Alert Bay to Vanderhoof with a bike

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, ferries and trains can carry you and your bike from Alert Bay to Vanderhoof.

For scale

As the crow flies430 km

Biking whole way730 km · 55 h 36 m

By car1,428 km · 17 h 33 m

We found two ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.

🎒 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 · four legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

The long way round, but it works.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BayAlert Bay (Cormorant Island) →Port McNeill14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort McNeill →Port Hardy33 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.

🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Prince Rupert (Inside Passage)Bear Cove (Port Hardy) →Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St)445 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sails alternate days, roughly 3–4 sailings a week each way in summer.

🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St) →Burrard Vanderhoof Co-op508 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — battery disconnected at check-in

Three departures a week; the trip includes an overnight stop in Prince George (book your own hotel).

🚲You arrive at Burrard Vanderhoof Co-op.

Option two · four legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the train.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BayAlert Bay (Cormorant Island) →Port McNeill14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.

🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 3 km.

Sails alternate days, roughly 3–4 sailings a week each way in summer.

🚌BC Bus North (Tahltan NST Busing Ltd.)Prince George – Prince Rupert (Hwy 16 West)Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St) →Burrard Vanderhoof Co-op536 kmLuggage bay on the Prince Rupert routeOther routes: bagged or boxed — checked as luggage

Twice a week: Monday and Thursday westbound, Tuesday and Friday eastbound.

🚲You arrive at Burrard Vanderhoof Co-op.

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: Vanderhoof to Alert Bay (best: train + ferry + bus)

Connections from Alert Bay: Port Hardy (best: ferry + bus) · Bella Coola (best: ferry + bus) · Duncan (Cowichan Valley) (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus + train)

Connections from Vanderhoof: Prince George (best: bus) · Sicamous (best: bus) · Chilliwack (best: bus) · Fernie (best: bus)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Alert Bay and Vanderhoof

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia