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 and flights can carry you and your bike from Gabriola Island to Pemberton.
For scale
As the crow flies148 km
Biking whole way207 km · 11 h 15 m
By car201 km · 4 h 07 m
We found five 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
Four ways to travel, one destination.
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 Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 0.9 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 →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚌YVR SkylynxVancouver – WhistlerVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Gateway Loop / Village (Whistler)106 kmRides in the hold — bagged, wrapped, or boxedFirst bike freeReserve ahead — Squamish is reservation-only
Summer service April 18 to November 21; Squamish is a reservation-only stop.
🚎BC Transit99 Pemberton CommuterGateway Loop / Village (Whistler) →Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton)26 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton).
Option two · five legs📅 seasonal
Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the SkyTrain.
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 Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 0.9 km.
⛴️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.
🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverVancouver Canada Place →Adventure Centre (Squamish)63 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack — otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
🚌YVR SkylynxVancouver – WhistlerAdventure Centre (Squamish) →Gateway Loop / Village (Whistler)48 kmRides in the hold — bagged, wrapped, or boxedFirst bike freeReserve ahead — Squamish is reservation-only
Summer service April 18 to November 21; Squamish is a reservation-only stop.
🚎BC Transit99 Pemberton CommuterGateway Loop / Village (Whistler) →Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton)26 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton).
Option three · six legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
A carpool saves the day.
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 Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay →Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚗PoparideSea-to-Sky rideshare (Vancouver - Squamish - Whistler)Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) →Gateway Loop / Village (Whistler)Only 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 Transit99 Pemberton CommuterGateway Loop / Village (Whistler) →Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton)26 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton).
Option four · six legs
The long way round, but it works.
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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1 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 Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan →Legislature Terminal (Victoria)54 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Terminal (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Downtown Vancouver101 kmRides in the hold — bagged or boxed$42 per bike — 50 lb maxReserve bike spot — recommended
⛴️ Downtown to downtown via the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay ferry crossing.
🚌Epic RidesVancouver – Whistleror YVR Skylynx (Vancouver – Whistler)Downtown Vancouver →Gateway Loop / Village (Whistler)93 kmBikes ride free — outside rack, or boxed under the busBox to avoid scratches — outside-rack bikes ride at your own risk
The only direct, non-stop run between Vancouver and Whistler. Bikes ride free and can go boxed or unboxed, spring through fall only (no bikes November to April).
🚎BC Transit99 Pemberton CommuterGateway Loop / Village (Whistler) →Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton)26 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton).
Option five · four legs✈ the splurge
A ferry, two flights, and a city bus.
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
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – WhistlerCXH (Vancouver) →Green Lake (Whistler)96 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 Green Lake (Whistler) to Meadow Park Sports Centre (Whistler), about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Resort Cabs, Whistler Taxi might help.
🚎BC Transit99 Pemberton CommuterMeadow Park Sports Centre (Whistler) →Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton)22 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Frontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton).
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: Pemberton to Gabriola Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry)
Connections from Gabriola Island: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: ferry + bus) · Langford (best: ferry + bus) · Port Hardy (best: ferry + rental car) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)
Connections from Pemberton: Squamish (best: bus) · Nanaimo (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Penticton (best: bus + SkyTrain) · New Hazelton (best: bus + SkyTrain + train)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Gabriola Island and Pemberton