Haines, AK to Gabriola Island 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 and flights can carry you and your bike from Haines, AK to Gabriola Island.

For scale

As the crow flies1,349 km

Biking whole wayno route found

By carno route found

We found three 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⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

The ferry is the main event.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️Alaska Marine HighwayBellingham – Haines – SkagwayHaines Ferry Terminal AK →Bellingham Cruise Terminal WA (Bellingham WA)1445 kmRoll on, ready to ride — no boxed or taken-apart bikesBike fare — not published; call 1-800-642-0066E-bikes OK — push it on and off the ramp

Weekly in winter, about four days between Bellingham and Skagway. Bikes roll on ready to ride, not boxed; call to book the bike fare. Passport required.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bellingham Cruise Terminal WA (Bellingham WA) to Bellingham WA, about 4.2 km.

🚌FlixBus (operated by MTRWestern)Vancouver – Seattle via Bellingham & EverettBellingham WA →Vancouver Canada Place75 kmRack on the bus — space not guaranteedAbout $19–37Book bike as add-onNo e-bikes, tandems or trailers

🚲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 Nanaimo Harbour, about 0.9 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Nanaimo Harbour →Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island)5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island).

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

A transport smorgasbord: ferries, coach bus, SkyTrain, and city buses.

CarrierRideYour bike

Weekly in winter, about four days between Bellingham and Skagway. Bikes roll on ready to ride, not boxed; call to book the bike fare. Passport required.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bellingham Cruise Terminal WA (Bellingham WA) to Bellingham WA, about 4.2 km.

🚌FlixBus (operated by MTRWestern)Vancouver – Seattle via Bellingham & EverettBellingham WA →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)74 kmRack on the bus — space not guaranteedAbout $19–37Book bike as add-onNo e-bikes, tandems or trailers

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) →Horseshoe Bay17 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayHorseshoe Bay →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDeparture 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 Nanaimo Harbour, about 0.6 km.

⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Nanaimo Harbour →Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island)5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island).

Option three · four legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

Same as Option one, but a plane instead of the ferry.

CarrierRideYour bike

Weekly in winter, about four days between Bellingham and Skagway. Bikes roll on ready to ride, not boxed; call to book the bike fare. Passport required.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bellingham Cruise Terminal WA (Bellingham WA) to Bellingham WA, about 4.2 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.

🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourCXH (Vancouver) →Nanaimo Harbour60 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

⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Nanaimo Harbour →Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island)5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island).

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: Gabriola Island to Haines, AK (best: ferry + bus)

Connections from Haines, AK: Whitehorse, YT (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · Ucluelet (best: ferry + bus + carpool) · Harrison Hot Springs (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · Fernie (best: ferry + bus)

Connections from Gabriola Island: Chemainus (best: ferry + bus) · Victoria (best: ferry + bus) · Williams Lake (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: ferry + SkyTrain + plane)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Gabriola Island

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia