Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Smithers 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 Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Smithers.

For scale

As the crow flies588 km

Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.

By car1,454 km · 17 h 14 m

We found four ways to get you there.

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

A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Comox Airport (YQQ), about 5.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Comox – Port HardyComox Airport (YQQ) →YZT (Port Hardy)207 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) →4th Ave at King St (Smithers)276 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 4th Ave at King St (Smithers).

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

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

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Comox Airport (YQQ), about 5.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

🚲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) →4th Ave at King St (Smithers)292 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 4th Ave at King St (Smithers).

Option three · two legs✈ the splurge

One long leg does most of the travelling.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Comox Airport (YQQ), about 5.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – ComoxComox Airport (YQQ) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)136 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes

✈️Air CanadaVancouver (YVR) – Smithers (YYD)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →YYD (Smithers)684 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes

🚲You arrive at YYD (Smithers).

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

Ride The Canadian through the mountains.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Courtenay (Comox Valley) to Courtenay, about 5.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Courtenay →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange97 kmOnly 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).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) →CXH (Vancouver)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 CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚆VIA RailThe Canadian (Vancouver – Kamloops North – Jasper)Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Jasper AB541 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — battery disconnected at check-in

Two departures a week in season; bikes can be checked on and off at Vancouver and Jasper only.

🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Jasper AB →4th Ave at King St (Smithers)646 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 4th Ave at King St (Smithers).

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: Smithers to Courtenay (Comox Valley) (best: train + ferry + rental car)

Connections from Courtenay (Comox Valley): Powell River (best: ferry) · Delta (best: carpool + ferry + SkyTrain) · Bella Coola (best: rental car + ferry) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + bus)

Connections from Smithers: Houston (best: train) · Bowen Island (best: train + bus + ferry) · Enderby (best: train + bus) · Fernie (best: train + bus)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Courtenay (Comox Valley) and Smithers

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia