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Earls Cove (Sechelt) ↔ Saltery Bay (Powell River)
Timing, tickets, parking, bikes, and the details that matter before you board.
See live departures →Photo: Gordon Leggett
Photo details: Malaspina Sky at Saltery Bay, where the upper Sunshine Coast begins.Original ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Changes: Resized for web; tonal adjustments by the source creator.Commuter guide
Questions riders ask before this trip
This 50-minute ferry joins the two halves of the Sunshine Coast. It loads first come, both parking lots are tiny, and the drives to the other ferries take real time. Give the whole trip more room than the map suggests.
How early should I arrive for Earls Cove–Saltery Bay?
Both ends load first come, first served, and check-in closes five minutes before departure for vehicles and foot passengers. Don't aim for five minutes. Arrive with a proper buffer in summer and on weekends because a full deck means waiting for the next boat.
Source: Official Earls Cove and Saltery Bay check-in guidance ↗Source: Official Saltery Bay check-in guidance ↗Is the Earls Cove–Saltery Bay fare one way or return?
One collected fare covers the return trip. The terminals accept cash, debit, major credit cards and the Experience Card. Check the current guide for the price, but you don't need to buy another fare for the crossing back.
Source: Official BC Ferries fare guide ↗Can I park and walk on at Earls Cove or Saltery Bay?
Only if you get one of the few spaces. Earls Cove lists 10 limited free spots. Saltery Bay lists 14 and tells travellers to ask the ticket agent for details. Neither lot is a dependable park-and-ride, so arrange a drop-off or transit backup before walking on.
Source: Official Earls Cove and Saltery Bay parking details ↗Source: Official Earls Cove parking details ↗Can I take a bicycle on Earls Cove–Saltery Bay?
Yes. Pay the passenger fare and your bicycle rides free. Arrive 30 to 60 minutes early, check in with the agent, walk the bike on and off, and secure it where the crew directs. At Saltery Bay, use the foot-passenger booth and covered walkway to the waiting area.
Source: Official BC Ferries bicycle guidance ↗Can I reserve a vehicle on Earls Cove–Saltery Bay?
No. Vehicles load in arrival order, and a time on the schedule doesn't hold a place for your car. Check live conditions and leave room to miss a sailing when timing matters. Booking advice for Horseshoe Bay–Langdale doesn't apply to this separate leg.
Source: Official Earls Cove boarding rules ↗How long is the crossing, and how far are the connecting drives?
The crossing takes about 50 minutes. BC Ferries estimates roughly 90 minutes by road from Langdale to Earls Cove, then about 25 to 30 minutes from Saltery Bay to Powell River or Westview. Treat those drives as part of the trip, not spare time between boats.
Source: Official upper Sunshine Coast travel guidance ↗How should I plan the road connection to the next ferry?
Plan three separate pieces. Allow about 90 minutes from Langdale to Earls Cove, the first-come ferry crossing, and about 25 minutes from Saltery Bay to Westview. Add time for traffic, fuel and a missed sailing. The timetable won't absorb a late arrival for you.
Source: Official upper Sunshine Coast travel guidance ↗What should I check just before the Earls Cove–Saltery Bay ferry?
Check the live route page for departures, vessel status, service notices and terminal details. It can show a late boat or operational change that a saved timetable can't. Treat any deck-space signal as helpful guidance, never a promise that you'll board.
Source: Official Earls Cove–Saltery Bay current conditions ↗