Salt Spring Island 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 Salt Spring Island to Bella Coola.

For scale

As the crow flies464 km

Biking whole way788 km · 40 h 16 m

By car1,055 km · 14 h 15 m

We found five 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 · six legs📅 seasonal

Fill in the gap with a rental car.

CarrierRideYour bike

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

⛴️BC FerriesVesuvius – CroftonVesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) →Crofton5.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Crofton to Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan), about 0.5 km.

🚎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 · seven legs📅 seasonal

A few connections, but each one moves you closer.

CarrierRideYour bike

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

🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Swartz Bay (North Saanich) →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)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

🚲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

🚲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 · six legs📅 seasonal

The same trip, but with Budget for the rental car leg.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Duncan46 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, about 1 km.

🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Port Hardy – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo →YZT (Port Hardy)298 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike 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.

⛴️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 four · six legs📅 seasonal

A transport smorgasbord: ferries, city bus, SkyTrain, and rental car.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Central Salt Spring Island to Long Harbour (Salt Spring Island), about 9.2 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsLong Harbour (Salt Spring Island) →Tsawwassen (Delta)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.

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen FerryTsawwassen (Delta) →Bridgeport (Richmond)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.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkBridgeport (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 Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.5 km.

🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimoor National Car & Truck Rental (One-way rental: Port Hardy – Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)Downtown Nanaimo →YZT (Port Hardy)298 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike 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.

⛴️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 five · four legs✈ the splurge

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

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Central Salt Spring Island to Long Harbour (Salt Spring Island), about 9.2 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsLong Harbour (Salt Spring Island) →Tsawwassen (Delta)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.

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen FerryTsawwassen (Delta) →Bridgeport (Richmond)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.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkBridgeport (Richmond) →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 Salt Spring Island (best: ferry + rental car + bus)

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

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 Salt Spring Island and Bella Coola

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia