To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia
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 Gabriola Island to Cortes Island.
For scale
As the crow flies127 km
Biking whole way210 km · 13 h 29 m
By car203 km · 3 h 44 m
We found four 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 · three legs📅 seasonal
Fill in the gap with a rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.2 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimoor National Car & Truck Rental (One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)Downtown Nanaimo →Campbell River134 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Campbell River to Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River), about 0.7 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bee-Line Taxi might help.
🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary Islandor Discovery Launch Water Taxi (Campbell River – Cortes Island) (doesn't run every day)Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River) →Manson's Landing (Cortes Island)19 kmPolicy not on file — check with the operator
Qaya Way West Transportation: Southern run daily June 26 to September 7, calling at Manson's Landing and Hernando; reservations required.
Discovery Launch Water Taxi: Scheduled Fridays and Sundays in summer (also calls at Savary, Hernando and Lund); otherwise by charter.
🚲You arrive at Manson's Landing (Cortes Island).
Option two · four legs
Mostly sailing, a little rolling.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.2 km.
🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Campbell River – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo →Campbell River134 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Campbell River to Campbell River, about 0.3 km.
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) to Heriot Bay (Quadra Island), about 6.8 km.
⛴️BC FerriesHeriot Bay (Quadra) – Whaletown (Cortes)Heriot Bay (Quadra Island) →Whaletown (Cortes Island)11 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲At the far end, Central Cortes Island is about 7.4 km from Whaletown (Cortes Island). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
Option three · seven legs📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
Make some friends in a carpool.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.6 km.
🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Courtenay97 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).
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownCourtenay →Little River (Comox)13 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
One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.
⛴️BC FerriesWestview – Little River (Comox)Little River (Comox) →Marine & Duncan (Powell River)30 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Marine & Duncan (Powell River) to Town Centre Mall Bay A (Powell River), about 1.4 km.
🚎BC Transit14 LundTown Centre Mall Bay A (Powell River) →Lund Harbour23 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
Runs Monday, Tuesday and Friday most of the year, six days a week from mid-May to Labour Day; some stretches are on-request. Front bike rack; e-bikes under 25 kg allowed.
🛥️Lund Water TaxiLund – Savary IslandLund Harbour →Savary Island Government Dock4.1 kmPolicy not on file — check with the operator
Year-round walk-on service, near-hourly in July and August; reservations required. E-bikes not carried (barge by arrangement).
🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary IslandSavary Island Government Dock →Manson's Landing (Cortes Island)21 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.
🚲You arrive at Manson's Landing (Cortes Island).
Option four · five legs✈ the splurge📅 seasonal
A ferry, two flights, a SkyTrain, and a water taxi.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourNanaimo Harbour →CXH (Vancouver)60 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 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 →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Campbell RiverVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →YBL (Campbell River)173 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
🚲Travel the short hop from YBL (Campbell River) to Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River), about 8.7 km.
🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary IslandCoast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River) →Manson's Landing (Cortes Island)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.
🚲You arrive at Manson's Landing (Cortes Island).
Show two moreShow fewer
Not an option · three legs🚫 not possible with a bike📅 seasonal
Ferry to Nanaimo Harbour, coach bus to Campbell River, then a water taxi into Manson's Landing.
🚫 This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.6 km.
🚲Travel the short hop from Campbell River to Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River), about 0.4 km.
🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary Islandor Discovery Launch Water Taxi (Campbell River – Cortes Island) (doesn't run every day)Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River) →Manson's Landing (Cortes Island)19 kmPolicy not on file — check with the operator
Qaya Way West Transportation: Southern run daily June 26 to September 7, calling at Manson's Landing and Hernando; reservations required.
Discovery Launch Water Taxi: Scheduled Fridays and Sundays in summer (also calls at Savary, Hernando and Lund); otherwise by charter.
🚲You arrive at Manson's Landing (Cortes Island).
Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike
Three ferries and a coach bus.
🚫 This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.6 km.
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) to Heriot Bay (Quadra Island), about 6.8 km.
⛴️BC FerriesHeriot Bay (Quadra) – Whaletown (Cortes)Heriot Bay (Quadra Island) →Whaletown (Cortes Island)11 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲At the far end, Central Cortes Island is about 7.4 km from Whaletown (Cortes Island). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
Route facts last checked October 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: Cortes Island to Gabriola Island (best: water taxi + rental car + ferry)
Connections from Gabriola Island: Chemainus (best: ferry + bus) · Victoria (best: ferry + bus) · Vernon (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: ferry + SkyTrain + plane)
Connections from Cortes Island: Texada Island (best: water taxi + bus + ferry) · Delta (best: water taxi + rental car + ferry) · Salmon Arm (best: water taxi + rental car + ferry) · Whitehorse, YT (best: water taxi + rental car + ferry)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Gabriola Island