Pemberton 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 Pemberton to Gabriola Island.

For scale

As the crow flies148 km

Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.

By car278 km · 5 h 19 m

We found six 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 · five legs📅 seasonal

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

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit99 Pemberton CommuterFrontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton) →Gateway Loop / Village (Whistler)26 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

🚌YVR SkylynxVancouver – WhistlerGateway Loop / Village (Whistler) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)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.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚲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 · six legs📅 seasonal

The long way round, but it works.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌Epic RidesVancouver – WhistlerGateway Loop / Village (Whistler) →Downtown Vancouver93 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).

🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDowntown Vancouver →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)101 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.

🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) to Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) →Duncan54 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 Nanaimo Harbour, about 1.1 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 · five legs📅 seasonal

Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the SkyTrain.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌YVR SkylynxVancouver – WhistlerGateway Loop / Village (Whistler) →Adventure Centre (Squamish)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.

🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverAdventure Centre (Squamish) →Vancouver Canada Place63 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.

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

🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Nanaimo Harbour, about 0.9 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 four · six legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Make some friends in a carpool.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚗PoparideSea-to-Sky rideshare (Vancouver - Squamish - Whistler)Gateway Loop / Village (Whistler) →Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)96 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).

🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) →Horseshoe Bay19 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).

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Option five · six legs📅 seasonal

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

CarrierRideYour bike

Summer service April 18 to November 21; Squamish is a reservation-only stop.

🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverAdventure Centre (Squamish) →Horseshoe Bay46 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.

⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayHorseshoe Bay →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging 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 six · four legs✈ the splurge

A city bus, two flights, and a ferry.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit99 Pemberton CommuterFrontier at Aster (NB) (Pemberton) →Meadow Park Sports Centre (Whistler)22 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 Meadow Park Sports Centre (Whistler) to Green Lake (Whistler), about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Resort Cabs, Whistler Taxi might help.

🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – WhistlerGreen Lake (Whistler) →CXH (Vancouver)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

🛩️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 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: Gabriola Island to Pemberton (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)

Connections from Pemberton: Squamish (best: bus) · Galiano Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Armstrong (best: bus + SkyTrain) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + SkyTrain + train)

Connections from Gabriola Island: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: ferry + bus) · Langley (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Kelowna (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Pemberton and Gabriola Island

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia