North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) to Bella Coola 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, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) to Bella Coola.

For scale

As the crow flies440 km

Biking whole way689 km · 37 h 22 m

By car1,152 km · 15 h 29 m

We found three 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📅 seasonal

A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) to Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan), about 8 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusJoan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan) →Duncan11 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 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

🚎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.

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo →YZT (Port Hardy)295 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 YZT (Port Hardy) to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaBear Cove (Port Hardy) →Bella Coola268 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop — check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.

🚲You arrive at Bella Coola.

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

Option one, plus a city bus at the start.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit34 Ladysmith-ChemainusPine & Daniel (North Cowichan) →Coronation Mall (Ladysmith)8.1 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 Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressCoronation Mall (Ladysmith) →Duncan24 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 Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from YZT (Port Hardy) to Bear Cove (Port Hardy), about 8 km.

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Bella CoolaBear Cove (Port Hardy) →Bella Coola268 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Doesn't sail every day, and not every sailing calls at every stop — check the BC Ferries schedule for your date.

🚲You arrive at Bella Coola.

Option three · five legs✈ the splurge

Pedal the first stretch, then let the flights take over.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) to Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan), about 8 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.4 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. 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 – Bella CoolaVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →QBC (Bella Coola)429 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes

🚲At the far end, Central Bella Coola is about 11 km from QBC (Bella Coola). 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: Bella Coola to North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: ferry + rental car + bus)

Connections from North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton): Galiano Island (best: bus + ferry) · Surrey (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Princeton (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + rental car + ferry)

Connections from Bella Coola: Ocean Falls (best: ferry) · Tofino (best: ferry + rental car + carpool) · Port Renfrew (best: ferry + rental car + bus) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + rental car + bus)

Check out BC Bike Stops in North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) and Bella Coola

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia