Pictou island is located 7.5 kms from the mainland. Historically residents would go to the mainland by their own boats or by an iceboat in the winter. Now, you can get to the island easily by a ferry or plane. Information on both services can be found below.
Some important information to keep in mind when planning to visit the Island can be found here
Pictou Island Ferry
Pictou Island has had a ferry service for over 100 years. Currently it is the only privately-owned 
ferry in the province. The Ferry runs from May to November, making many scheduled trips a week during peak season. Currently, Pictou Island Charters with the M/V Cetacean Search have been certified by Transport Canada to serve as the ferry between the island and mainland.
The ferry docks on the west side of the Caribou Wharf, near the PEI ferry. The ferry runs several days per week but the schedule varies month to month - be sure to check the official schedule . Exceptions to the posted schedule are high winds exceeding 25 knots. If a trip is cancelled, it will be made up as soon as possible (often the next day).
The travel time is approximately 45 minutes.
Ferry Travel Tips
- Reservations ar recommended. If the boat is full, you will be put on standby to wait for the ferry to come back for a double run. A double run is when the ferry comes back to pick up the passengers on standby, this takes roughly an hour and a half to two hours.
- Oversized or overweight cargo (anything exceeding 40 lbs each) must be included in your reservation and come with additional charges. These are limited to space and weight restrictions, so not every run can accommodate them. Overweight cargo includes bikes and dogs.
- Pack items in totes! It keeps everything dry (cargo travels outside) and this makes it easier for loading. Loadng is done by volunteers who pass the cargo over water to the boat - accidents can happen.
- Label or mark all cargo! This limits confusion, accidents and makes lost or taken items easier to claim.
- If you cannot lift an item over your head, it is too heavy to be regular cargo!
- Pack a carry on (small bag) with important or fragile items, cargo can be handled roughly at times.
- Arrive dockside with your cargo ready to load 30 minutes before departure to allow for unloadung and parking.
- Cars must parked in the terminal parking lot.
- Please stay off of the boat and floating dock until instructed by the crew
- Loading and unloading of the ferry is done on a volunteer basis by the passengers and directed by the crew. Bikes are loaded first, then hardtop items, and last bags and fragile freight, please place cargo accordingly to the left of the loading ramp. If you are on standby or do not have a reservation your cargo is placed to the left of the passenger gangway. If you are not assisting in loading or unloading please clear the area and ensure luggage, people and pets are away from the unloading area to the right of the loading ramp.
- Dogs must be muzzled, leashed and under effective control during on the boat and on both wharves.
Truro Flying Club
In the winter months, when the strait becomes impassable due to ice, the island can be accessed by plane. The Truro Flying Club based in Debert, flying out of the Trenton Airport offers year round service to Pictou Island available for pre-arranged charter flights 2 passengers & luggage (LIMITED)
The plane lands on the island's dirt road in the landing zone, close to the middle of the island.
The plane also delivers mail, weather permitting. This unique mail run began in the early 1940s.
Contact them directly for details.
