The MV Francois Forester sails a fixed timetable across Francois Lake, 26 km south of Burns Lake: first boat 05:30 from Southbank, last 23:00 from the north shore, 15 minutes each way and free. From September to June there are 20 departures from each side; in July and August two school sailings are dropped.
Daily timetable on gov.bc.ca (ferry page updated 21 August 2026), same every day of the week, no end date published; checked 23 October 2026. Times are Pacific Time. BC gov – Francois Lake Ferry · 2026-10-23
Look at the timetable before you set off from Burns Lake. Unlike the cable boats that wait at the ramp for whoever turns up, the Francois Forester leaves Southbank and the north shore at set minutes past the hour, and the gaps between sailings run close to an hour through the middle of the day.
Plan around three numbers. 05:30 is the first boat from Southbank. 23:00 is the last from the north shore. 15 minutes is the crossing, as printed on the province's ferry page next to the full list of departures. Every time is Pacific Time, the same clock as Burns Lake.
Then check the month. From September to June two extra sailings fit around the school day, at 08:00 from the south side and 15:45 from the north; in July and August those drop out, leaving 19 each way.
British Columbia does not charge on any of its fourteen inland ferry routes; private contractors run them under provincial contracts, and the province pays. That covers the Francois Forester whether you drive a logging truck within the posted limits, a camper or nothing at all.
| Car and occupants | Free |
| Commercial vehicle | Free |
| Foot passenger or cyclist | Free |
Free per the BC inland ferries page (updated 31 July 2026), checked 23 October 2026 BC gov – Inland Ferries · 2026-10-23
Highway 35 runs south from Burns Lake on Highway 16 to the north shore of Francois Lake; the ferry carries it across to Southbank. Ten of BC's fourteen inland routes are cable or reaction ferries that move when traffic arrives. Among them, the cable boat on Adams Lake in the Shuswap runs on demand with no timetable at all, the opposite of how this crossing works.
Southbank is the south-shore end, in the part of the Bulkley-Nechako regional district called Area E (Ootsa Lake/Francois Lake). Departures from this side run from 05:30 to 22:30. Line up on the Highway 35 approach; the ministry keeps a highway camera pointed at this landing, which is the quickest way to see the lineup before you leave home.
Beside the terminal, the Village of Burns Lake points out a pebble beach — one at each landing — where rockhounds look for agate, jasper and petrified wood while waiting.
From Burns Lake, take Highway 35 south; at the lake, the village's directions say to follow the shore west to the landing. Sailings from this north side run from 05:55 to 23:00, and there is a second highway camera here.
Miss the 13:30 from Southbank and the next is 14:30. Gaps run 50 to 60 minutes through the day.
The 08:00 from Southbank and the 15:45 from the north shore run September to June only.
The ministry publishes highway cams at the Southbank and north-shore landings; useful for gauging the lineup.
Both terminals have pebble beaches where, per the Village of Burns Lake, agate, jasper, obsidian and quartz turn up.
The contractor's office is 250-695-6491; its current agreement with the province runs to 31 May 2028.
The ship is big for an inland route: the province rates the Francois Forester at 52 vehicles and 145 passengers, and up to 522,000 kg in total. Waterbridge Equipment Ltd. operates it under the Francois Lake Ferry Agreement, which the ministry lists as running until 31 May 2028.
On 23 October 2026 DriveBC listed no incidents affecting the ferry or Highway 35. If a sailing is cancelled for weather or maintenance, DriveBC's ferry entry and the contractor's office are where to look.
05:30 from Southbank (the south side). The first from the north shore is 05:55.
23:00 from the north shore. The last departure from Southbank itself is 22:30.
Only slightly: the school sailings at 08:00 from Southbank and 15:45 from the north shore do not run in July and August.
15 minutes, according to the BC government and DriveBC.
No. All BC inland ferries are free of charge, and the Village of Burns Lake describes this one as free too.
That is how the province prints it: the midday departure from the north shore is 12:01, between the 11:00 and 13:00.
Up to 52 vehicles and 145 people; the province puts its maximum load at 522,000 kg.
Highway 35, roughly 26 km below Burns Lake. The north landing is at the settlement of Francois Lake; the south landing is Southbank.