In Outbound, you travel across four different biomes. Most new areas become accessible through tunnels, but the route to the Mountain is different. After reaching the Canyons, you need to return to the Coast and use the ferry instead.
To reach the Mountain, you must repair the ferry at The Canyons Dry Dock, then return to The Ferry Dock at the Coast and drive onto it. This process requires upgraded tools, the Van Motor Upgrade II, and several resources from the Canyons before the ferry can return to service.
1. Where Is the Ferry in Outbound?
The ferry in Outbound is supposed to be located at the Coast at The Ferry Dock, close to the road where the player enters in from the Forest and near the Paws & Whiskers Lodge (aka the dog adoption center).
However, upon first arriving at the dock, the ferry is nowhere to be seen. It is out of action until further notice.
The ferry is currently located at the Canyons at the Dry Dock, where it is being repaired. You can get the ferry back into working order and return it to the dock at the Coast to travel to the Mountain.
The ferry is supposed to be at the Coast’s dock – but it isn’t. It’s currently at the Canyons, the next location.
1.1. Why Do I Need to Fix the Ferry?
Fixing the ferry in Outbound is important because you cannot reach the Mountain, the final biome, without it. There is no other access route. The ferry is your only way to unlock and access the Mountain biome.
Additionally, without access to the Mountain, you won’t be able to finish the game and get all the collectibles, resources, blueprints, and upgrades.
If you want to reach the Mountain in Outbound and progress to finish the game and get 100% completion, fixing the ferry at the Canyons should be a priority.
Without the ferry, the Mountain is inaccessible, and progress in Outbound comes to a halt.
1.2. What Is Needed to Fix the Ferry?
Before you begin your quest of repairing the ferry, make sure you have the following tools, resources, and workstations.
- Pickaxe III
- Wrench II
- Sickle III
- Van Motor Upgrade II
- Hyperfiber
- Red Ore
- Scrap Metal
- Spinning Wheel
- Weaver
- Metal Smelter
- Battery Assembler
- Assembler
- Sheet Press
- Bolt Maker
Blueprints for the Pickaxe III, Wrench II, and Sickle III become available during your travels in the Canyons, so make sure to prioritize downloading these as soon as they appear at signal towers.
Hyperfiber and Red Ore cannot be gathered until you reach The Canyons Dry Dock area in the Canyons. Scrap Metal can be found in the Forest, Coast, and Canyons around signal towers but also the solar panel farm and Dry Dock.
Also, you should upgrade the van’s cooling system to prevent it from overheating in the Canyons’ hot desert, slowing down progress.
This quest will require tool upgrades, van upgrades, and new resources.
2. How to Get to the Ferry
Getting the ferry fixed in Outbound takes several steps. You first need to reach the Canyons, where the ferry is located, then get to its location at the Dry Dock, and then repair it so it can return to working use.
2.1. Drive to the Canyons Tunnel
The Canyons is the third biome you travel to in Outbound, only accessible from the Coast.
Where Is the Exit From the Coast to the Canyons?
The access point to the Canyons is in the north-east corner of the Coast, near the Stormhold Overpass (aka the big bridge). Here, the road leads to a tunnel that is blocked by a wooden door.
Your only access route to the Canyons is blocked by a broken fuse box.
2.2. Fix the Canyons Tunnel Door
To open the door, you need to fix the electrical box on the right-hand side. You’ll need 2 Battery Components and 3 Electronics, which you can craft at your van using the Sheet Press, Bolt Maker, Assembler, and Battery Assembler.
Make sure you have plenty of Scrap Metal, which can be found around signal towers. There is also plenty of Scrap Metal found around the solar panel farm, located south-east of the Coast.
Once you’ve constructed the necessary parts, place them accordingly in the electrical box, then pull the lever to open the door and access the tunnel to the Canyons.
You’ll need to make Batteries to fix the fuse box.
Where Is The Canyons Dry Dock?
Once you enter the Canyons, you need to make your way to the ferry. It’s located at The Canyons Dry Dock, which is in the north-east region of the Canyons, south of the Red Ridge Airstrip.
2.3. How to Reach the Elevator
To get to the Dry Dock, you need to travel across the region, but you first need to get past the canyon itself. There is a drawbridge in the center, but it is raised and inaccessible from the southern side.
You must instead ride down one of the elevators, located at the west and east ends of the canyon. The eastern elevator is faster, but requires Pickaxe III and repairing a bridge to reach it.
- Head along the road to the eastern elevator towards the Red Rock Rapids Kayak Club.
- Use Pickaxe III to clear the boulders blocking the road.
- Repair the bridge at the Kayak Club with 10 Redwood Planks.
- Drive past the Kayak Club until you reach the elevator.
- Call the elevator if it’s not already at the top, then drive onto it and pull the lever to ride down into the canyon.
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- The drawbridge at the Canyons is raised and inaccessible until you reach the other side.
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- The road to the east elevator is blocked by rocks, requiring a new Pickaxe upgrade to remove.
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- Beyond the rocks, the bridge at the Kayak Club is broken. You’ll need Redwood Planks to cross it.
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- After unblocking the road and fixing the bridge, you’ll finally make it to the elevator.
2.4. How to Get Up the Road to the Dry Dock
Ride the elevator down into the canyon by pulling the lever. Exit the elevator and follow the winding canyon west until you reach a road on the right-hand side going upwards. This road takes you directly to the Dry Dock, where the ferry is located.
However, unless you’ve upgraded the van’s motor to the second level, you will not be able to get up the steep hill.
You could go the rest of the way on foot, but this is not recommended as you will need the van to access the workshop. Also, you will need the van to explore the rest of the Canyons, which is very large.
Before you reach the Dry Dock, the steep hill is your final obstacle to overcome.
2.5. Upgrade the Van’s Motor to Climb the Hill
You will need the Motor Upgrade II to access the rest of the Canyons, including the Dry Dock. For more information about van upgrades, check out our full guide.
2.6. Get to The Canyons Dry Dock
Once your van has been upgraded, you can drive up the hill. At the top, The Canyons Dry Dock is close by, marked with a ?. Pin it on your map if you haven’t yet and head over there.
When you arrive at the Dry Dock, the ferry is located in the center. It’s currently out of service and waiting for you to repair it.
You’ve finally made it to the Dry Dock – and there’s the ferry!
3. How to Fix the Ferry
Fixing the ferry is the only way to get to the Mountain in Outbound. If you want to finish the game, repairing the ferry should be your main priority.
3.1. Fix the Motor (Tools and Resources Required)
To repair the ferry’s motor, you will need the following tools and materials.
- Wrench II
- 4x Casings
- 2x Electronics
- 2x Hardened Metal
The motor needs a few parts to fix it, plus an upgraded Wrench.
3.2. How to Get the Wrench II
The Wrench II must be downloaded at a signal tower before it can be crafted. You will need 4 Hardened Metal, 2 Casings, and 2 Bolts.
You’ll need to download the blueprint for the Wrench II before you can make it at the workshop.
3.3. How to Get Casings, Electronics, and Hardened Metal
Casings are made at the Sheet Press workstation, using Sheets and Scrap Metal.
Electronics are crafted at the Assembler workstation. You’ll need to make Bolts and Sheets at the Bolt Maker and Sheet Press to craft Electronics. Bolts and Sheets require Scrap Metal.
Casings are made at the Sheet Press using Sheets and Scrap Metal.
Hardened Metal is crafted at the Metal Smelter workstation using Red Ore. Red Ore can be found around the north-eastern area of the Canyons surrounding the Red Ridge Airstrip.
Once you have upgraded to the Wrench II and have the required materials, you can fix the ferry’s motor. However, there’s another step you need to take before the ferry is ready for use.
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- Red Ore is located in the area around the Red Ridge Airstrip.
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- The Smelter is used for turning Ore into Metal.
3.4. Fix the Transport Balloons (Resources Required)
After fixing the motor, you also need to repair the transport balloons of the ferry. There are three of these, located around the ferry.
To repair each transport balloon, you will need the following.
- 2x Strong Weave
- 2x Hyperthread
To fix all three balloons, you will altogether need 6 Strong Weave and 6 Hyperthread.
The final step is fixing the transport balloons, which will fly the ferry to its rightful place, ready for use again.
3.5. How to Get Hyperthread and Hyperfiber
Hyperthread is made at the Spinning Wheel workstation. You will need Hyperfiber, which is located around the Canyons, primarily the northern side where the desert is. You will need the Sickle III to harvest from larger Hyperfiber bushes.
To make one Hyperthread, you need 2 Hyperfiber.
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- Hyperfiber can be harvested from special bushes around the desert – but you need the Sickle III.
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- Hyperfiber is used to make Hyperthread, needed to mend the balloons.
3.6. How to Get Strong Weave
Strong Weave is crafted at the Weaver workstation. It requires 3 Hyperthreads per Strong Weave, or 6 Hyperthreads for 2 Strong Weave.
You need additional Hyperthread (and Hyperfiber) to craft Strong Weave.
3.7. Total Resources Required to Fix Transport Balloons
To fix all three transport balloons, you will require the following in total.
- 6 Strong Weave < 18 Hyperthread < 36 Hyperfiber
- 6 Hyperthread < 12 Hyperfiber
- Total 48 Hyperfiber
Once you have 6 Strong Weave and 6 Hyperthread, fix each of the three transport balloons to complete the job.
Make sure you’ve downloaded the blueprint for Sickle III so you can upgrade it.
4. Where the Ferry Goes After Repairs
After repairing the ferry’s motor plus the three transport balloons, the ferry will automatically fly away into the sky. It will leave without you, but this is supposed to happen.
The fixed ferry has now been returned to the dock at the Coast. It is now in service again, waiting to transport you to the Mountain when you’re ready.
Once the final balloon is fixed, the ferry flies away to its new home at The Ferry Dock at the Coast.
5. How to Use the Ferry to Reach the Mountain
With the ferry repaired and back at the dock, you can now access the Mountain at any time.
To get to the Mountain from the Canyons, follow these directions.
- Leave the Canyons by heading through the same tunnel you entered the Canyons in. This takes you back to the Coast.
- Drive over to The Ferry Dock at the Coast.
- Drive onto the ferry and keep going until you’ve reached the top end of the boat. The screen will fade and you’ll be transported to the Mountain.
The ferry is also your only way out of the Mountain, taking you back to the Coast.
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- Simply drive onto the ferry at the Coast to be transported to the Mountain.
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- The ferry is your ticket to the final biome in Outbound.
5.1. Ferry Not Working: What to Check
If the ferry still isn’t operational or hasn’t appeared at The Ferry Dock, check these points.
- Make sure you have repaired both the motor and all three transport balloons of the ferry at The Canyons Dry Dock. When done correctly, the ferry floats away.
- After fixing the ferry and watching it fly away, you need to go to The Ferry Dock at the Coast (bottom left corner of the map) and the ferry should now be docked there.
- If the ferry is at the Dock, you need to drive onto it all the way to the very end until the screen fades to black. Make sure your dog companion is in the van with you when driving onboard.
- You also cannot travel to the Mountain by boarding the ferry on foot. You do not need to pull a lever to make it work. Simply drive the van right to the end to get transported.
