Bella Coola 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 Coola to North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton).

For scale

As the crow flies440 km

Biking whole way687 km · 37 h 03 m

By car1,114 km · 15 h 06 m

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

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📅 seasonal

A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaBella Coola →Bear Cove (Port Hardy)268 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 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

🚲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 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

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusDuncan →Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan)11 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

🚲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📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

Option one, plus a city bus at the finish.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaBella Coola →Bear Cove (Port Hardy)268 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.

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

🚎BC Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressDuncan →Coronation Mall (Ladysmith)24 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

🚎BC Transit34 Ladysmith-ChemainusCoronation Mall (Ladysmith) →Pine & Daniel (North Cowichan)8.1 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

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

Option three · five legs✈ the splurge

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

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Central Bella Coola to QBC (Bella Coola), about 11 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Bella CoolaQBC (Bella Coola) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)429 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.

⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) →Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)61 kmBook online ahead — 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way — $25 in personNo e-bikes — no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max

🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1.4 km.

🚲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 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: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) to Bella Coola (best: bus + rental car + ferry)

Connections from Bella Coola: Ocean Falls (best: ferry) · Tofino (best: ferry + rental car + carpool) · Port Renfrew (best: ferry + rental car + bus) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + rental car + bus)

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

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

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia