Smithers to Denman 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, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Smithers to Denman Island.

For scale

As the crow flies605 km

Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.

By car1,336 km · 16 h 07 m

We found four ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.

🎒 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 · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

A transport smorgasbord: train, ferries, rental car, and city buses.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)4th Ave at King St (Smithers) →Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St)276 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).

⛴️BC FerriesPort Hardy – Prince Rupert (Inside Passage)Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St) →Bear Cove (Port Hardy)445 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sails alternate days, roughly 3–4 sailings a week each way in summer.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bear Cove (Port Hardy) to YZT (Port Hardy), about 8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.

🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Comox – Port HardyYZT (Port Hardy) →Comox Airport (YQQ)207 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking

🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownComox Airport (YQQ) →Courtenay8.3 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

One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.

🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 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 FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.

Option two · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the train.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌BC Bus North (Tahltan NST Busing Ltd.)Prince George – Prince Rupert (Hwy 16 West)4th Ave at King St (Smithers) →Downtown Prince Rupert (2nd Ave at 3rd St)292 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.

Sails alternate days, roughly 3–4 sailings a week each way in summer.

🚲Travel the short hop from Bear Cove (Port Hardy) to YZT (Port Hardy), about 8 km.

One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.

Option three · five legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

One long leg does most of the travelling.

CarrierRideYour bike

✈️Air CanadaVancouver (YVR) – Smithers (YYD)YYD (Smithers) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)684 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes

✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – ComoxVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Comox Airport (YQQ)136 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes

One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.

Option four · seven legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

The long way round, but it works.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚆VIA RailSkeena (Prince Rupert – Prince George – Jasper)4th Ave at King St (Smithers) →Jasper AB646 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).

🚆VIA RailThe Canadian (Vancouver – Kamloops North – Jasper)Jasper AB →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)541 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.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →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 Exchange, about 1 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Courtenay97 kmOnly some rides take bikes — look for the bicycle icon on the listingSchedule is variable — check Poparide for driver-listed dates and times

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Denman Island West.

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: Denman Island to Smithers (best: ferry + bus + rental car)

Connections from Smithers: Houston (best: train) · Kamloops (best: train + bus) · Enderby (best: train + bus) · Fernie (best: train + bus)

Connections from Denman Island: Texada Island (best: ferry + bus) · Tofino (best: ferry + bus + carpool) · Port Moody (best: ferry + bus + carpool) · Prince Rupert (best: ferry + bus + rental car)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Smithers and Denman Island

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia