When Kootenay Pass is closed, travelers coming from the east must drive north from Creston to the Kootenay Lake Ferry at Kootenay Bay, then from Balfour through Nelson to Castlegar to get back on Highway 3A. When the Pass is closed, ferry waits are often long. The Kootenay Lake Ferry's first sailing is from Balfour at 6:30 am and the last is at 10:20 PM from Kootenay Bay however, when Kootenay Pass is closed the Kootenay Lake Ferry operates 24hrs/day until Kootenay Pass is reopened.