Big Bar Ferry is a cable ferry across the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. It is located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of the town of Lillooet and 72 kilometres (45 mi) west of Clinton.[1] 6 km upstream from the ferry is French Bar Canyon (sometimes known as Big Bar Canyon), while downstream is High Bar Canyon (the ferry is located at one of the few places possible for a river crossing accessible by road from both sides in this area).
The ferry connects the dirt ranch road up the west side of the Fraser from Lillooet to Big Bar and Kostering, which connect via road to Jesmond and Big Bar Lake, and beyond to BC Highway 97.
Technically, the ferry is a reaction ferry, which is propelled by the current of the water. An overhead cable is suspended from towers anchored on either bank of the river, and a “traveller” is installed on the cable. The ferry is attached to the traveller by a bridle cable. To operate the ferry, rudders are used to ensure that the pontoons are angled into the current, causing the force of the current to move the ferry across the river.[2]
The ferry operates under contract to the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, is free of tolls, and runs on demand between 0700 and 1900. It carries a maximum of 2 cars and 12 passengers at a time. The crossing is about 150 metres (490 ft) in length, and takes 10 minutes. At times of low water, or ice in the river, the ferry is replaced by an aerial tramway that carries passengers only.[1]
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Advgrrl Motorcycle Adventures & More 
Incredible scenery all the way down to the ferry. It rarely snows down at the river but the village of Big Bar gets lots of it so int he winter the ferryman and school buses have to run chains due to the changing climate on the climb out. When we were there, we stopped to see small cactus growing and there were mountain sheep in some of the pasture. I looked across the river and wondered what the biking would be like.
Next time try the ride up to Jesmond tower. It is a fire tower south of the Big Bar turn off. Incredible view from the top but the last 2-300 meters would be a tough ride with a couple sheer drops and lots of broken shale in the alpine area.
At the ferry they told us of a family where the young man would bring his 2 sisters down to the ferry on the west side. They were all on horses. They would stop and water the horses at the river and then corral them and take the ferry to wait for the school bus. The 2 girls went to the Big Bar school that you likely passed and the young man went to high school elsewhere. They would do that each day, snow rain or shine. Now that is WANTING an education.
There is also lots of “horticulture” that goes in that area in the back woods. We were told that if we came onto a plantation that we should back away as some were booby trapped.
Would love to take my KLR out there and run some of the back roads.
we smelled pot as we rode through this area. 😉 We got lucky as the roads were mainly dry after it rained the night before. The decline to the ferry from the Clinton side was not too bad but coming from Lillooet would have been really interesting. It is steep as you know and on two wheels makes for an interesting balancing act to keep traction.
Overall, I wonder how anyone could drive this road to the ferry in bad weather? Would have scared the crap out of me if we did not have the beautiful day. But you do what you have to do and we both decided if you are very new to the DS world, do not practice on this road for sure.
Thanks for the history and the Native man also told us when he is “busy” he just rests on the deck of the ferry and waits for the other cars/trucks. Very interesting set up and glad we got to ride the Big Bar Ferry!