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

For scale

As the crow flies64 km

Biking whole way127 km · 8 h 44 m

By car127 km · 3 h 13 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 · six legs📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

A ferry and a water taxi make a fun combination.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyShingle Spit (Hornby Island) →Gravelly Bay (Denman Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Gravelly Bay (Denman Island) to Denman Island West, about 9.4 km.

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestDenman Island West →Buckley Bay2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayBuckley Bay →Courtenay20 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

🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownCourtenay →Comox Airport (YQQ)8.3 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

One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River – ComoxComox Airport (YQQ) →YBL (Campbell River)38 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 YBL (Campbell River) to Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River), about 8.7 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

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

A proper expedition.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyShingle Spit (Hornby Island) →Gravelly Bay (Denman Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Gravelly Bay (Denman Island) to Denman Island West, about 9.4 km.

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestDenman Island West →Buckley Bay2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

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

Fill in the gap with a rental car.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyShingle Spit (Hornby Island) →Gravelly Bay (Denman Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Gravelly Bay (Denman Island) to Denman Island West, about 9.4 km.

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestDenman Island West →Buckley Bay2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging 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.

🚲Travel the short hop from YBL (Campbell River) to Campbell River, about 8.3 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 four · seven legs📅 seasonal📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

The long way round, but it works.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyShingle Spit (Hornby Island) →Gravelly Bay (Denman Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Gravelly Bay (Denman Island) to Denman Island West, about 9.4 km.

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestDenman Island West →Buckley Bay2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚗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).

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 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 Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo →YBL (Campbell River)127 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 YBL (Campbell River) to Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River), about 8.7 km.

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).

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Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike📅 seasonal

Two ferries, a city bus, a coach bus, and a water taxi.

🚫 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 FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyShingle Spit (Hornby Island) →Gravelly Bay (Denman Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Gravelly Bay (Denman Island) to Denman Island West, about 9.4 km.

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestDenman Island West →Buckley Bay2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚌Island LinkIsland Express BusCourtenay →Campbell River41 kmDoes not carry bikes

🚲Travel the short hop from Campbell River to Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River), about 0.4 km.

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).

Not an option · six legs🚫 not possible with a bike

Six legs, end to end.