BC Cycle Tourism Society

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia

My bike and I are in and we’d like to be in .
We show what transit connections accept bikes. Check with the operator for prices, schedules, and reservations.
Same place twice. You’re already there, so enjoy the ride.

Good news: buses and flights can carry you and your bike from Abbotsford to Nelson.

For scale
As the crow flies365 km
Biking whole way604 km ยท 42 h 25 m
By car591 km ยท 6 h 27 m

We found two ways to get you there.

๐ŸŽ’ Riding a coach? Most BC coach operators want your bike bagged or boxed. Our field note walks through packing it, including an inexpensive packable bike bag we like: How to bike-and-bus in BC ›
Note: Most carriers carry only a handful of bikes, and summer weekends fill up fast. Reserve where you can. Where you can't, go early or have a backup plan.
Option one · one leg⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Mountain Man Mike's will get you there.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšŒMountain Man Mike'sKaslo โ€“ VancouverAbbotsford โ†’1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson)445 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote โ€” fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at 1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson).
Option two · four legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ŸšฒFirst, get from Abbotsford to Abbotsford Airport, about 6.2 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Abbotsford Mission Taxi, Central Valley Taxi might help.
โœˆ๏ธFlair AirlinesAbbotsford (YXX) โ€“ Calgary (YYC)Abbotsford Airport โ†’Calgary AB634 kmRides in the hold โ€” boxed, bagged, or wrappedBike feeReserve bike spotNo e-bikes
โœˆ๏ธFlair AirlinesVancouver (YVR) โ€“ Calgary (YYC)Calgary AB โ†’Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)683 kmRides in the hold โ€” boxed, bagged, or wrappedBike feeReserve bike spotNo e-bikes
โœˆ๏ธAir CanadaVancouver (YVR) โ€“ Castlegar (YCG)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) โ†’Castlegar402 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes
๐ŸšฒTravel the short hop from Castlegar to Hwy 3A at Ootischenia Rd (Brilliant), about 2.8 km.
๐ŸšŽBC Transit99 Kootenay ConnectorHwy 3A at Ootischenia Rd (Brilliant) โ†’1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson)31 kmFront rack, no fee โ€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ€” lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ŸšฒYou arrive at 1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson).
Route facts last checked August 2026. We check that every leg here carries bikes, but policies and seasons change. Check times and book with the operator. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Explore more

Heading back: Nelson to Abbotsford (best: bus)

Connections from Abbotsford: White Rock (best: bus + SkyTrain) · Sechelt (best: bus + ferry) · Enderby (best: bus) · Haida Gwaii (best: bus + train + ferry)

Connections from Nelson: Castlegar (best: bus) · Mission (best: bus) · Gabriola Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Haida Gwaii (best: bus + train + ferry)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Abbotsford and Nelson