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, trains and flights can carry you and your bike from Slocan to Smithers.
For scale
As the crow flies863 km
Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.
By car1,279 km · 14 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 · four legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Halfway across the province, no car required.
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.
🚆VIA RailThe Canadian (Vancouver – Kamloops North – Jasper)Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Jasper AB541 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — battery disconnected at check-in
Two departures a week in season; bikes can be checked on and off at Vancouver and Jasper only.
🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Jasper AB →4th Ave at King St (Smithers)646 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — 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
Mountain Man Mike's will get you there.
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) →Hope374 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚌EbusVancouver – Kamloopsor Ebus (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)) or Rider Express (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1))Hope →Kamloops164 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.
🚌EbusKamloops – Prince GeorgeKamloops →Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George)456 kmRides in the hold — 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.
🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George) →4th Ave at King St (Smithers)315 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — 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 three · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Same as Option two, but a coach bus instead of the train.
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) →Hope374 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚌EbusVancouver – Kamloopsor Ebus (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)) or Rider Express (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1))Hope →Kamloops164 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.
🚌EbusKamloops – Prince GeorgeKamloops →Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George)456 kmRides in the hold — 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) →4th Ave at King St (Smithers)327 kmLuggage bay on the Prince Rupert routeOther routes: bagged or boxed — checked as luggage
Twice a week: Monday and Thursday westbound, Tuesday and Friday eastbound.
🚲You arrive at 4th Ave at King St (Smithers).
Option four · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The same idea as Option two, on different routes.
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
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – Cranbrook – Calgary (weekly)1680 Hwy 3A/6 (Nelson) →Calgary AB515 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
The only ground service between Cranbrook and Calgary; weekly, eastbound Monday and westbound Tuesday.
🚌EbusVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)or Rider Express (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1))Calgary AB →Kamloops480 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike
Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.
🚌EbusKamloops – Prince GeorgeKamloops →Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George)456 kmRides in the hold — 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.
🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)Downtown Exch Bay B (Prince George) →4th Ave at King St (Smithers)315 kmChecked baggage — staffed stations only, including Vancouver BC and Jasper AB$25 per directionE-bikes OK — 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 five · four legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.
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
✈️Air CanadaVancouver (YVR) – Smithers (YYD)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →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 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: Smithers to Slocan (best: train + bus)
Connections from Slocan: Nelson (best: bus) · Logan Lake (best: bus) · Saturna Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + SkyTrain + plane)
Connections from Smithers: Houston (best: bus) · Whistler (best: train + SkyTrain + bus) · Hope (best: train + bus) · Fernie (best: train + bus)