About Saugatuck Chain Ferry
Saugatuck’s chain ferry, named Diane, crosses the Kalamazoo River without an engine or sail. An operator turns a hand crank connected to a gear and chain system, pulling the flat-bottomed vessel from one bank to the other. The crossing takes only a few minutes, but the mechanism makes it feel like a surviving piece of another transportation era.
Chain ferries once offered a practical way to cross narrow waterways without building a bridge. Saugatuck’s version preserves that simple idea as both public transportation and an attraction. Passengers, bicycles, strollers, and leashed dogs can ride, but motorized vehicles are not carried.
The ferry operates seasonally and only in suitable weather. Strong wind, heavy current, storms, or rain can suspend service, and hours depend on staffing and daylight. Fares are collected for each one-way trip, so riders planning to return should bring enough cash for both crossings. The experience is short, functional, and delightfully mechanical.