to the Bear Cove–Bella Coola run, calling at Bella Bella, Shearwater and Ocean Falls; Wikipedia adds that in winter it works the link between Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
The fare table shows how BC Ferries treats the route through the year: regular fares on the Connector from April to mid-October and again in late March, off-peak fares in between. Central Coast residents qualify for the lower column all year on several local routes, with proof of residence.
Yes, once a week until 3 February 2027: Saturdays at 18:00 from Bear Cove, arriving at 12:45 the next day, with a change of ship at Bella Bella.
Fridays at 14:15, reaching Bear Cove at 09:00 on Saturday. On 18 December the departure moves to 19:45.
Each adult pays the off-peak fare of $122.35 and the car, up to 20 ft, is charged $274.65 on top, because the vehicle fare leaves out the driver; BC Ferries then adds its 5% fuel levy.
BC Ferries had not published 2027 summer dates on 26 October 2026. The direct fares listed for the route stay in force until 31 March 2027.
BC Ferries' winter page gives 18 h 45 min for the connection via Bella Bella. For the direct summer boat, Wikipedia reports about ten hours; BC Ferries' 2027 timetable will confirm.
Yes, on board, if space remains. Booking is strongly recommended because there is only one departure a week.
They don't: the BC Ferries fare document excludes the Central Coast Connector from the free senior fare; the off-peak senior fare is $81.45.