Towing on far-north Alberta highways: Highway 35, 88 and the La Crete ferry and ice bridge

Towing in the far north of Alberta is mostly about distance and timing. Services are far apart, winter comes early, and one of the region's key river crossings changes from a ferry to an ice bridge, with a stretch in between when there's no crossing at all. Here's what to check before you hitch up.

The roads

• Highway 35 is the Mackenzie Highway: the main north–south route through Manning and High Level toward the Northwest Territories, and the main truck route for the region.
• Highway 88, the Bicentennial Highway, is the other north–south route, on the east side of the region toward Fort Vermilion.
• Highway 58 runs east–west through High Level and links the two.
• Highway 697 runs through La Crete and crosses the Peace River at Tompkins Landing, by ferry in summer and ice bridge in winter.

On all of these, the gaps between fuel, food and repair shops can be long, and cell coverage isn't continuous. With a trailer behind you, your fuel range drops too. Fill up when you can, not when you have to.

The La Crete ferry (Highway 697)

According to Alberta's ferry schedules, the La Crete Ferry:

• runs 24 hours a day from mid-spring until mid-November
• makes a 680 m crossing of the Peace River
• has a load capacity of 95,000 kg and carries up to 14 mid-size cars

The crossing is free (Tourisme Alberta). With a long trailer, expect to take more deck space than a car, and follow the crew's directions for loading. The ferry can also close for weather, water levels or mechanical problems, so check 511 Alberta before you go.

The freeze-up gap

When the cold arrives, the ferry is pulled out of the river. The ice bridge can't open until the ice is thick enough, so for a stretch every fall (and again at break-up in spring) there's no crossing on Highway 697 at all. If you're towing between La Crete and the south side of the Peace during those weeks, plan your route on the paved highways and allow for the extra distance.

The ice bridge

Once the ice is thick enough, a free ice bridge takes over. Tourisme Alberta notes that it's built up and tested under strict safety guidelines, that speed and weight are strictly regulated, and that it typically closes in the first week of April.

For towing, the key point is that the weight limit starts low and goes up over the winter. Last season, according to Mackenzie County, the Tompkins Crossing Ice Bridge:

Date	Maximum capacity
December 12, 2025 (opening)	5 tonnes, light traffic only
January 12, 2026	45 tonnes
January 30, 2026	63.5 tonnes

A loaded half-ton and a mid-size travel trailer can easily weigh more than 5 tonnes together. Know your combined weight (see how to read your towing sticker), check the posted limit on the day, and don't cross if you're over it. Drive at the posted speed: the county asks drivers to use caution and keep to it.

Before every far-north tow

1. Check 511 Alberta for road conditions, closures and ferry status.
2. Tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive.
3. Pack for a breakdown in the cold: warm clothes, blankets, food, water, a charged phone and a booster pack.
4. Do a walk-around: tires (truck and trailer), lights, safety chains, breakaway cable and trailer brakes. Our winter towing checklist has the full list.
5. Plan your fuel stops with your towing fuel range, not your usual one.