Lake Cowichan to Salt Spring 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 and flights can carry you and your bike from Lake Cowichan to Salt Spring Island.

For scale

As the crow flies45 km

Biking whole way67 km · 4 h 13 m

By car67 km · 1 h 18 m

We found six 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

City bus to Duncan, city bus to North Cowichan, then a ferry into Vesuvius Bay.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit7 Cowichan LakeSouth Shore Rd & King George (Lake Cowichan) →Duncan27 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 Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusDuncan →Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan)11 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 Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan) to Crofton, about 0.5 km.

⛴️BC FerriesVesuvius – CroftonCrofton →Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island)5.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲At the far end, Central Salt Spring Island is about 15 km from Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Silver Shadow Taxi Ltd. might help.

Option two · four legs

Option one, plus a city bus at the start.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDuncan →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)46 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 Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 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 FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz Bayor BC Ferries (Swartz Bay – Southern Gulf Islands)Swartz Bay (North Saanich) →Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island)9.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island).

Option three · four legs

Another way: option one, plus a city bus at the start.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan →Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria)54 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 Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.

🚲You arrive at Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island).

Option four · four legs

Option one, plus a ferry at the finish.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria Expressor the 8 Mill Bay via Telegraph Rd/Duncan via Shawnigan Lk or the 9 Mill Bay via Shawnigan Lk/Duncan via Telegraph RdDuncan →Deloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay)17 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 FerriesBrentwood Bay – Mill BayDeloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay) →Brentwood Bay12 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Daily, with fewer sailings on Sundays.

🚲Travel the short hop from Brentwood Bay to Swartz Bay (North Saanich), about 13 km.

🚲You arrive at Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island).

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Option five · four legs

Same as Option two, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km.

🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 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.

⛴️BC FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz BaySwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island)9.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island).

Option six · three legs✈ the splurge

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

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Victoria Belleville Terminal, about 0.7 km.

🛩️Harbour AirVictoria Harbour – Salt Spring (Ganges)Victoria Belleville Terminal →Ganges (Salt Spring Island)49 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

🚲At the far end, Central Salt Spring Island is about 9.9 km from Ganges (Salt Spring Island). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

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: Salt Spring Island to Lake Cowichan (best: ferry + bus)

Connections from Lake Cowichan: Thetis Island (best: bus + ferry) · Burnaby (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Princeton (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)

Connections from Salt Spring Island: Langford (best: ferry + bus) · Qualicum Beach (best: ferry + bus) · Armstrong (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Lake Cowichan and Salt Spring Island

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia