BC Cycle Tourism Society

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia

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 Powell River to Smithers.

For scale
As the crow flies578 km
Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.
By car1,255 km Β· 16 h 04 m

We found six ways to get you there.

πŸŽ’ 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⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A transport smorgasbord: ferries, city bus, rental car, and train.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesWestview – Little River (Comox)Marine & Duncan (Powell River) β†’Little River (Comox)30 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownLittle River (Comox) β†’Comox Airport (YQQ)4.3 kmFront rack, no fee β€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β€” 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.
πŸš™National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Comox – Port HardyComox Airport (YQQ) β†’YZT (Port Hardy)207 kmOne-way between Island branches β€” no drop chargeBike rides inside β€” 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 – Prince Rupert (Inside Passage)Bear Cove (Port Hardy) β†’Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St)445 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
Sails alternate days, roughly 3–4 sailings a week each way in summer.
πŸš†VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St) β†’4th Ave at King St (Smithers)276 kmChecked baggage β€” staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK β€” battery disconnected at check-in
Three departures a week; the trip includes an overnight stop in Prince George (book your own hotel).
🚲You arrive at 4th Ave at King St (Smithers).
Option two · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the train.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesWestview – Little River (Comox)Marine & Duncan (Powell River) β†’Little River (Comox)30 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownLittle River (Comox) β†’Comox Airport (YQQ)4.3 kmFront rack, no fee β€” 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β€” 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.
πŸš™National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Comox – Port HardyComox Airport (YQQ) β†’YZT (Port Hardy)207 kmOne-way between Island branches β€” no drop chargeBike rides inside β€” 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.
⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Prince Rupert (Inside Passage)Bear Cove (Port Hardy) β†’Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St)445 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
Sails alternate days, roughly 3–4 sailings a week each way in summer.
🚌BC Bus North (Tahltan NST Busing Ltd.)Prince George – Prince Rupert (Hwy 16 West)Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St) β†’4th Ave at King St (Smithers)292 kmLuggage bay on the Prince Rupert routeOther routes: bagged or boxed β€” checked as luggage
Twice a week: Monday and Thursday westbound, Tuesday and Friday eastbound.
🚲You arrive at 4th Ave at King St (Smithers).
Option three · six legs📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A ferry in the middle ties it all together.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Sunshine Coast ConnectorLangdale – Powell RiverPowell River β†’Langdale (Gibsons)106 kmReserve bike spot β€” rack space is limited$20 bike Β· $40 e-bikeNo box needed β€” rack on the bus
Includes the Earls Cove–Saltery Bay ferry leg.
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverHorseshoe Bay β†’Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack β€” otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place β†’Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free β€” 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
πŸš†VIA RailThe Canadian (Vancouver – Kamloops North – Jasper)Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) β†’Jasper AB541 kmChecked baggage β€” staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK β€” battery disconnected at check-in
Two departures a week in season; bikes can be checked on and off at Vancouver and Jasper only.
πŸš†VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Jasper AB β†’4th Ave at King St (Smithers)646 kmChecked baggage β€” staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK β€” battery disconnected at check-in
Three departures a week; the trip includes an overnight stop in Prince George (book your own hotel).
🚲You arrive at 4th Ave at King St (Smithers).
Option four · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The long way round, but it works.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Sunshine Coast ConnectorLangdale – Powell RiverPowell River β†’Langdale (Gibsons)106 kmReserve bike spot β€” rack space is limited$20 bike Β· $40 e-bikeNo box needed β€” rack on the bus
Includes the Earls Cove–Saltery Bay ferry leg.
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay β†’Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚌Rider ExpressVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) β†’Kamloops301 kmRides in the hold β€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike β€” non-refundable
🚌EbusKamloops – Prince GeorgeKamloops β†’Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George)456 kmRides in the hold β€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
Runs Wed/Fri/Sun toward Prince George and Mon/Thu/Sat toward Kamloops; no service on Tuesdays.
πŸš†VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George) β†’4th Ave at King St (Smithers)315 kmChecked baggage β€” staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK β€” battery disconnected at check-in
Three departures a week; the trip includes an overnight stop in Prince George (book your own hotel).
🚲You arrive at 4th Ave at King St (Smithers).
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Option five · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Same as Option four, but a coach bus instead of the train.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Sunshine Coast ConnectorLangdale – Powell RiverPowell River β†’Langdale (Gibsons)106 kmReserve bike spot β€” rack space is limited$20 bike Β· $40 e-bikeNo box needed β€” rack on the bus
Includes the Earls Cove–Saltery Bay ferry leg.
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) β†’Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free β€” no reservation neededE-bikes OK β€” no charging on board
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay β†’Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β€” first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚌Rider ExpressVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) β†’Kamloops301 kmRides in the hold β€” bagged, wrapped, or boxed$50 per bike β€” non-refundable
🚌EbusKamloops – Prince GeorgeKamloops β†’Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George)456 kmRides in the hold β€” bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
Runs Wed/Fri/Sun toward Prince George and Mon/Thu/Sat toward Kamloops; no service on Tuesdays.
🚌BC Bus North (Tahltan NST Busing Ltd.)Prince George – Prince Rupert (Hwy 16 West)Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George) β†’4th Ave at King St (Smithers)327 kmLuggage bay on the Prince Rupert routeOther routes: bagged or boxed β€” checked as luggage
Twice a week: Monday and Thursday westbound, Tuesday and Friday eastbound.
🚲You arrive at 4th Ave at King St (Smithers).
Option six · two legs✈ the splurge
Two flights, connecting in Richmond.
CarrierRideYour bike
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Powell RiverYPW (Powell River) β†’Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)119 kmRides in the hold β€” small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
✈️Air CanadaVancouver (YVR) – Smithers (YYD)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) β†’YYD (Smithers)684 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes
🚲You arrive at YYD (Smithers).
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: Smithers to Powell River (best: train + ferry + rental car)

Connections from Powell River: Comox (best: ferry) · Port Moody (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Bella Bella (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry)

Connections from Smithers: Houston (best: train) · Bowen Island (best: train + bus + ferry) · Enderby (best: train + bus) · Fernie (best: train + bus)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Powell River and Smithers