Cortes Island to Burns Lake 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, water taxis, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Cortes Island to Burns Lake.

For scale

As the crow flies466 km

Biking whole way1,072 km · 77 h 25 m

By car1,390 km · 17 h 42 m

We found five 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📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

A ferry and a water taxi make a fun combination.

CarrierRideYour bike

🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary Islandor Discovery Launch Water Taxi (Campbell River – Cortes Island) (doesn't run every day)Manson's Landing (Cortes Island) →Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River)19 kmPolicy not on file — check with the operator

Southern run daily June 26 to September 7, calling at Manson's Landing and Hernando; reservations required.

🚲Travel the short hop from Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River) to YBL (Campbell River), about 8.7 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bee-Line Taxi might help.

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River – Port HardyYBL (Campbell River) →YZT (Port Hardy)170 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 YZT (Port Hardy) to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 8 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) →Burns Lake391 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 Burns Lake.

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

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

CarrierRideYour bike

Southern run daily June 26 to September 7, calling at Manson's Landing and Hernando; reservations required.

🚲Travel the short hop from Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River) to YBL (Campbell River), about 8.7 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from YZT (Port Hardy) to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 8 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) →Burns Lake418 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 Burns Lake.

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

The long way round, but it works.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Central Cortes Island to Whaletown (Cortes Island), about 7.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

⛴️BC FerriesHeriot Bay (Quadra) – Whaletown (Cortes)Whaletown (Cortes Island) →Heriot Bay (Quadra Island)11 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Heriot Bay (Quadra Island) to Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island), about 6.8 km.

⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) →Campbell River2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Campbell River to YBL (Campbell River), about 8.3 km.

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

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

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

🚲You arrive at Burns Lake.

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

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