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, water taxis, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Sointula to Cortes Island.
For scale
As the crow flies158 km
Biking whole way248 km · 15 h 55 m
By car244 km · 4 h 28 m
We found three 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 · four legs📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Every leg is a different adventure.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BaySointula (Malcolm Island) →Port McNeill6.2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort McNeill →Port Hardy33 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
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River – Port HardyYZT (Port Hardy) →YBL (Campbell River)170 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 YBL (Campbell River) to Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River), about 8.7 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bee-Line Taxi might help.
🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary Islandor Discovery Launch Water Taxi (Campbell River – Cortes Island) (doesn't run every day)Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River) →Manson's Landing (Cortes Island)19 kmPolicy not on file — check with the operator
Southern run daily June 26 to September 7, calling at Manson's Landing and Hernando; reservations required.
🚲You arrive at Manson's Landing (Cortes Island).
Option two · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
One long leg does most of the travelling.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BaySointula (Malcolm Island) →Port McNeill6.2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort McNeill →Port Hardy33 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
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River – Port HardyYZT (Port Hardy) →YBL (Campbell River)170 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 YBL (Campbell River) to Campbell River, about 8.3 km.
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) to Heriot Bay (Quadra Island), about 6.8 km.
⛴️BC FerriesHeriot Bay (Quadra) – Whaletown (Cortes)Heriot Bay (Quadra Island) →Whaletown (Cortes Island)11 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲At the far end, Central Cortes Island is about 7.4 km from Whaletown (Cortes Island). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
Option three · five legs✈ the splurge📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The long way round, but it works.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesPort McNeill – Sointula – Alert BaySointula (Malcolm Island) →Port McNeill6.2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit1/2 Port McNeill - Port HardyPort McNeill →Port Hardy33 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
Five trips a day on weekdays, two on Saturday, and no service on Sunday.
🚲Travel the short hop from Port Hardy to YZT (Port Hardy), about 10 km.
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Port HardyYZT (Port Hardy) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)343 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Campbell RiverVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →YBL (Campbell River)173 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
🚲Travel the short hop from YBL (Campbell River) to Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River), about 8.7 km.
🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary IslandCoast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River) →Manson's Landing (Cortes Island)19 kmPolicy not on file — check with the operator
Southern run daily June 26 to September 7, calling at Manson's Landing and Hernando; reservations required.
🚲You arrive at Manson's Landing (Cortes Island).
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: Cortes Island to Sointula (best: rental car + bus + ferry)
Connections from Sointula: Port Hardy (best: ferry + bus) · Powell River (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · Vancouver (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus + train)
Connections from Cortes Island: Texada Island (best: bus + ferry) · Richmond (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain) · Princeton (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Sointula