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 and flights can carry you and your bike from Slocan to Salt Spring Island.
For scale
As the crow flies448 km
Biking whole way745 km · 50 h 27 m
By car749 km · 9 h 30 m
We found five 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 · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The coach takes care of the long stretch.
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) →New Westminster495 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkNew Westminster →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
620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen Ferry: 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.
900 Bike Bus: Seasonal: June 12 to September 7, Fridays, weekends and holidays; hourly, timed to ferry sailings. Carries 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. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Silver Shadow Taxi Ltd. might help.
Option two · four legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Beautiful BC from a coach window.
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) →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)511 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)74 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.
⛴️BC FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz BaySwartz Bay (North Saanich) →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⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Option one, plus a ferry at the finish.
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) →New Westminster495 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkNew Westminster →Bridgeport (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen FerryBridgeport (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 – Swartz BayTsawwassen (Delta) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)41 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
⛴️BC FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz BaySwartz Bay (North Saanich) →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 four · four legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The same idea as Option two, on different routes.
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) →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)511 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Tsawwassen (Delta)33 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.
⛴️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 five · five legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The splurge: hop a flight.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit20 Slocan ValleyHarold 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
🚎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
🚲Travel the short hop from Hwy 3A at Ootischenia Rd (Brilliant) to Castlegar, about 2.8 km.
✈️Air CanadaVancouver (YVR) – Castlegar (YCG)Castlegar →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)402 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes
🚝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.
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Salt Spring (Ganges)CXH (Vancouver) →Ganges (Salt Spring Island)56 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
🚲At the far end, Central Salt Spring Island is about 9.9 km from Ganges (Salt Spring Island). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
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: Salt Spring Island to Slocan (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain)
Connections from Slocan: Nelson (best: bus) · Logan Lake (best: bus) · Saturna Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + SkyTrain + plane)
Connections from Salt Spring Island: Langford (best: ferry + bus) · Chilliwack (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · Port Hardy (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · Whitehorse, YT (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Slocan and Salt Spring Island