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 can carry you and your bike from Slocan to Castlegar.
For scale
As the crow flies51 km
Biking whole way70 km · 4 h 13 m
By car68 km · 50 m
We found two ways to get you there.
🎒 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 · two legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Two city buses, changing in 1680 Hwy 3A/6.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit20 Slocan Valleyor the 74 Nakusp-Nelson (doesn't run every day)Harold St at Fitz Ave (Slocan) →1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson)33 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
Health Connections bus: medical patients get priority. You must call ahead to book a seat. Runs Tuesday and Thursday only.
🚎BC Transit99 Kootenay Connector1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson) →Hwy 3A at Ootischenia Rd (Brilliant)31 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
🚲You arrive at Hwy 3A at Ootischenia Rd (Brilliant).
Option two · two legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit20 Slocan Valleyor the 74 Nakusp-Nelson (doesn't run every day)Harold St at Fitz Ave (Slocan) →1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson)33 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
Health Connections bus: medical patients get priority. You must call ahead to book a seat. Runs Tuesday and Thursday only.
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – Vancouver1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson) →Castlegar33 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚲You arrive at Castlegar.
Route facts last checked October 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: Castlegar to Slocan (best: bus)
Connections from Slocan: Nelson (best: bus) · Clearwater (best: bus) · Seattle, WA (best: bus + train) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + SkyTrain + plane)
Connections from Castlegar: Salmo (best: bus) · Abbotsford (best: bus) · Ladysmith (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + SkyTrain + plane)