Bella Bella to North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) 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, trains, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Bella Bella to North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton).

For scale

As the crow flies478 km

Biking whole way621 km · 33 h 58 m

By car607 km · 11 h 51 m

We found four ways to get you there.

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

A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaMcLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella) →Bear Cove (Port Hardy)164 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop — check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bear Cove (Port Hardy) to YZT (Port Hardy), about 8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimo)YZT (Port Hardy) →Downtown Nanaimo295 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusDuncan →Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan)11 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲At the far end, North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) is about 8 km from Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

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

Option one, plus a city bus at the finish.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaMcLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella) →Bear Cove (Port Hardy)164 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop — check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bear Cove (Port Hardy) to YZT (Port Hardy), about 8 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km.

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressDuncan →Coronation Mall (Ladysmith)24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit34 Ladysmith-ChemainusCoronation Mall (Ladysmith) →Pine & Daniel (North Cowichan)8.1 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at Pine & Daniel (North Cowichan).

Option three · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Same as Option one, but a carpool instead of the city bus.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaMcLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella) →Bear Cove (Port Hardy)164 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop — check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bear Cove (Port Hardy) to YZT (Port Hardy), about 8 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km.

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚗PoparideHwy 1 rideshare (Victoria - Duncan - Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →DuncanOnly some rides take bikes — look for the bicycle icon on the listingSchedule is variable — check Poparide for driver-listed dates and times

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusDuncan →Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan)11 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲At the far end, North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) is about 8 km from Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

Option four · five legs✈ the splurge

Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲Travel the short hop from McLoughlin Bay (Bella Bella) to ZEL (Bella Bella), about 0.9 km.

✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Bella BellaZEL (Bella Bella) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)480 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.

🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Victoria HarbourCXH (Vancouver) →Victoria Harbour98 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee — bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter — other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking

🚲Travel the short hop from Victoria Harbour to Legislature Terminal (Victoria), about 0.7 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Terminal (Victoria) →Duncan54 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusDuncan →Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan)11 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲At the far end, North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) is about 8 km from Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

Route facts last checked July 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: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) to Bella Bella (best: bus + rental car + ferry)

Connections from Bella Bella: Ocean Falls (best: ferry) · Port Alberni (best: ferry + rental car) · New Westminster (best: ferry + rental car + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + rental car + bus)

Connections from North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton): Galiano Island (best: bus + ferry) · New Westminster (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Hope (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + rental car + ferry)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Bella Bella and North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton)