Qualicum Beach 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, trains and flights can carry you and your bike from Qualicum Beach to Salt Spring Island.

For scale

As the crow flies97 km

Biking whole way191 km · 8 h 22 m

By car120 km · 1 h 55 m

We found six 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

Four city buses and a ferry.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit9 IntercityRavensong Exch (Qualicum Beach) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)32 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusDuncan →Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan)11 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲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 · six legs

Option one, plus a city bus at the start.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit9 IntercityRavensong Exch (Qualicum Beach) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)32 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan →Legislature Terminal (Victoria)54 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

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

🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (Victoria)29 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

⛴️BC FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz Bayor BC Ferries (Swartz Bay – Southern Gulf Islands)Swartz Bay (Victoria) →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 · six legs

Every leg of this works, there are just a lot of them.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit9 IntercityRavensong Exch (Qualicum Beach) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)32 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 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 →Bridgeport (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen Ferryor the 900 Bike Bus (seasonal)Bridgeport (Richmond) →Tsawwassen (Delta)22 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsTsawwassen (Delta) →Long Harbour (Salt Spring Island)67 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sailing times vary a lot by routing: some trips are about 50 minutes, others run 2 to 3 hours via Swartz Bay. Check the specific sailing before you book.

🚲At the far end, Central Salt Spring Island is about 9.2 km from Long Harbour (Salt Spring Island). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

Option four · six legs

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

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit9 IntercityRavensong Exch (Qualicum Beach) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)32 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDuncan →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

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

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Option five · six legs

Option one, plus a ferry at the finish.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit9 IntercityRavensong Exch (Qualicum Beach) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)32 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan →Deloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay)17 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

⛴️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 (Victoria), about 13 km.

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

Option six · six legs✈ the splurge

The long way round, but it works.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit9 IntercityRavensong Exch (Qualicum Beach) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)32 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Nanaimo Harbour, about 0.6 km.

🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourNanaimo Harbour →CXH (Vancouver)60 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 – Victoria HarbourCXH (Vancouver) →Victoria Harbour98 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

🚲Travel the short hop from Victoria Harbour to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 0.7 km.

🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / DowntownDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (Victoria)29 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

⛴️BC FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz BaySwartz Bay (Victoria) →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).

Route facts last checked July 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 Qualicum Beach (best: ferry + bus)

Connections from Qualicum Beach: Denman Island (best: bus + carpool + ferry) · Burnaby (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Seattle, WA (best: bus + ferry) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)

Connections from Salt Spring Island: Langford (best: ferry + bus) · Parksville (best: ferry + bus) · Kamloops (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Qualicum Beach and Salt Spring Island