Book a seat, then be on the Caribou wharf early: the Pictou Island ferry runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays until Sunday 29 November 2026, and passengers ride free. In November the boat leaves Caribou at 08:00 and 15:00 on weekdays it runs, and only at 15:00 on Sundays.
Pictou Island Charters monthly schedules for October and November and its booking calendar, which lists sailings to Sunday 29 November 2026; no December sailings published; checked 26 October 2026 Pictou Island Charters – October and November schedules · 2026-10-23
Pick your day first, because the boat does not run daily. In October and November it sails on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, twice each way, plus a single afternoon round trip on Sundays. Thanksgiving's Sunday run moved to the Monday this year, and the operator flags similar changes on its home page.
Then check the hour, which changes on 1 November. Through the end of October the afternoon boat leaves Caribou at 16:00; from November it moves an hour earlier, to 15:00, as daylight shrinks. Morning departures from Caribou stay at 08:00 throughout.
Finally, travel light. This is a passenger-only service with no car deck: Wikipedia describes the island as having one main dirt road, about 28 full-time residents and no power from the mainland grid. Groceries and mail come by this boat from May to November and by small plane from Trenton in winter.
People cross for nothing: the rates page states that there is no fee for passengers. Charges apply only to what travels with you or without you. A bicycle costs $10 and must be booked beforehand, with a ceiling of five bikes per boatload. Parcels sent over on their own and containers of gasoline, diesel or propane cost $5 each.
Hand luggage is free as long as each item weighs under 40 lb and you carry it yourself. Anything heavier or bulkier has to be arranged with the operator in advance, at extra cost.
| Passenger, any age | Free |
| Bicycle (book ahead, max. 5 per trip) | $ 10 |
| Unaccompanied freight, per package | $ 5 |
| Gas, diesel or propane cylinder, can or drum | $ 5 |
| Dog or cat | Free |
Pictou Island Charters rates page, read 26 October 2026 (undated) Pictou Island Charters – Rates · 2026-10-23
Pictou Island lies in the Northumberland Strait off Pictou County, between the Nova Scotia mainland and Prince Edward Island. The ferry links the Caribou waterfront, north of Pictou, with the public wharf on the island's Wharf Road, near the South Lighthouse.
Caribou is also where the car ferry to Wood Islands on Prince Edward Island departs, which makes the island boat easy to combine with a crossing to PEI, as long as the two timetables line up.
The boat leaves from Caribou, the same harbour as the Northumberland Strait car ferry to Prince Edward Island. 511 Nova Scotia places its Pictou Island marker on the Caribou waterfront; the operator does not describe which berth it uses, so ask on arrival if you are unsure.
Booked seats are held only until 15 minutes before departure. If a run fills up, the operator promises to come back for anyone who was on the wharf by that cut-off.
On the island the ferry ties up at the public wharf on Wharf Road, near the South Lighthouse. The island has no shops, so bring what you need for the day.
Return trips leave the island 45 minutes after each Caribou departure, apart from the October morning run discussed below.
The first 36 passengers on each run can book online. The operator sets a booking cut-off before departure, given as 12 hours on one page and 24 hours on another, so book the day before at the latest.
When a run is full, the boat returns for passengers who were on the wharf 15 minutes before the scheduled departure.
Dogs need a muzzle or a gentle lead throughout the trip; cats must stay in a carrier.
Strait weather cancels sailings, and a cancelled trip is pushed to the next day. Build a spare day into any island stay in November.
511 Nova Scotia lists Pictou Island with the province's road ferries, among them the free cable ferry at Country Harbour on the Eastern Shore. The island boat is a different kind of service: a small passenger vessel that runs on a monthly timetable, not on demand.
The 2026 season winds down on Sunday 29 November, the last sailing in the booking calendar. Nothing has been published for December or for the 2027 spring restart; the operator's monthly schedule pages begin in May.
Nothing for passengers. The operator charges only for extras: $10 per bicycle, $5 per unaccompanied package and $5 per fuel container.
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, leaving Caribou at 08:00 and 15:00 and the island at 08:45 and 15:45, plus Sundays at 15:00 from Caribou and 15:45 from the island.
The booking calendar ends with Sunday 29 November: 15:00 from Caribou, 15:45 from the island. No December sailings are listed.
No. It is a passenger boat. Bicycles go for $10 if booked ahead, up to five per trip.
The operator says the boat comes back for a second run for passengers who were on the wharf 15 minutes before the first departure.
Yes, free of charge, but dogs must wear a muzzle or gentle lead; cats travel in a carrier.
High wind cancels trips, as on 15 October 2026. A cancelled trip is postponed to the following day, and changes are posted on the operator's home page.