BC Ferries Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island (Snug Cove)
Ferry20 min
BC Ferries' Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island crossing suits a day on Bowen from North Vancouver: the Queen of Capilano takes 20 minutes each way, and on the schedule from 3 June 2026 to 31 March 2027 the last sailing home leaves Snug Cove at 11:30 pm every night. The route takes no bookings, so drivers wait in line for deck space.
Ferry notice
BC Ferries works on the Snug Cove ramp on weekday nights this winter
From 29 October 2026 to 1 March 2027, BC Ferries crews work on the ferry ramp at Snug Cove between 11:30 pm and 5 am, Monday to Friday. That's outside the terminal's operating hours, so BC Ferries expects no change to the Bowen Island sailings. Crews stop for the holidays from 19 December to 3 January. If the work ever touches a sailing, BC Ferries will post a service notice.
Checked 2026-10-16 · bcferries.com
Ferry notice
The Horseshoe Bay skywalk comes out until late November
Foot passengers at Horseshoe Bay usually walk onto ships at Berths 1 and 2 over a skywalk, and BC Ferries has closed it so crews can extend its working life. Crews lift it off the site between 19 and 24 October 2026 and put it back in late November. Until then, follow the terminal staff and the signs, and check your ticket for where you board.
Checked 2026-10-16 · bcferries.com
Photo Richard Eriksson · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Services
| Service | Time | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe Bay to Snug Cove | 20 min | 15 sailings a day from Monday to Friday and on Sundays, and 14 on Saturdays5:45 am to 11:00 pm from Horseshoe Bay; on 25 December 2026 and 1 January 2027 the first sailing leaves at 8:05 am | Seasonal schedule from 3 June 2026 to 31 March 2027 The Queen of Capilano sails the route, and the seasonal schedule sends it from Horseshoe Bay at 5:45, 6:50, 8:05, 9:20 and 10:35 am, then 11:55 am, 1:10, 2:35, 3:55, 5:20, 6:35, 7:50, 8:55, 10:00 and 11:00 pm. Saturdays drop the 8:55 pm. The 9:20 am on Wednesdays carries dangerous goods and takes no passengers. On 25 December 2026 and 1 January 2027 the 5:45 am and 6:50 am sailings stay in port. |
| Snug Cove to Horseshoe Bay | 20 min | 16 sailings a day from Monday to Friday, and 15 on Saturdays and Sundays5:15 am to 11:30 pm from Snug Cove; on Sundays the first sailing leaves at 6:15 am | Seasonal schedule from 3 June 2026 to 31 March 2027 Sailings leave Snug Cove at 5:15, 6:15, 7:30, 8:45, 10:00 and 11:15 am, then 12:35, 1:55, 3:15, 4:40, 6:00, 7:15, 8:25, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 pm, and each one reaches Horseshoe Bay 20 minutes later. Saturdays drop the 8:25 pm. The 1:55 pm on Wednesdays carries dangerous goods only and takes no passengers. The 5:15 am skips the holiday Mondays of 15 February and 29 March 2027, and on 25 December 2026 and 1 January 2027 the first sailing leaves at 8:45 am. Check-in at Snug Cove closes 2 minutes before each sailing. |
Fares
- Adult return (12 and over)Posted $12.45 return in the fare guide effective 16 June 2026, which BC Ferries says includes applicable taxes; BC Ferries adds a 5% fuel surcharge at payment, which gives $13.07.$13.07 (2026)
- Child return (5 to 11)Posted $6.25 plus the 5% fuel surcharge; under 5 travel free.$6.56 (2026)
- Standard vehicle up to 20 ft, return, driver extraPosted $35.55 plus the 5% fuel surcharge; each extra foot over 20 ft is $3.55 posted.$37.33 (2026)
- BicycleBC Ferries carries bikes free on every route; the rider pays the passenger fare.Free
Weather and cancellations
BC Ferries posts delays and cancellations on its current conditions page for the route, on X at @BCFerries and on 1-888-223-3779.
The Queen of Capilano runs from Horseshoe Bay in West Van to Snug Cove on Bowen Island in 20 minutes. On the seasonal schedule from 3 June 2026 to 31 March 2027 the first boat leaves Horseshoe Bay at 5:45 am and the last at 11:00 pm. Boats head back from Snug Cove 15 or 16 times a day between 5:15 am and 11:30 pm, and on Sundays the first one waits until 6:15 am. BC Ferries charges a return fare on this route, so nobody asks for a ticket on the way home. An adult return costs $13.07 on the fares in effect from 16 June 2026, counting the 5% fuel surcharge BC Ferries adds at payment.
BC Ferries says the Queen of Capilano now carries 600 passengers, about 150 more than before. Staging lanes at Horseshoe Bay have moved with the terminal works, so read the lane number on your ticket before you pull in. Foot passengers follow staff and signs while the Berth 1/2 skywalk is out; BC Ferries is removing it from 19 to 24 October 2026 and putting it back in late November. TransLink's route 257 runs direct to the terminal from Vancouver.
Overnight ramp work at Snug Cove runs from 29 October 2026 to 1 March 2027, on weekday nights from 11:30 pm to 5:00 am. Crews stop for the holidays from 19 December to 3 January. BC Ferries expects no effect on the sailings, and it will post a service notice if that changes.
Worth knowing
- Check BC Ferries' current conditions page before leaving home, since it shows the estimated deck space left on each upcoming sailing.
- Reach the Horseshoe Bay ticket booth at least 10 minutes before your sailing, because ticket sales close then. Snug Cove keeps check-in open until 2 minutes before departure.
- BC seniors ride free on the passenger fare from Monday to Thursday except on holidays, and they show BC identification such as a BC Services Card.
Quick answers about BC Ferries Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island (Snug Cove)
Do you need a reservation for the Bowen Island ferry?
No. BC Ferries lists Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island as a non-bookable route, so foot passengers and drivers pay at the terminal on the day.
How long is the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island?
The crossing from Horseshoe Bay to Snug Cove takes 20 minutes on the Queen of Capilano. On the seasonal schedule from 3 June 2026 to 31 March 2027 the first sailing leaves Horseshoe Bay at 5:45 am and the last at 11:00 pm.
What time is the last ferry from Bowen Island to Horseshoe Bay?
The last ferry from Bowen Island leaves Snug Cove at 11:30 pm every day on BC Ferries' seasonal schedule from 3 June 2026 to 31 March 2027, and it reaches Horseshoe Bay at 11:50 pm. The first sailing from Snug Cove leaves at 5:15 am from Monday to Saturday and at 6:15 am on Sundays.
How much is the ferry to Bowen Island?
An adult return costs $13.07 on the fares in effect from 16 June 2026, counting BC Ferries' 5% fuel surcharge. A car up to 20 feet costs $37.33 return with the surcharge, and the driver pays the passenger fare on top.
Can you take a bike on the Bowen Island ferry?
Yes. BC Ferries carries bikes free on all its routes with no reservation, and the cyclist pays the passenger fare.
In the journal
