Some experiences in Bemus Point are easy to explain: great food, beautiful lake, independent shops, summer festivals. The Bemus Point-Stow Ferry is harder to explain, which is why the best advice is simply to ride it. One of the oldest continuously operating ferries in North America, it has been crossing Lake Chautauqua between the village of Bemus Point and the community of Stow since the 1870s. The crossing takes a few minutes.
- 150+ years operating
- ~5 minute crossing time
- ~1 mile crossing distance
- Season opens: Memorial Day
- Season closes: mid-September
A Ferry Since the 1870s: The History of the Crossing
solution to the problem of crossing Lake Chautauqua at a time when the road network around the lake was still being established, and when the communities on the eastern and western shores needed a direct link for commerce, agriculture, and everyday life.
The ferry has changed over its 150-plus year history — the vessels have been updated, the operation has evolved — but the crossing itself is essentially unchanged. The same narrow stretch of lake between Bemus Point and Stow. The same view of both shores opening up as you reach the middle of the water. The same particular quality of being, briefly, between two places and belonging completely to neither.
What makes the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry remarkable is not simply its age. It’s that this crossing has been made by generations of people from the same communities — farmers, shopkeepers, vacationers, children, fishermen, couples, and thousands of visitors who came once for the summer and came back every summer for the rest of their lives. The ferry carries all of that accumulated human experience in addition to whatever passengers are on board on any given afternoon.
- 1870s: Ferry service established across Lake Chautauqua between Bemus Point and Stow.
- Early 1900s: As the Lake Chautauqua resort era peaks, the ferry becomes a fixture of summer life — connecting communities and carrying visitors exploring both shores.
- Mid-20th Century: Road networks improve around the lake but the ferry continues to operate — valued not just for utility but for the experience itself.
- Today: The ferry operates Memorial Day through mid-September, carrying pedestrians, cyclists, and small vehicles across the same stretch of water it has crossed for over 150 years.
“The ferry carries all of that accumulated human experience in addition to whatever passengers are on board on any given afternoon.”
Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
All practical ferry information at a glance:
| Detail | Information | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Season | Memorial Day weekend through mid-September | Check the ferry’s website for exact end date each year — it can vary. |
| Operating Hours | Typically 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily | Confirm at thebemuspointstowferry.com or by email — hours may vary. |
| Bemus Point Boarding | Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point, NY 14712 | At the foot of the village waterfront — walk from Main Street in under 5 minutes. |
| Stow Boarding | Stow Ferry Road, Stow, NY | Western shore; accessible via Route 394. |
| Crossing Time | Approximately 5 minutes each way | Most visitors ride both directions. |
| Contact (Email) | info@thebemuspointstowferry.com | — |
| Official Website | thebemuspointstowferry.com | Always check before visiting for current hours and policies. |
→ Full Ferry Listing — Hours, Directions & Contact Details
What the Crossing Is Actually Like
The ferry departs from the foot of Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point — you can walk there from Main Street in under five minutes. On a busy summer afternoon there may be a short wait; on a weekday morning you may be the only one there. Either way, it’s worth it.
As the ferry pulls away from the Bemus Point dock, the village recedes behind you and Lake Chautauqua opens up on both sides. At the midpoint of the crossing, you’re briefly in the middle of the lake: the eastern shore with its clustered village buildings visible behind you, the wooded western shore of Stow approaching ahead, and 17 miles of lake extending north and south in both directions. On a clear summer day, the view from the middle of the crossing is something visitors consistently mention as one of the highlights of a Bemus Point trip.
The crossing takes roughly five minutes. In Stow, you can walk around for a few minutes and take in a different perspective of the lake and the village across the water before boarding for the return crossing. Most visitors ride it at least twice.
Planning Your Ferry Visit
Best Time to Ride
Early morning crossings (around opening time) offer calm water and low traffic. Late afternoon (around 4–5 PM) puts the sun behind you on the crossing from Bemus Point toward Stow, illuminating the western hills. Sunset crossings, when available near the end of operating hours, are the most photographed experience the ferry offers.
Getting to the Ferry Landing
From anywhere on Main Street in Bemus Point, the ferry landing is a short walk south along Lakeside Drive — under 5 minutes. Parking is available near the village waterfront. All village accommodations are within walking distance.
Can I Take a Car?
The ferry can accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and small vehicles, though vehicle capacity is limited and primary traffic is foot passengers and cyclists. Check the official website for current vehicle policies and capacity information before planning a car crossing.
What’s in Stow?
Stow is a small lakeside community on the western shore, a short distance from the Chautauqua Institution. For visitors attending Institution programming, the ferry offers a scenic alternative to the 20-minute drive around the lake. For everyone else, Stow is a pleasant few minutes’ exploration before returning on the next crossing.
- Check current season hours at thebemuspointstowferry.com before visiting — hours vary year to year
- The ferry operates Memorial Day through mid-September only — plan accordingly
- Walk to the landing from Main Street (under 5 minutes from the village center)
- Allow time for both the outbound and return crossing — the experience improves the second time
- Consider an early morning or late afternoon crossing for the best light on the water
- If combining with a kayak rental, Bemus Bay Water Toys is steps from the ferry landing
- Photographers: the view from midpoint is the shot — have your camera ready
Why the Ferry Is Central to the Bemus Point Experience
There are many things to do in Bemus Point, and most of them are excellent. But the ferry occupies a slightly different category from the other experiences — it’s not simply something to do, it’s a piece of living history that happens to still be operating, and that reveals something true about this village and this community.
Bemus Point has made choices that reflect a community invested in its own character: locally owned restaurants and shops, a business association that has kept the village independent, and a commitment to the things that make it distinct. The ferry fits within this same pattern. Instead of letting a 150-year-old crossing fall out of use as roads improved around the lake, the community kept it running. Not because it was economically necessary, but because it was worth keeping.
Riding the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry, you’re participating in something that has been happening on this lake for over a century and a half. There are not many places where that’s still possible.
- Kayak and paddleboard rentals available at Bemus Bay Water Toys — steps from the ferry landing
- The Village Casino is the closest waterfront dining to the ferry — May through September
- The Lawson Center boat museum at 73 Lakeside Drive is a short walk from the ferry landing
- Combine the ferry with a morning paddle for a complete Lake Chautauqua water experience in a single visit
→ Full Recreation Guide — All Bemus Point & Lake Chautauqua Activities
